Tributes to Bruce Longden

Home Tributes to Bruce Longden
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Tributes From Coaches and Athletes

Tributes from fellow coaches and athletes who have had the
opportunity to work or train with Bruce Longden.

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Kevin Tyler
UK Athletics – Head of Coaching and Development

“Longden’s work with two of Great Britain’s most successful athletes will forever be regarded as one of the greatest coaching achievements of all time.”
“The coaching community has lost a true great but his achievements in guiding athletes to reach their full potential will act as an inspiration.”

Doug Turner
Former Athlete

I had the privilege of having Bruce as my chaperone for the 200m at the 1997 World Indoors in Paris. We shared many a joke, or a laugh, but he always kept me focused on the job. He was a true professional of the sport, a gentleman with a unique skill that centred around the athletes – others could learn from this! You will be missed Bruce x

Lucy Gill
Cambridge University 2001 – 2002

He was such a wonderful man and someone i will always remember clearly and fondly. I was so grateful for the time he spared to work with us. I find myself recalling many of his fabulous stories quite often, particularly during the recent Olympics.

Jennifer Stoute
Former Athlete

Sorry to hear about Bruce, I am totally at a loss for words. I always thought he would outlive us all with his canning personality and his zest for life. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. I can still hear him now ‘Jennifer shut up moaning and get on with it’.

Trevor Day
Australia

I was one of many who was influenced and inspired by Bruce when he was a teacher at King’s School Grantham in the 60’s.
47 years later I can still clearly remember Bruce – the wisecracking, pushy guy who was a teacher, a coach and also a friend. He really knew how to get the best out of people and we kept in touch until the mid 70’s. I contacted him again about 5 years ago and it was great to catch up and exchange news. I’m now 62 and live in Australia but I’ll never forget Bruce.

Dame Kelly Holmes
Olympic Champion

I would like to send my condolences but also my heartfelt thanks for all the work he has done in athletics helping and inspiring athletes.

David Rice
Athletics Coach at The Hawcs

“I must have been one of the luckiest coaches in the UK, not only did I work for Bruce through his time as the National Coach for North of the Thames, after that he continued to be my mentor and a friend. I cannot begin to describe how much I learnt from him. I always felt that UK:Athletics never fully appreciated his coaching abilities and experience, or his ability and depth of knowledge to educate coaches. He will be badly missed by the sport and the many people whose lives he touched.”

Eric Brees
Enfield and Haringey AC, UK

“My Mentor, The Master.”

