Coaches

Meet the Active Attitude Coaching Team…

 

Ashleigh McCaw – Manager

About Ashleigh: 

Ashleigh has always enjoyed sport and being physically active. From an early age she was swinging on bars in the playground and doing handstands. As a youngster, Ashleigh played netball and did competitive gymnastics.  She started coaching gymnastics at the age of 14 and has been involved with instructing children’s physical activity ever since. She enjoys teaching gymnastics, swimming and athletics, as these sports develop fundamental movement skills which provide the foundations for other sports.

Ashleigh has previously worked in gymnastics and swimming organisations and for Gymnastics New Zealand.  Ashleigh is looking forward to getting more Northlanders involved in gymnastics and helping to develop youth sports coaching as a recognised profession in New Zealand.

Qualifications/Training:

• Bachelor of Sport and Leisure (Hons).
• Fitness Business Diploma
• Certificate in Personal Training (REPs registered)
• Certificate in Sports Administration
• Gymnastics New Zealand Coaching Qualifications (Gymnastics/Gymsports): Basic Skills, Recreation Coach, Play Gym Leader, Junior Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Coach & Junior Aerobics Coach.
• Swimming NZ Swim Teaching Certificates: School Age, Adult, Early Childhood, and Teaching Swimmers with Disabilities.
• Trained Level 3 Run Jump Throw (Athletics) Coach
• Trained Get Set Go (Athletics) Coach
• Gymnastics New Zealand Elementary Aerobics Judge

Favourite Sport: Gymnastics

Favourite Healthy Food: Strawberries

Favourite Quote: “It’s is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” – Theodore Roosevelt

 

Viv Green – Assistant Manager

About Viv:

Viv comes from a sport loving family – her Dad was captain of his college Gymnastics Team, and her sister has been involved in netball, hockey and athletics all her life, and still competes as an adult today. Viv loved all sports as a youngster and competed in athletics, netball and gymnastics at county level in her home country – the UK – in her high school years. Viv was also on her high school hockey, tennis and trampoline teams. Gymnastics was Viv’s main sport love, and she started as a trainee coach in the UK at age 14.

From then until she moved to New Zealand in 2013 Viv coached Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at two Gymnastics Clubs, and at an after-school Club in her time outside her full-time job. Moving to New Zealand wasn’t the only adventurous thing to happen around this time – it was also when Viv learned to skydive, a sport that she thought would be a one-off experience in Taupo, but she was bitten by the adrenaline bug and has since achieved medals in the New Zealand Skydiving Nationals in Freefly (a little like gymnastics in the sky), and in the Australian National Indoor Skydiving Championships in Vertical Formation.

Viv is very excited to join Active Attitude in a full-time role, and looks forward to coaching here in Whangarei.

Qualifications/Training:

•  Gymnastics New Zealand Qualifications: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Junior Advanced Coach.

Favourite Sport: Gymnastics and Skydiving.

Favourite Healthy Food: Properly cooked Brussels sprouts.

Favourite Quote: “Never let go of your dreams.”

Kellie Clarke

About Kellie:

Kellie is a super mum of three…two are our Active Attitude participants – Jerecho (an Active Attitude Coach and athlete) & Willow (an Active Attitude “Coach in Training” and one of our Aerobics Academy members).  She has grown up in a gymnastics environment with her siblings being gymnasts and her mum also being a gymnastics coach.  Kellie has been a part of the Active Attitude coaching team since 2013.

Qualifications/Training:

• Gymnastics New Zealand Qualifications (Gymnastics): Coaching Today & Understanding Movement.
• Trained Run, Jump, Throw, Level 3 Coach (Athletics)

Favourite Sport: Gymnastics

Favourite Healthy Food: Rock melon

Favourite Quote: “Every child deserves a champion:  an adult that will never give up on them,  who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the very best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson

 

 Natalie (Nat) Cossey

About Nat:

Nat always wanted to become a teacher, and from coaching at Active Attitude while studying towards her Sport and Recreation qualifications she has found that coaching is her passion.

Qualifications/Training:

• Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
• Gymnastics New Zealand Qualifications: Foundation Coach

Favourite Sport: Netball

Favourite Healthy Food: Fruit Salad

Favourite Quote: “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield

 

Chelsea Edmonds

About Chelsea: 

Favourite Sport: Swimming and Volley ball

Favourite Healthy Food: Yoghurt fruit salad and Subway

Favourite Quote:: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver and gold.” – Bob Marley

 

 

Bridget Lambert

About Bridget:

Favourite Sport:

Favourite Healthy Food:

Favourite Quote:

 

 

Dean Watson

About Dean:

Dean is a student at Waikato University and currently assists us over Summer with holiday programmes and events.  Dean loves dancing, singing and acting.

Favourite Sport: Competitive Rock’n’Roll Dancing

Favourite Healthy Food: Tropical fruit such as Pineapples, Watermelon and Mango.

Favourite Quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr Seuss

 

Jane Heapy

About Jane: 

Jane has been one of our Aerobics Academy athletes since 2015 and has represented Northland in the sport for the past few years.  She is a student at Whangarei Girls High School.  Jane loves sport and getting involved.

Qualifications/Training: 

• XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Qualification. Currently working towards completing her honours year of XTND.
• Training towards completing her Elementary Aerobics Coaching and Elementary Aerobics Judging Qualifications.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics.

