Belfast’s BMX Club Coach Jonathan Reid has been announced as the winner of the Children’s Coach of the Year prize at Sport NI’s 2019 SportMaker Awards.

Jonathan developed the FUNdamentals Programme for BMX Ireland, producing a detailed set of guidelines to ensure that all clubs in Ireland deliver a consistent programme which really puts the emphasis on FUN and aspires to get young kids hooked for a life on two wheels.

Jonathan also took a leading role in delivering the programme and brought the three largest BMX clubs in Northern Ireland together as one cohesive team. Almost fifty new kids joined local BMX clubs through the first tranche of this programme and a further fifty in the most recent programme delivered throughout May and June. The club is hopeful it will deliver sustainable local growth for BMX for years to come, making a hugely positive impact, not just on the sport but also on the health and well-being of the kids participating.

Jonathan’s efforts nurturing the talents of the kids at the track resulted in 20 local riders travelling to Belgium in July to compete in the UCI BMX World Championships. Jonathan was in attendance as a BMX Ireland Coach, helping to ensure that the kids were well supported to do their best on race day.

Sport NI’s SportMaker Awards recognise the contribution of the local sporting workforce – the coaches, officials, volunteers and projects making a difference in helping people here participate more in sport. The Children’s Coach of the Year award recognises the outstanding contribution of a children’s coach to the development of young people’s skills, understanding, enjoyment and lifestyle through sport.

The Award was presented to Jonathan by Alan Curran, Performance Systems Manager at Sport Northern Ireland.

Peter Caldwell, who nominated Jonathan for his award, said:

“Without Jonathan’s tireless efforts coaching, fundraising and applying for grants; the club simply would not be the success it is today; with over 70 members including several regional champions!”

Congratulating Jonathan on his award, Sport NI Chief Executive Antoinette McKeown added:

“Engaging and inspiring coaching is at the absolute heart of making sport happen day in, day out across Northern Ireland. All too often, the vital work of coaches and other members of the sporting workforce goes unnoticed. Through the SportMaker Awards, Sport NI is shining a light on these people and projects, and we are delighted to be reognising outstanding coaches like Jonathan.

“The passion and dedication Jonathan brings to his sport is proof of why the workforce operating in local sports clubs play such a vital role in getting young people involved in sport, and keeping them active through the structured environment sports clubs offer. On behalf of Sport NI I would like to commend Jonathan for his fantastic work, and wish him and the BMX Fundamentals Programme team continued sporting success for the future.”

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