Specialist Coaching Team:

Head Coach: Pat Hellier leads the Papamoa Athletic Club coaching team, specialising in Throwing Events.

Pat is an accredited NZ Athletics Coach who has won NZ Senior Mens Titles in Shot Put, Discus and Hammer, as well as competeing in Open Mens level Javlin. Alongside his competition success, Pat is also a high performance coach, having coached the Cook Islands at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Pat has been with Papamoa Athletic Club since 2021.

​​​​​​​Sprint Development: Brooke Somerfield grew up in Tauranga, where she first got involved in athletics at age five through her local club, like many of our Tamariki. She tried a range of sports over the years, but sprinting quickly became her focus.

Since then, she has proudly represented New Zealand on the international stage six times. Her next major goal is to qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Brooke is a New Zealand sprinter, specialising in the 100m and 200m. In 2025, she holds:

• National #1 ranking in the Senior Women’s 200m and
• National #2 ranking in the Senior Women's 100m.
• She also sits #6 on the all-time New Zealand rankings for the Women’s 100m.

Brooke Joined the Papamoa Athletic Club coaching team in 2025/26 season.

Relays, Sprints and Jumps: Earl Cowley has been in athletics since competing in marathons in the 1980's. Moved to Pakuranga 1996 helped as grade manager for the 10yr olds coaching relays, sprints and jumps. Earl completed C Grade Coaching and competed in teh Masters Nationals from 2000 - 2013each year, also competing in decathlon events. In 2008 Earl completed his level 2 coaching qual for relays, sprints, and jumps

From 2010 - 2017 Earl helped with Field of Dreams South Auckland hleping secondary school children get to Nationals who wouldnt have otherwise been able to attend. Earl loves coaching, passing on his knowledge and seeing them both improve and enjoy sports. Earl has been supporting the Papamoa Athletic programme since 2021.

Middle & Distance Coach: Selwyn Mawkes has alot to give athletes. Involved with the Te Puke Harriers from 1967 to 1981, then came back to Te Puke 2012 and has run his distance program through to 2025, before joining with Papamoa Athletic Club in teh 2025/26 season.

Selwyn is a Registered, Accredited Athletics NZ coach, specializing in Middle - Long Distance. He also has done papers in health and other high end sports subjects.

Selwyn aims to have the best environment for all the kids to be comfortable. "As a coach the most important thing to me is to make sure our young people are happy with their physical, mental and emotional heath."

Conditioning, Speed and Jumps: Ed Leung has been into athletics from a young age, growing up in both Hong Kong and the UK allowed him to be involved in different Regional and National championships. He continued to compete at a National level in triple jump after a few major injuries.

Ed's sport physiotherapy background allows him to utilise specialised skills and have a scientific approach towards training. He also had the opportunity to spend some time in Japan learning from international coaches and has worked with a range of athletes across different sports, from building fundamental speed and skills to getting athletes onto the world stage.

Ed's Coaching Philosophy is Getting the basics right and build from there. Making sure my athletes understand what and why they are doing is key to the process. And most importantly, Have fun! Ed joined Papamoa Athletic CLub in teh 2025 Season