Excellence in strength and conditioning has never been defined by a single sport, setting or level of performance.
That was particularly evident at this year’s UKSCA Excellence in S&C Awards, presented as part of the 2026 UKSCA Annual Conference.
The awards recognise individuals and organisations making an outstanding contribution across sport, health, education and performance. This year’s recipients reflect the breadth of the profession today.
From developing young athletes and supporting participants in health settings, to advancing research, mentoring coaches and working at the highest levels of elite sport, the 2026 awards celebrate the many different ways in which excellent strength and conditioning practice can make an impact.
Howard Green, Bolton Arena Tennis Academy / Tennis SuperMovers, was recognised for his sustained contribution to the long-term physical development of young athletes.
For 17 years, Howard has specialised in supporting young tennis players through the development pathway at Bolton Arena Tennis Academy and within the LTA system. His work has helped players progress from their first exposure to S&C through national and international junior tennis and, in some cases, into the professional game.
His impact also extends beyond the athletes he coaches directly. Through coach education, conferences, online content and initiatives such as Tennis SuperMovers, Howard has helped make youth physical development more practical and accessible to coaches, players and parents. His award recognises both the quality of his work and his long-term commitment to improving youth S&C practice.
Luke Wilkinson, University of Bath, was recognised for his contribution to athlete and practitioner development within the university performance environment.
Based at the University of Bath, Luke has combined hands-on S&C leadership with work connecting university sport, talent pathways and performance programmes. His nomination highlighted his leadership of S&C provision supporting University of Bath and Bath Rugby Academy players, as well as his work in developing colleagues within the wider performance team.
His award reflects the important role that development environments play within the profession — supporting athletes outside the traditional elite sport spotlight while also helping shape the next generation of coaches and practitioners.
Sam Boylett-Long, UKSI / British Rowing, was recognised for his outstanding work in elite women’s sport.
His nomination provided a particularly strong example of the role an S&C practitioner can play when performance and rehabilitation come together. Over a challenging 15-month period involving surgery, rehabilitation and return to sport, Sam provided detailed programming and one-to-one coaching, working closely with the wider medical team and continually adapting the programme in response to progress and setbacks.
His award is a reminder that elite S&C practice is not simply about preparing athletes to perform. It is also about problem-solving, collaboration and providing the individualised support required to help an athlete return to the demands of high-level sport.
Gareth Shelbourne, Move4Sport, received the award for his contribution to elite men’s sport.
Gareth’s work reflects the long-term nature of physical preparation and athlete development. Through Move4Sport, he has supported athletes across their development journeys, including extensive work in elite tennis, while also helping develop coaches and build S&C provision across a range of sports.
His recognition reflects years of consistent, high-quality coaching and the long-term relationships and support that often sit behind performance at the highest levels.
Robin Sowden-Taylor, ION Strength & Conditioning, was recognised for work demonstrating how strength and conditioning can have a powerful impact well beyond elite sport.
As founder of ION Strength & Conditioning in South Wales, Robin has developed programmes spanning very different populations and needs. Through the ION Youth Health & Wellbeing Initiative, more than 1,000 young people accessed free coached sessions during 2025, including girls-only provision and adapted sessions for young people with additional learning needs.
At the other end of the age spectrum, ION’s Over-60s programme supports older adults through regular coached strength training focused on movement, confidence and maintaining physical capacity for daily life. His award reflects the growing relevance of strength and conditioning across the wider sport & health landscape.
Chris Bishop, Middlesex University, was recognised for a sustained contribution to research, practitioner education and the sharing of knowledge within strength and conditioning.
Alongside an extensive academic research profile, Chris has made a long-standing contribution to the Professional Strength & Conditioning Journal (PSCJ) and to the wider development of evidence-informed practice within the profession. His work has helped practitioners engage with research in a way that is both relevant and applicable to real-world coaching.
His award is an important reminder that progressing the profession relies not only on what happens in coaching environments, but also on our ability to question practice, generate evidence and share what we learn.
Jake Gates, Bradford City AFC Academy, was recognised for the promise, professionalism and dedication he has shown as an early-career practitioner.
Working within Bradford City AFC Academy, Jake contributes to the physical development of young footballers through gym-based S&C, pitch-based physical preparation, testing, monitoring and close multidisciplinary working. His nomination highlighted his ability to make S&C meaningful to young athletes — helping them understand why physical development matters, rather than simply asking them to complete a programme.
His award reflects both the quality of his current work and the potential he has shown as a coach with a strong future in the profession.
The Royal Navy School of Physical Training was recognised for its sustained investment in developing internal strength and conditioning capability.
Over recent years, the Royal Navy School of Physical Training has embedded the UKSCA S&C Trainer qualification within PTI training while progressively moving from a UKSCA-supported delivery model towards independent delivery and assessment. That process has included developing instructors to achieve UKSCA Accredited status and subsequently training them as assessors.
This award highlights the importance of organisations creating the environments, opportunities and support structures needed to develop excellent practitioners over time.
Debby Sargent was recognised with an Honorary Fellowship of the UKSCA, the Association’s highest honour.
Honorary Fellowship is reserved for individuals who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to strength and conditioning, the UKSCA and the wider development of the profession.
Unlike the annual category awards, which recognise particular areas of achievement, Honorary Fellowship reflects influence over a much longer period, recognising those whose work, leadership and commitment have helped shape the profession and the community around it.
Debby’s recognition reflects that sustained contribution and the impact she has made over many years. Her Fellowship places her among a small group of individuals whose contribution to UKSCA and to strength and conditioning has been considered significant enough to merit this special distinction.
Honorary Fellowship is not simply recognition of a single achievement, but of a body of work and a lasting contribution to the profession.
Taken together, the 2026 UKSCA Excellence in S&C Awards tell a much bigger story than the individual categories themselves.
Strength and conditioning practitioners are contributing across youth development, universities and development pathways, elite sport, education and research, health and wellbeing, coach development and organisational culture.
The populations, outcomes and the environments may be different, but across them all sit many of the same foundations: evidence-informed practice, effective coaching, professional judgement, collaboration, continued learning and a commitment to helping people develop their physical capabilities.
As the UKSCA continues to represent strength and conditioning across the wider landscape of sport & health, recognising that range of contribution matters.
The Excellence in S&C Awards exist not only to celebrate individual achievement, but also to help make the full breadth of our profession more visible.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 award recipients, and thank you for your contribution to strength and conditioning.
