Rickmansworth's Carol Jackson insists her passion for coaching is burning brighter than ever after being nominated for a prestigious prize at the UK Coaching Awards on Tuesday.

Jackson was up for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the glittering ceremony in London in front of British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland and four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie.

The 60-year-old has coached some of Britain’s biggest and best high jumpers over a glittering 40-year career including Robbie Grabarz, who won bronze at the London 2012 Olympics.

And, while missing out on winning the prize to netball coach Lynne Booth, Jackson admitted getting the recognition and spending the evening with Gatland and Ainslie was still memorable.

“You couldn’t do it if you couldn’t keep the passion going, the athletes take but you give and that’s the nature of coaching,” she said. “I love the events and my sport, and I just get a lot out of it.

“It was a privilege to be invited and I didn’t even expect the nomination in the first place so it was just an honour to be there.

“Everyone tells me I deserve it but as a coach you don’t necessarily think of yourself but of your athletes. They’re the ones who nominated me.”

The 2013 Gillette Great Starts’ campaign celebrates community coaches and inspires the next generation of coaches by providing them with grants to fund their next level qualifications.

Applications for coaching grants available through the scheme will reopen in 2014.

Visit their facebook site at www.facebook/com/GilletteUK for more details.