So it's almost time for the final BLCF 300m/400m Hurdles Training Day at Lee Valley for this winter. Book your place for this Saturday, 25 March, from 10h30 until 14h00, on the Better UK app now. Cost still 10.00!!#BLCF#hurdlesdevelopment#hurdlestraining ...
Unfortunately there seem to be issues with the Better UK App booking system for the BLCF 300m/400m Training Day on Sunday, if you are not able to book on the system, please just pay 10.00 pounds when you arrive at Lee Valley. We apologize for any inconvenience but obviously the matter is out of our hands. #BLCF #hurdlestraining #hurdlesdevelopment ...
It's almost time for the next BLCF 300/400m Hurdles Training Day on Sunday 19 March, from 10h30 to 14h00, at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.Athletes can book their spot via the BetterUKapp. On the home page, select Book Athletics, select Hurdles, then select Sunday 19 March.Make sure you don't miss out on these great technical sessions as the outdoor season approaches rapidly.#BLCF #hurdlestraining #hurdlesdevelopment #LeeValleyAthleticsCentre ...
A reminder of the dates of the final BLCF 300m/400m Hurdles Training Days this month at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.Sunday 19 March and Saturday 25 March.Make sure you have the dates in your diary. We will let you know when bookings are open on the Better UK app #BLCF #hurdlesdevelopment ...
Sunday 26 February - 10h30 until 14h00. These are the correct times for the BLCF 300/400m Hurdles Training Day, at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, and not as indicated on your confirmed booking on the Better UK app. We thought we would just clarify this so there is no further confusion. ...
Don’t forget the next BLCF 300/400m Hurdles Training day on Sunday 26 February, at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.Athletes can book their spot from Tuesday 20 February via the BetterUK app. On the home page, select Book Athletics, select Hurdles, select Sunday 26 February.Set a reminder on your phone, don’t miss out on these great training days.#BLCF #hurdlestraining #hurdlesdevelopment #LeeValleyAthleticsCentre ...
💥BLCF/England Athletics Hurdles Fest💥We are delighted to announce the return of the Hurdles Fest!Date - Monday 29 May 2023Location - Chelmsford Sports and Athletics CentreMore details to follow when available 😀SAVE THE DATE now, so it is in your diary! ...
Our next BLCF 300m/400m Training Day is on Saturday, 10.30am until 2pm at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. We hope you can attend.To pre-book please download the Better UK app and you can then enter on that. The cost is £10.00.If you have problems with the app please pay by bank card at Reception on arrival.Please bring liquid refreshment, a light lunch and clothing suitable for Indoor and Outdoor training.#BLCF #hurdlesdevelopment #hurdlestraining ...
Reminder that our next BLCF 300/400 HURDLES TRAINING DAY is on Sunday 13th November at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, 10.30am until 2pm.No pre-booking needed but please pay at Reception on arrival. (£10, card payments only).Expect plenty of hurdles work!! Sprint hurdlers welcome too.Please share this with anyone you think may be interested.#BLCF #hurdlestraining #hurdlesdevelopment ...
EA/BLCF SPRINT HURDLES WORKSHOPSWe are delighted to announce that the Sprint Hurdles Workshops introduced last winter, will be taking place again this winter. Please save these dates:Saturday 29 OctoberSaturday 26 NovemberSaturday 17 DecemberThe Workshops will be available at both Chelmsford and Sutton, as in 2021. The lead coaches will also be the same Julie Pratt-Benterman, at Chelmsford, and Lorna Booth at Sutton.As soon as booking details are available, we will post these links on the group.#BLCF#EnglandAthletics#hurdlesdevelopment ...
SAVE THE DATESWe are delighted to announce the provisional dates for the BLCF 300m/400m Hurdles Training Days for this winter. These will be at Lee Valley. Please get the following dates into your diaries, and look out for further information with regard to booking your place.Sunday 23 October 2022Sunday 13 November 2022Saturday 3 December 2022Sunday 26 February 2023Sunday 19 March 2023Saturday 25 March 2023#BLCF#hurdlesdevelopment#thefutureofhurdling ...
No other words needed, other than amazing!👑 ...
Scintillating, sensational....Sydney McLaughlin everybody! 🤯🤯🤯She just broke her own world 400m hurdles record at the US Champs! 51.41! Can’t wait to see what she can do on the same track at the #worldathleticschamps #USATFOutdoors #nationalchamps #400mhurdles #worldrecord ...
The art of hurdling 🖼#WorldIndoorChamps ...
🔥 It's a very busy weekend at Lee Valley, today see's the BLCF/Lee Valley Sprint Hurdles Open Meeting, so good luck to all those athletes taking part. We hope you are able to run well, and reduce those PBs if you can!Tomorrow, Sunday 20 February, sees the next of our BLCF 300/400m Hurdles Training Days, from 10h30 until 14h00. Thanks to Brian Hopkins, Julie-Pratt Benterman, Dave Rice and Eric Brees, who will all be there assisting the athletes, and of course their own personal coaches.Lastly, please everyone travel safe, as the weather has been terrible over the last few days. #BLCF #LeeValleyAthleticsCentre #hurdles ...
🔥Don't forget the first of the BLCF 300m/400m Hurdles Training Day at Lee Valley on Sunday, 14 November.Brian Hopkins will be joined by Lawrence Lynch for this one. Don't miss out on learning from an athlete who has represented England and Great Britain, in the 400m Hurdles, at numerous Championships during his career.If you want to secure your place for all the Sunday sessions (14 November, 12 December, 20 February, 6 March and 3 April) just call Lee Valley Athletics Centre on 020 8344 7230, and they will assist you. 🔥 ...
🔥 BLCF 300m/400m Hurdle Workshops 🔥Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, the first workshop at Lee Valley on 10 October, has been cancelled. The good news is that we have dates for 5 more!14 November 202112 December 202120 February 20226 March 20223 April 2022All are on Sundays, and the times will be 10:30 until 14:00. As soon as we have the booking link from Lee Valley, we will post this so that you can guarantee your place.Thanks to everyone for their patience and we look forward to seeing you all again at the Workshops.#BLCF #hurdles #LeeValley ...
Timeline photos🧐 I attributed as much as 70% of my ability to win my Olympic gold medal to my mental strength. 🏃‍♀️ Today was the women’s 400m hurdle final.As you can imagine, this brought back alot of memories for me.Warming up out on the track I knew I had done everything I could to be ready to race.In this picture I am going through the race in my head. Something I had probably done thousands of times already, in the lead up to this very moment. It is so important to look after your mental strength as well as your physical! Something that has been highlighted in this Olympic games by the likes of Adam Peaty MBE and Simone Biles I say ‘Long may it continue’#Wellbeingwednesday #WCW #Optimiseyourage #wednesdaywords #Wednesdaywisdom #TokyoOlympics #Mentalstrength #wellbeing #mentalwellbeing ...
🔥 SAVE THE DATES 🔥BLCF is delighted to announce the return of the 300m/400m Hurdles workshops at Lee Valley, after a winter's absence due to Covid-19, later this year. Get these dates into your diaries now:Sunday 10 OctoberSunday 14 NovemberSunday 12 DecemberFurther information, including times, costs and how to book, will be available as soon as possible.2022 dates are under discussion, but cannot be confirmed until the indoor fixture dates are known.#hurdles #development #BLCF #leevalley ...

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