RUTH WATSON is a qualified Event Group Coach.
She first became involved in athletics when she joined Haddington Running Club, after being inspired by Paula Radcliffe winning the 5000m at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. “I was in my 30’s, running mainly on my own for fitness, and wanted to compete in cross country, road races and marathons. Joining a club introduced me to a whole lot of like-minded people and the chance to train in a group and be part of a team. I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie when we went to races. I became a parent helper in the junior section, when my children joined the club, and completed the Assistant, Coach and Event Group qualifications. I have since gone onto work in athletics and have been the Pathways Development Officer and now the Community Development Officer at Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club, where I have been responsible for establishing and developing the club satellites”.
Ruth has completed many 10k, half marathon and marathon races, including the London marathon. Latterly, she competed in the shorter sprint distances, 100m and 200m, and the shot putt. She has won several Scottish Masters Championships for her age group.
“In my younger days, I loved taking part in cross country and off-road races- the muddier the better. My favourites were the Borders XC Series and East Lothian Summer Series”.
Ruth coached conditioning and movement skills at Team East Lothian, before joining AAAC in 2015.
“I really enjoy coaching athletes of all ages, particularly those starting off on their athletics journey. I help build confidence in their own abilities and try to inspire and motivate the athlete to reach their full potential”.
Her athletics idols include Paula Radcliffe, Michael Johnson, Zoey Clark, Jamie Bowie and Vern Gambetta.
Ruth was shortlisted for Scottish Athletics Club Coach of the Year 2020, along with her daughter and fellow coach Rachel Watson.
JANE DAVIDSON is a qualified Athletics Coach – Sprints & Hurdles.
She says “I started coaching as a volunteer helper when I was 14 years old. I got my Assistant Coach license as soon as I turned 16. I love coaching. I get great pleasure from working with the kids. I hope they also enjoy having me as a coach”.
A previous gymnast, Jane has been an athlete with Aberdeen AAC since she was 9 years old and holds the club record for the 60m hurdles, 60m sprint and the long jump. She is also one of the four athletes who hold the club women’s record for the 4 x 200m relay. She has a personal best of 12.46 seconds for the 100m and 5.65m for the long jump.
When she started with the club, she tried all athletics events. She liked combined events (pentathlon) and competing in sprinting, hurdles, long jump, high jump and the shot put on the same day.
She says “as a youngster I was probably one of the littlest girls on the start line, but what I lacked in height I had in enthusiasm. I loved competing for the club and at national championships. It wasn’t until I was U15 (under 15 age group) that I won my first Scottish championship medal. By U17 I was winning championship medals in hurdles, long jump and heptathlon (7 events)”.
Jane was Scottish Senior 60m hurdles Indoor Champion in 2019. In 2020 she was Scottish U20 60m and 60m hurdles Indoor Champion. In 2020 she was invited to compete at the British Senior Championships for the first time.
She has represented Scotland at the SIAB Schools International and the Celtic Games.
One of the high-performance athletes in the club, she has been in the Aberdeen AAC Academy since its inception in 2016.
She is currently a student at the University of Aberdeen studying a Bachelor’s degree in Sports & Exercise and Science.
Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club 