Renowned coach to lead javelin clinic in Truro
The Truro Lions Track and Field Club will welcome a special guest instructor this weekend.
Dr. Earl Church will be town to instruct a javelin clinic Saturday at the Cougar Dome.
The event begins with a presentation at 10:30 a.m. at CEC, followed by a warm-up at 11:30 a.m. and a skills session at the Cougar Dome from noon to 2 p.m.
The cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members and $20 for coaches.
Church has coached at all levels during the past 50 years. As a respected athletics coach and developer of both able-bodied as well as Paralympic athletes,
he has been inducted into three national Halls of Fame: CCPSA, Athletics Canada and Canadian Paralympic Committee. He was also honoured with the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Canada.
Church was already a wellknown and respected athletics coach when he was introduced to the world of paralympic sport in 1989. His involvement grew over the next 19 years to include coaching in four Paralympic Games, in addition to many world championships and other international events.
He was part of the coaching staff of the first fully integrated athletics team at the 1994 World Athletic Championships. Church made an extraordinary contribution to the sport of throwing for athletes with cerebral palsy, and brought credibility and professionalism to para-athletics and
pushed the physical boundaries of athletes with a disability.
He is a current executive member of the Coaching Association of Ontario and is also actively involved in both the Canadian and International Olympic Academies.
In 2019 and 2020, Nova Scotia will host the Youth Legion National Championships. The Lions are working hard to prepare local athletes and coaches for the event and this clinic is one of its ventures.
School coaches and athletes who have some experience in this athletics event are also welcome to participate on Saturday. For more information on this and summer programs, contact Truro Lions Track & Field Club at trurolions@gmail.com.
Participants can register online for Saturday’s javelin clinic through https://www.trackie.com.