Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
James Sandilands described his coaching relationship with Olympic and world high jump champion Hamish Kerr as remarkably successful within just a few years. He noted the partnership began quickly, leveraging Kerr’s background with former coach Terry Lomax, retaining some legacy elements while introducing new methods. Although some changes were made, Kerr already had many key components for success, so adjustments were relatively minor. Sandilands said the transition was somewhat of a gamble for Kerr, but one that ultimately paid off. They benefited from Kerr’s strong support team and a willingness to adapt to new methods.
Sandilands shared that his coaching career began at a young age, around 14 or 15, initially in football. As a former hurdler and high jumper, his interest stemmed from curiosity and problem-solving in sports rather than personal athletic progress. He acknowledged his own athletic career lacked consistency, which fueled his passion for understanding and improving performance as a coach. His coaching progression included working with junior athletes in Christchurch, advancing swiftly to higher competition levels.
The coaching connection with Kerr developed over six to seven years, first through their shared experience as jumpers and later through Sandilands’s support role involving performance analysis and assisting the previous coach. This collaboration eventually led to Kerr asking Sandilands to become his coach, formalizing a trust-based relationship that had grown over time.