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Alan Bertram, Elite Coach |
A Northumbrian by birth, Alan Bertram moved to the capital where he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1960. Just over 30 years later he retired holding the rank of Chief Inspector and was awarded the MBE.
In his younger days he competed regularly for the Metropolitan Police and won his home country’s championship with his favourite implement – the hammer.
Alan has now studied and coached hammer throwing for in excess of 30 years, his chief mentor being Professor Ernst Klement of Trier in Germany, coach to three 80 metre throwers including the former worlds record holder, Karl-Hans Riehm.
In 1994 he achieved the first coaches double in winning the Senior National Championships for men and women (Peter Vivien - 70.80 and Lorraine Shaw - 59.58) Since then he has achieved a further five doubles at Senior level through Lorraine Shaw and Mick Jones (1998: 1999: 2000: 2001: 2002)
In 1994 Peter Vivien won the Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.
In 1998 Mick Jones and Lorraine Shaw both won Silver medals at the Commonwealth Games.
In 2002 Mick Jones and Lorraine Shaw both went on to win the Commonwealth Games, both winning Gold’s and crowned as champions in Manchester .
Lorraine Shaw finished sixth in the World Championships in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.
Athletes from the Hammer School have competed at the Olympic Games, World & European Championships, Commonwealth Games & World & European Junior Championships.
Alan Bertram was the National Event Coach for GB Juniors 1987 – 1990 and apart from a short period he has been the National Event Coach for the Seniors and potentials since. He has acted as Team Coach for throws to the GB teams on many occasions.
On 4th April 2003 he departed Twickenham to start a new life in the Scottish Borders at St. Boswells. He plans to set up a hammer throwing academy at Tweed Bank just outside Melrose. It is from this base that he hopes to travel South over Hadrians Wall and achieve similar results.