Favourite Healthy Food: Seaweed

Favourite Quote: “ When you win say nothing. When you lose say less”.

 

Jaimee Mason

About Jaimee: 

Jaimee is one of our Active Attitude Coaches and is also a student at Whangarei Girls High School.  She has been a member of Active Attitude since we first started our club in Dargaville in 2012.  Jaimee has represented our club and Northland in Aerobics for the past 4 years and is our Aerobics Academy captain.

Qualifications/Training: 

• XTND Youth Leadership & Coaching Qualification.
• Training towards completing her Elementary Aerobics Coaching Qualification.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics

Favourite Food: Strawberries

Favourite Quote: “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there is foot prints on the moon”.

 

Jerecho Clarke

About Jerecho: 

Jerecho is one of our Active Attitude Coaches and is a student at Pompallier Catholic College.  He has been a member of Active Attitude since we first started our Dargaville Gymnastics Club in 2012.  He now coaches and trains at our Whangarei Active Attitude Gymnastics Club.

Qualifications/Training: 

• XTND Youth Leadership & Coaching Qualification.

Favourite Sport: Basketball

Favourite Food: Fried Bread

Favourite Quote: “Who needs luck when you have motivation and passion on your side.”

 

Gemma Lawton

About Gemma: 

Gemma has been one of our Aerobics Academy athletes at Active Attitude since 2015 and was a Northland Aerobics representative in 2015 and 2016.

Qualifications/Training: 

• XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Qualification. Currently working towards completing her honours year of XTND.
• Training towards completing her Elementary Aerobics Coaching and Elementary Aerobics Judging Qualifications.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics

Favourite Food: Pomegranate

Favourite Quote: “You are your only limit.”

 

 Blake Williamson

About Blake: Blake is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Boys High School.  A talented sportsman who is involved in a variety of different sports.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in his second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport:

Favourite Food:

Favourite Quote:

 

Heidyn Harrison

About Heidyn: Heidyn is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Girls High. She also participates in our Tumble classes, and loves kids!

Qualifications/Training: Currently in his second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Volleyball.

Favourite Food: Almonds.

Favourite Quote: “She wasn’t looking for a Knight she was looking for a sword”.

 

Paige Parkinson

About Paige: Paige is her second year of our “Coaches in Training” programme and is a student at Whangarei Girls High School.  She has been a part of the Active Attitude family for nearly four years and loves reading, biking, and competing in aerobics.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Gymnastics and Aerobics

Favourite Food: Pasta/rice salad

Favourite Quote: “I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that, and then I realised I was somebody.”

 

Grace Murdoch

About Grace: Grace is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Girls High School. She has been one of our Aerobics Academy athletes since 2015. Grace was a Northland Aerobics representative in 2017 placing 7th individually, and 4th in her trio team.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Dance,Volleyball and Aerobics.

Favourite Food: Donburi or Watermelon.

Favourite Quote: “When someone says you can’t do something, go out of your way to prove them wrong.” and “Life begins where your comfort zone ends.”

 

Danielle Kalkhoven

About Danielle: Danielle is an Active Attitude “Coach in Training” and is a student at Pompallier Catholic College.  Danielle has been one of our  Aerobics Academy athletes since 2016, and was a Northland Aerobics representative in 2017.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her first year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics.

Favourite Food: Pesto pasta and coconut yoghurt.

Favourite Quote: “Train your mind to see the good in every situation”.

 

Lucy Bland

About Lucy: Lucy is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Girls High School.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport:

Favourite Food:

Favourite Quote:

 

Jessica Woollam

About Jessica : Jessica is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is also a student at Dargaville High School.  She has been involved with Active Attitude since we first started our club in Dargaville in 2012.

Qualifications/Training: Currently finishing of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport:

Favourite Food:

Favourite Quote:

 

Katie Thirkettle

About Katie : Katie is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Bream Bay College.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her second year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport:

Favourite Food:

Favourite Quote:

 

Thomas Davidson

About Thomas : Thomas is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Pompallier Catholic College.  Thomas has been a member of Active Attitude since we first started our club in Dargaville in 2012.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in his first year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Gymnastics.

Favourite Food: Bacon.

Favourite Quote: “Study your opponents and train against them and you will have gold.” -Sun Tzu.

 

Willow Clarke

About Willow : Willow is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Pompallier Catholic College.  She has been a member of Active Attitude since we first started our club in Dargaville in 2012.  She now coaches and trains at our Whangarei Gymnastics Club, where she is a member of our Active Attitude Aerobics Academy.  Willow has represented Northland at Aerobic Gymnastics since 2015.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her first year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: 

Favourite Food: 

Favourite Quote: 

 

Emily Hewitt

About Emily : Emily is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Girls High School.  She represented Northland in Aerobic Gymnastics in 2017.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her first year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics

Favourite Food: Cheese and crackers

Favourite Quote: “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”

 

Mia Robertson

About Mia : Mia is one of our Active Attitude “Coaches in Training” and is a student at Whangarei Girls High School.  She has represented Northland in 2015 and 2016 in Aerobic Gymnastics.

Qualifications/Training: Currently in her first year of the XTND Youth Leadership and Coaching Programme.

Favourite Sport: Aerobics

Favourite Food: Cherry tomatoes

Favourite Quote:  “If you want the rainbow you’ve got to put up with the rain.”

 

Edit