Mark Nixon joins us in our Endurance Manager role

Sunday 5th December 2021

scottishathletics are delighted to confirm Mark Nixon will join us as our new Endurance Manager – starting this week.

The role was advertised earlier this year as we sought to cover a gap created when Mark Pollard was appointed Head of Performance after Stephen Maguire’s departure at the end of 2020.

Now Mark (Nixon), who had been working as Lead Technical Coach for British Orienteering’s National Talent Programme as well as Head of Performance Orienteering at the University of Edinburgh, joins us in this key role.

A number of on-going projects will be overseen by the Endurance Manager as we look to see the continued development and growth in this area of our sport.

‘I am delighted to be given the opportunity to take on this vital role with scottishathletics’ said Mark, who is currently lead coach for Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.

‘I have been privileged enough to work on a number of successful national and international programmes in my previous roles, and I’m excited to utilise my experience to further develop and support the already thriving endurance community here in Scotland’

‘There’s been a real buzz at all our competitions this winter season, and it’s fantastic to see the sport bounce back from the challenges of Covid-19.

‘I’m looking forward to meeting athletes, coaches and clubs over the coming months as we work together to successfully deliver our key projects.’

Action from the Lindsays Short Course XC at Lanark (photo by Bobby Gavin)

When the post was advertised key tasks included:

*Help provide effective expertise, support and guidance around the development of endurance events in Scotland.

*Performance management within our National Athletics Academy and Performance Foundations programmes.

*Lead, plan and deliver on the scottishathletics Middle Distance Project: Competition development; Athlete development; Coach development.

*Key contributor at Road Running and Cross Country Commission meetings to help shape and lead this area of our sport.

*Organise and support the selection / delivery of age group & senior National endurance teams across cross country, road and track.

Mark Pollard on pace-making duty at the GAA Miler Meet at Linwood earlier this year (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Mark Pollard welcomed Mark Nixon to the team.

‘It’s great to bring Mark on board and I’m confident his enthusiasm and work rate – in conjunction with the efforts of endurance community – will allow us to keep moving this area of our sport forwards in the coming years.

‘He brings a range of experiences as an athlete, coach and NGB employee across both orienteering and athletics which will stand him in good stead for this type of role.

‘We envisage that experience helping him assist the athletes and coaches on the performance pathway to achieve their ambitions at the senior level.

‘And I’m sure that Mark working in collaboration with the wider scottishathletics staff, our commissions, as well as other key volunteer groups and partners, will allow us to create the momentum we are looking for across our endurance initiatives.’

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Tags: Endurance Manager, Mark Nixon, Mark Pollard