OUR Club Coaches
MEET OUR TEAM!
Our philosophy at PTC is working together to create a safe, friendly environment, for all our members so that they can achieve their goals. In keeping with our philosophy, we have assembled a team of coaches who have diverse talents with a wide range of skills and backgrounds. They meet regularly and provide a mentoring environment for each other. Our coaches engage in regular professional development and all work together to deliver expert programs for our members.
Deb Kempe - Coach in residence
Deb's foray into triathlon began with a Novice Course at the start of the Tri season in 2009. That was the start of a career as a Triathlete and now as a Coach. Deb's been able to travel the world and learned so much more than just how to Swim, Bike and Run. She's embraced the sport and all that it offered, completing every distance from Enticer to Ironman and becoming an inaugural member of Pursuit Coaching’s Blackfin Squad. She has too many podium places and awards to list which is testament to her athletic talent.
Deb's love of Triathlon and passion as an educator led her to formalize her coaching qualifications through accreditation as a Triathlon Australia Development Coach (2015), by attending the Training Peaks University (2018) and in 2021 completing the “Woman Are Not Small Men” course conducted by Dr Stacy Sims.
In 2021, she expanded her cycling repertoire and entered SEVEN, an off-road Endurance Race held in Nannup, where she earnt a coveted Golden belt buckle. She's heading back to Nannup this May where she hopes to qualify for the UCI World Gravel Championships to be held in Italy in Sept 2023.
nicole papas- development coach
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Nicole's foray into triathlon started in 2010 after a friend convinced her it would be "fun". Given she didn't own a bike and hadn't swum since primary school, she wasn't so sure!
Signing up for a novice course in 2011 to learn the ropes, she didn't come out the other end the next "Chrissie Wellington" but did manage to complete her first sprint triathlon, make some amazing friends and develop an addiction for triathlon.
Nicole has since gone on to bigger and better things, completing 10 x 70.3 half Ironman events, including the World Championships in 2017, and a full Ironman.
After having a baby in November 2018, Nicole turned her focus to coaching as a way to remain involved in the sport and to give back to her club and community. She was also keen to help introduce a new wave of athletes to this wonderful sport - especially to the post-training breakfast!
Nicole is currently looking after the PTC 70.3 program and you can find her at the pool on Wednesday mornings and club Brick sessions on Saturdays.
Karen Woods - foundation coach
Karen was introduced to triathlon in 2007 when she competed in the BRW Corporate Sprint Triathlon. Her husband’s work had a spot in a team which they couldn’t fill, so she put her hand up and has never looked back.
Having competed nearly every year since 2012 at both Karri Valley and Busso 70.3, she has quite a bit of knowledge to impart to those new to the sport.
Karen has also been club president since 2018 and in 2021 she took her passion further and completed the foundation coaching course. An experienced teacher for many years, Karen has good organizational and communication skills.
Karen believes the most important part of her role is encouraging and supporting new club members, to show them the health and wellbeing benefits of training with the Perth Triathlon Club.
Vici Richards - Level 2 running coach and triathlon foundation coach
Vici is a level 2 run coach, currently coaching with Tony Smith Run Coaching and has been running for over 20 years.
Vici is no stranger to triathlon, completing Busselton Ironman 2019 before returning her focus to running. She is also a Triathlon Foundation coach.
Vici has competed in all distances for 5k to ultras, including 13 marathons.
Vici's passion for the sport is driven by a desire to chase her goals but she also places great importance on running to help manage the stresses of everyday life. Vici has competed in
Ella phelan-Foundation and swimcoach
Ella is a qualified Aus Swim Instructor as well as Foundation Triathlon Coach. She's also an incredible athlete. Ella runs our Friday swim sessions and brings her own swimming experience and loads of fun to these sessions. Forget boring sets following black lines and think Boom Box tunes and loads of energy!
Ella has competed in long course, olympic and sprint distance events where she's becoming very familiar with the podium at the end of races.
Caroline Spencer - cycling coach
Caroline has an enormous amount of experience as a triathlete and cyclist. She has celebrated podium glory at The Tour of Margaret River and competed at The World Championships in Utah, St George in 2022. As a coach, Caroline enjoys developing beginner cyclists and has had an a lasting impact on a number of our members who have learnt a great deal from her coaching.
Liam McCoach - TECHNIQUE SWIM COACH
Liam has been around the sport of triathlon since he was a kid. He's competed professionally and as part of the Australian National Squad where he spent some time training up in Queensland on the Gold Coast.
First Place - Albany Sprint Triathlon March 2022
First Place - 2019 Lianyungang ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup | Elite Men
Second Place - 2017 Perth OTU Triathlon Junior Oceania Championships | Junior Men
Fifth Place - 2018 Murakami NTT ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup | Elite Me
Michael Donnelly- running coach
Michael's triathlon adventure started on a sunny Saturday in early October 2015 when he rocked up for the inaugural PTC novice course. Little did he know what he was getting himself into. Amazingly, most of those who enrolled made it through the Summer Sprint series and a couple of the group even got as far as Busso 70.3 in May 2016.
Years later Michael's still doing triathlon and still part of the PTC family. The PB’s and shiny medals are great but it’s the way of life, the weekends away and the friends for life you meet on the journey that make it all worthwhile. With PTC and the wider tri community I’ve met lots of inspirational and good people from different backgrounds with a sprinkle of some crazies along the way.
Triathlon has spawned an interest in other endurance events including a bike ride from Alice Springs to Darwin to raise funds for cancer in 2016, multiple marathons all over the world, adventure racing and even a foray into the mtb world with Seven. Michael has just completed the 80km Ultra Marathon in Margaret River to add to his list of endurance races.