CHEPSTOW’S Robin Williams has been shortlisted alongside Chris Coleman and Warren Gatland for the Coach of the Year prize at the Wales Sport Awards 2015.

The past 12 months have seen Williams lead Heather Stanning and Helen Glover to a second World Championship gold medal in the women’s pair event.

That was the culmination of a four-year unbeaten run for Glover, including an Olympic gold and two world titles.

Following this, Glover – who rose to the top of the female rowing world rankings – and Stanning were named as Female Crew of the Year by rowing's governing body, FISA.

Williams, formerly of Chepstow, but who now lives in Henley-on-Thames, has coached Glover and Stanning since 2010.

The 56-year-old learned to row at Monmouth School and rowed at the University of London Boat Club.

He gained his first GB vest in 1981, when he was selected for the Worlds. He was Cambridge University’s rowing coach between 1994 and 2005 and also coached the British lightweight men’s four at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

He faces strong competition for the award from Wales national football manager Coleman and Wales rugby head coach Gatland.

Coleman has guided Wales to Euro 2016 – a first major championship in 58 years, while Gatland’s men beat England to make it to the World Cup quarter-finals in October.

Professor Laura McAllister, chair of Sport Wales said: “All teams and talented individuals need a high quality coach and support teams to guide them towards their goals, and the importance of coaching in elite sport is something that is always highlighted.

“These are three very special coaches, championed within their sports, and they rightly deserve their place at the very pinacle of Welsh sporting excellence.

“Comparing such top level achievements across different sports is always such a difficult task.

“Even outside of the three finalists we have a raft of coaches whose success in 2015 is a source of great pride for Welsh sport.”

The Coach of the Year shortlist was decided by the Wales Sport Awards judging panel, a panel of sport experts including: McAllister, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Frankie Jones, Paralympic athlete Pippa Britton, BBC Wales head of sport Geoff Williams, sport journalist Carolyn Hitt, young ambassador Nia Weaver and chair of UK Coaching Committee Bev Smith.

The winner of the Coach of the Year will be announced at the Wales Sport Awards 2015 on Monday, December 7, at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

For more information visit walessportawards.org.uk