CHARLOTTE Fisher, of Taunton AC, has won the England Athletics Dave Sunderland award.

Sunderland was a highly regarded endurance running coach who died of cancer early in 2014.

He mentored Charlotte and this annual award is given to a coach who has shown commitment to self-development in coaching endurance athletes.

Charlotte Fisher is a coach at Taunton AC as well as being employed by England Athletics as a Club Coach Support Officer in the South West Region.

Charlotte has progressed as a coach of many club and international athletes and has recently been selected as the National lead for Youth Endurance running.

Following her attendance at the Commonwealth Games Coaches Club, Glasgow, 2014, Charlotte was rewarded with an appointment as a Great Britain Cross Country team coach for the European and World Championships.

The National Head of Endurance coaching, Martin Rush, said: “I have seen Charlotte grow from being a highly accomplished coach operating at a club level to gradually taking on more responsibility and challenges, resulting in her being an integral part of England and GB team management.

“It has not only been her hard work and dedication but also her ability to calmly focus on the key issues that make an impact.

“She brings a calm assertiveness to her coaching and work with her athletics colleagues that gains respect.”