GB: Leedham-Warner named among raft of coaching appointments


Olympian Jo Leedham-Warner is among a raft of Great Britain coaching appointments ahead of the 2020 European Championships.

The GB legend, who represented her country at London 2012 and has been the leading light of the national team since, has been named as an assistant coach for the Under-16 Women’s squad.

She will support head coach and sister Jen Leedham who was appointed to the role at the end of the last year.

Leedham-Warner, currently playing for OGM Orman in Turkey following the GB senior women’s Olympic Qualifying campaign of last month, joins Renee Busch of Sevenoak Suns to form an all-female coaching team.

They are among a number of appointments which finalise the staff for the male and female Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 squads for their summer tournaments and beyond.

Krumesh Patel (Charnwood College Riders) and Ashley Cookson (Acadia University, CAN ) back veteran Len Busch with the Women Under-20s and Sarah Wagstaff (Cardiff Mets Archers) and Karen Burton (Nottingham Wildcats), joins coach Kenrick Liburd’s team as he moves up from the Under-16s to take the reins of the Under-18 women.

The Under-20 Men’s squad sees Chris Bourne (Bristol Academy Flyers) and Mark Jarram (Loughborough Student Riders) join head coach Alan Keane, while Daniel Gayle (On Point Hoops Academy, USA) and Will Maynard (Charnwood College Riders) will work with the Under-18 Men under Craig Nicol.

GB Seniors assistant Jamie Smith joins Adam Sewell (Solent Kestrels) in supporting Troy Culley with the Under-16 Men.

Leedham-Warner expressed her pride when sister Jen, associate head coach at NCAA1 St Francis College in Brooklyn, was appointed alongside the other GB head coaches in December.

“I am so proud!” she said. “My sister coached me in college and honestly pushed me to places I never thought I could go.

“This is a huge step to have a strong female figure at the helm of a young GB programme! I am so excited for you and for the lucky Under-16s that get selected!”

The Under-20, Under-18 and Under-16 GB teams will be run and supported by the home country associations of England, Scotland and Wales.

2020 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS STAFF APPOINTMENTS

Under 20 Women
Head Coach: Len Busch
Assistant Coach: Krumesh Patel
Assistant Coach: Ashley Cookson
Team Manager: Laura Shanahan
Strength & Conditioning: Adam Whitney
Physio: Sarah Hattie

Under 18 Women
Head Coach: Kenrick Liburd
Assistant Coach: Sarah Wagstaff
Assistant Coach: Karen Burton
Team Manager: Damien Plummer
Strength & Conditioning: John Fortesque
Physio: Mike Carolan

Under 16 Women
Head Coach: Jen Leedham
Assistant Coach: Renee Busch
Assistant Coach: Jo Leedham-Warner
Team Manager: Jo Holmes
Strength & Conditioning: Dan Cruse
Physio: Dave Hall

Under 20 Men
Head Coach: Alan Keane
Assistant Coach: Chris Bourne
Assistant Coach: Mark Jarram
Team Manager: Billy Beddow
Strength & Conditioning: Paddy Waplington
Physio: Mark Dayson

Under 18 Men
Head Coach: Craig Nicol
Assistant Coach: Daniel Gayle
Assistant Coach: Will Maynard
Team Manager: TBC
Strength & Conditioning: Hani Assi
Physio: Aynk Vigneswaran

Under 16 Men
Head Coach: Troy Culley
Assistant Coach: Adam Sewell
Assistant Coach: Jamie Smith
Team Manager: Justin Edison
Strength & Conditioning: Jordan Godfrey
Physio: Lisa Patton-Smith