SHAS Hosts Professional Development Event in New Centre

Following the launch of the new Performance Education Centre at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science (SHAS) hosted a professional development event for its staff, students and industry partners. The evening was designed to showcase the University’s brand new strength and conditioning facility to practitioners from clubs and organisations in the area, while also offering networking opportunities for final year undergraduate and postgraduate students. Presentations were delivered by practitioners from the English Institute of Sport, including Alex Wolf (Head of Strength and Conditioning), Nick Chadd (Senior Rehabilitation Scientist), Stuart Pickering (Strength and Conditioning Technical Lead for Womens Rugby Union), and Chris McLeod (Strength and Conditioning Regional Lead). Presentations were also delivered by St Mary’s MSc Strength and Conditioning Programme Director Jon Goodwin, and Senior Lecturer in Sport Rehabilitation Dr Nicholas Clark, which helped raise awareness of the professional sport science support services provided by The St Mary’s Clinic and the School. The event helped to strengthen and develop the excellent relationships SHAS has with many clubs and organisations in the region, so more opportunities can be offered to students in the future. Richard Blagrove, Programme Director of the undergraduate Strength and Conditioning Science programme said, “Following the launch of our new facility last Thursday, our first professional development event was a fantastic success. We were privileged to have four senior practitioners from the English Institute of Sport deliver presentations on their coaching philosophy and provide insight into their work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The event acted as a fantastic networking opportunity for coaches and our students, and it gave us the opportunity to present our new facility to the representatives from various clubs and organisations based in the region.”