ACU honours YDS's Simon Welch with Datatag Commitment to Coaching Award

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Congratulations to ACU Western Youth Development Squad Officer Simon Welch, who has been named Coach of the Year by the ACU.

Simon picked up the Datatag Commitment to Coaching Award on Saturday, January 25 at the ACU Awards Presentation event. The Squad has been running since 2012 when Simon formed it with the support of ACU Western with the aim of creating route for riders and organisers to get the most out of the sport and crucially put in to the sport too.

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This year 43 youngsters were coached over six different sessions around ACU Western's area. The squad has produced riders who have ridden the Mintex time and observation national trial, Kia Twinshock series, and SSDT this year, and World and European championship rounds in previous years.

A lot goes in to each coaching session - finding land, arranging coaches, and sorting out paperwork - generous sponsors have helped, as too has the support and financial backing of ACU Western.

Many volunteers donate time and money to the YDS but without a doubt the squad would not be the success that it is without Simon's drive, and riding and teaching expertise. This recognition from the ACU is richly deserved.

Clubs are positively supporting the YDS with conducted routes - easy and hard - at their events, plus a new Sportsman Minus class to ease the pathway from conducted to full route.

Dates for 2020 have yet to be finalised but they will be published on this website soon.

Congratulations Simon!

Ben Falconer

[updated 25Jan2020]