ENGLAND Athletics has recognised Dave Lucas's service to the sport by rewarding him with a top accolade.

Dave, who is the Forest of Dean Athletics Club's principle coach, will receive the 2011 services to coaching award for the South West of England at an awards ceremony at the Mercure Hotel in Exeter on Wednesday December 7.

No one works harder to promote athletics in the Forest than Dave, who has helped turn plenty of absolute beginners into county, regional and even national champions.

His work with the Forest club's junior section has been unstinting for 22 years, and he has gathered around him a team of qualified coaches.

The Forest of Dean Athletics Club operates from an old container unit at Five Acres, Coleford.

However, Dave has helped the club develop a structure for training athletes as young as five, providing them with a seamless passage to the senior ranks in track & field, sports hall and cross-country events.

The club won 23 County Championship titles last year and 19 this year, a great success rate for a small club.

Best of all, Dave's coaching regimes are often innovative, without losing focus of the prime aim, to have fun.

In 2007, Dave was short-listed for the National Athletics development coach of the year award.

He is now on the national coaching mentor scheme, which means he receives top level instruction from some of the best coaches in the land, in order to pass that on to other south west coaches.

He said: "I suppose the highlight was seeing Sarah Rossiter progress to finish fifth in the national championships.

"Wayne Booth and Emma Boyle also reached English Schools level.

"I've never had to chase kids, but it's been difficult at times making sure we've had enough coaches."

As a young man Dave tried his hand at many sports without really settling at anything.

He played rugby for Lydney's second and third teams, as well as football for Aylburton.

When his son joined the Forest of Dean Athletics Club he went along to help out – getting involved with the coaching and the development of the youngsters. When his son quit, he just carried on.

In 2005 Dave turned his hobby into his career, landing a full-time job with the Gloucestershire Sports Partnership that empowered him to go out into the schools and take athletics to the masses.

He believes the key to developing good sportsmen and women is catching them in their skill hungry years from nine to 12.