East Midlands Regional Council

Council Members

  • Jane Pidgeon (Chair)
  • Jemma Arbon
  • Adam Henley
  • Karl Ponty
  • Denise Timmis

Co-optees

  • Angelica Oparinde
  • Paul Gair

You can get in touch via eastmidschair@englandathletics.org.

Jane Pidgeon

Jane PidgeonJane is a life member of Notts AC with almost 40 years’ involvement as an athlete, competing at club, County, Regional, National and International level as a master’s athlete. She has been involved in organising and running events in the local area, through Notts AC, the County and Midlands for many years.

Jane is experienced as a track, field, photo finish and endurance official and a level 1 track tutor. She has officiated at the World Championships and is also a mentor to aspiring upcoming officials, and the County Secretary (COfSec) for officials. Jane is interested in improving all aspects of athletics for all involved (athletes, clubs, coaches and officials) from grass roots upwards.

Adam Henley

Adam HenleyAdam Henley came to athletics as a veteran having been inspired as a spectator at the Berlin World Athletics Champs. He joined a local club and became a below average thrower before becoming a field official. Adam has worked his way up to regional level field official and is now seeking National level elevation.

Outside of athletics, Adam works as a Finance Analyst for Kettering General Hospital and is a qualified management accountant. He is a keen swimmer, parkrunner and cinema goer having lost a significant amount of weight with Slimming World.

Fun Fact – Adam has seen the Mens 100 WR broken twice live – Atlanta (1996) and Berlin (2009).

Jemma Arbon

Jemma ArbonJemma is a Jumps Event Group Coach, Coach in Run Fitness and Team Manager at her club Mansfield Harriers. Involved mainly in grass roots sports, beginners programs and volunteering for several organisations, Jemma is a champion of women in sports especially bridging the gap between U15 sports and women returning to the sport at 35+ .

Jemma comes from a background in Dance and Teaching in Secondary education but has recently set up activewear brand to combine her love of art and athletics. Her main motivation for this is encouraging women to continue to love the sport that gives them so much back. A busy mum of two long jumpers and a middle distance runner, Jemma experiences the sport from many angles – as an athlete, a parent and a coach.

Karl Ponty

Karl PontyKarl is currently: Chair of Derby AC where he also coordinates and coaches the junior (Run-Jump-Throw) sessions; Secretary of DADA (running local open meets); and Finance Officer of the YDL. He is a former Sports Development Officer who founded Amber Valley AC in 1998 – with supportive, capable local parents – after creating new interschool Sportshall Competitions as a feeder network.

Karl is a Sport Science graduate whose former occupations include: medical research (Queen’s Award for Technology 1986); a computer analyst of accounts-production systems; Centre/Project Manger of Ormiston’s Sporting Chances (a Children and Families Charity); and currently tutors as a qualified primary school teacher.

Denise Timmis

Denise TimmisDenise is a member of Lincoln Wellington AC with over 45 years experience at the Club in her role of chairperson, coach and athlete. She regularly competes at Masters level, nationally and internationally, both in the sprints and long jump and has medalled in these events. She is a senior sprints coach and coaches athletes ranging from Juniors to Masters.

She is interested in improving all aspects of athletics for all athletes, officials, coaches from the Lincolnshire region and beyond.

Denise’s decision to join the Regional Council was to try to be a voice between the Lincolnshire clubs and England Athletics.

Paul Gair

Paul GairPaul Gair is a level 3 throws coach based at Mansfield Harriers. He has been coaching for over 20 years and has performed many roles over the years including team manager, sports hall organiser, and committee member.

He has recently retired after completing 30 years in the Nottinghamshire Fire Service. He is currently a Coach Developer, delivering both the Coaching Assistant and the Athletics Coach courses. He also assesses and provides feedback on both courses, is and Internal Verifier for coaching courses and is the Regional Club Coaching Lead for the East Midlands.

Angelica Oparinde

Angelica Oparinde

Angelica has been a member of Derby Athletics Club since 2012 and is now part of University of Stirling athletics team. Angelica is currently Track and Field Captain of her university team. She competes in 200m and 400m. Outside of athletics, Angelica is in her third year of studies of Law and Politics at Stirling University.

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