The third Adventure Sport Tutor Training course began last weekend on the 15th and 16th of October at the University of Limerick. Nine tutors from three NGBs took part – Canoeing Ireland, Irish Sailing Association and Irish Surfing Association. These tutors will complete four weekends of tutor training with Coaching Ireland and then will go back to their NGBs to attend sport-specific training. On successful completion of the training, tutors will be deployed by their NGB to deliver instructor education courses.

This tutor training is part of the Adventure Sport Framework which is a training and accreditation framework for Adventure Sport instructors and leaders in Ireland. The framework has been developed by Coaching Ireland with eight Adventure Sport NGBs – Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Canoe Union, Irish Sailing Association, Underwater Council of Ireland, Orienteering Association of Ireland, Irish Surfing Association, Speleological Union of Ireland and Cycling Ireland (Mountain Biking). The framework is supported by the Irish Sports Council and Sport Northern Ireland. The aim of the framework is to bring all adventure sport’s instructor/leader training under one common framework. The framework will build on and support the quality work already in place in Adventure Sport NGBs and will ensure that standards are defined and maintained to the highest levels.

January 7th & 8th saw the conclusion of the contact element of the 2011/2 Adventure Sports tutor course. While the first three weekends were held on campus at U.L. the 4th weekend was hosted by Rupert Musgrave at the Dunmore East Activity Centre in Co Waterford; a beautiful venue with weather to match. Having all successfully progressed through this stage of their training, they now work with their own NGB for a while and when they are ready to be assessed delivering one of their own NGB instructor courses (decided between the tutor themselves and their NGB), Coaching Ireland will arrange for an Adventure Sport Tutor Assessor to complete the process. Thanks go to all those involved in the course, especially the tutors themselves with special thanks to Rupert Musgrave for hosting the final weekend and Hugh O’Brien for the photography.

The photograph shows (L-R), Back row: Tom Barr (course assistant), Hayley Harrison (tutor trainer, Coaching Ireland), Keith Bickford (tutor in training, ICU), Simon Hogan (course assistant), Aidan Doran (tutor in training, ICU), Jenny Kilbride (tutor in training, ICU), Rupert Musgrave (tutor in training, ISA[sailing]). Front row: Hugh O’Brien (tutor in training, ISA [surfing]), Ruth Herman (tutor in training, ICU), Patrick McCormack (tutor in training, ICU), Shane McElligot (tutor facilitator & assessor). Missing from the photograph is tutor in training Kim Siekerman (ICU) who was unable to attend the weekend, but who will complete her training in early February, Stephen Hannon who facilitated and assessed on the previous weekends & Timmy Crowe who assisted on the 2nd and 3rd weekends of the course.

Hugh O'Brien Moran (Irish Surfing Association) & Kim Siekerman (Canoeing Ireland)

Ruth Herman (Canoeing) in the front and Rupert Musgrave (Irish Sailing Association) and Keith Bickford (Canoeing Ireland)

Rupert Musgrave (Irish Sailing Association) and Jenny Kilbride (Canoeing Ireland)