The endurance running coach guided Olympian Nick Rose, among others, in the south-west of England.
Dave Jennings, one of the greatest middle distance coaches in the history of Bristol & West AC, has died aged 83 after a brief illness. Kevin Fahey reports.
Jennings passed away peacefully at his home in Whitchurch on Monday, surrounded by his loving family, including his wife Cath and daughters Carol and Kim. He also had three grandchildren, Evie, Ewen and William.
Within the athletics community, Jennings will always be remembered as the man who took on Nick Rose as a raw teenage talent from Hengrove to the top of international athletics.
Rose became a two-time Olympian in Moscow in 1980 and four years later in Los Angeles, where he finished 12th in the 10,000 meters final and also placed third at the 1980 World Cross Country Championships in Paris.
“Dave started training me when I left school at 16 and he opened my eyes to running,” Rose said.
“It was very hard work but it produced results and without his guidance and dedication I would not have achieved what I achieved.
“It came from his knowledge and also being a runner, so he knew what the sport was about, both physically and mentally.”
Jennings also coached British 3,000m hurdles champion Tony Staynings, who also competed in two Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976 and Moscow four years later.
Also from his group, Jennings guided Swag Hartel, Chris Ridler and Wayne Buxton to the GB vests.
“When Dave started coaching me, I finished 296th in the junior race at the English National Cross Country Championships in Leicester, while Nick won the senior men’s race on the same day,” Buxton said.
“But even though it was Nick’s big day, Dave still gave me his time and attention and had genuine concern for all the athletes he coached.
“He would train anyone as long as you showed enthusiasm and he never set limits on what you could achieve.
“I finally won a GB vest in the marathon and I never would have done it without Dave’s guidance.”
Martin Hula was another local runner who benefited greatly from Jennings’ training.
“Dave was a great coach and a wonderful lifelong friend,” Hula said. “We had so many wonderful adventures, including some incredible trips abroad, all of which are treasured memories. I owe a debt to that man that I can never repay.”
After taking early retirement following a career at WD & HO Wills, Jennings was able to dedicate his extra free time to his love of the sport and Rose is in no doubt that he deserves his place as one of the greatest coaches in the club’s history.
“If you go back to the mid-1970s and early 80s, when the club was Bristol AC, Dave was at the forefront as a mid- and long-distance coach to get the club to the level it reached,” Rose added.
“I think it was the most successful era ever, as we were at the highest level in road running, cross country and track and field in the National League.”
Jennings’ contribution to the club was recognized when he was made a life member and it is testament to the affection his athletes had for him that Scores has been in touch with the family in recent weeks.
“Myself and many others had a very personal relationship with Dave and we did a lot of things together besides running,” Rose added. “It was almost like we were a big family. He will be missed so much.”
