View all news

Sporting stars

Press release issued: 25 November 2004

Mark Taylor, the University's Swimming Pool Manager and Aquatics Director, won the Coach of the Year Award at the prestigious Bristol Year of Sport Awards last night.

Mark Taylor, the University's Swimming Pool Manager and Aquatics Director (on the left in the picture, with cricketer Mark Alleyne), won the Coach of the Year Award at the prestigious Bristol Year of Sport Awards last night [24 November].

After retiring as coach for the England water polo team that won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Mark now concentrates on coaching the University water polo team. This year the team won the British Universities Championship. They are the first university team ever to have qualified to take part in the National Clubs Premier League.

Tristan Parris, fencing coach at the University, was among the other nominees for the Coach of the Year Award. The University water polo team was nominated for the Team of the Year Award.

Bristol Year of Sport 2004 has been aimed at increasing participation in sport, encouraging healthier lifestyles and celebrating sporting success and achievement. It has involved everything from a disability panathlon for 200 children to the Cities Tennis Challenge and a range of sporting activities at the IKEA International Balloon Fiesta.

The Year of Sport was put together by a broad-based partnership with a shared commitment to sport. It was the brainchild of Bob Reeves, the University's Director of Sport, Exercise and Health. At the awards ceremony, Bob said the greatest legacy of the year would be to have Bristol recognised as a true 'city of sport'.

Photo courtesy of Martin Chainey.

Edit this page