IRISH TRIATHLETE AILEEN Reid, formerly Aileen Morrison, has confirmed her acquisition of a new coach and a change of environment for 2013.
Reid will part ways with High Performance Director Chris Jones, who has coached her since 2007, and she explained how she feels the transition will be beneficial to her career.
“I’ve spoken at length with Chris and the High Performance team and we feel a change in the training environment is a good thing. Coach Darren Smith has a group of internationally recognised triathletes and I’m looking forward to the challenge of training with them,” she said.
“I really enjoy training in Northern Ireland with Lisburn City swim club and Maryland Wheelers but I will now have the opportunity to train in Australia with the girls I will be racing against as well.
“I hope to bring back some of the lessons I’ve learnt to Northern Ireland before I finish my career.”
Jones also gave his blessing to the move, saying: “I feel strongly that Aileen is at a stage in her career where she needs to be exposed to a higher level training group. Darren Smith has a number of top triathletes and Aileen will benefit greatly from training with this group.”
Reid is set to compete in the World Triathlon Series in the new year, which finishes in the Grand Final in London in early September.
