The Chronicle, Spring 2019

39 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Rachel Hallam What do you do at Teddies and how long have you been here? I’ve been a Sports Coach at Teddies for almost five years now. Goodness knows where that time has gone!  Where were you before? Predominantly working with the girls on all their sports throughout the school year, with a focus on fitness work with the senior girls’ squads. During games sessions, I warm the teams up and run fitness specific sessions alongside general sports coaching.  Tell us about your own sporting history. My sporting history is rather a varied one! I was that kid at school who played every sport under the sun and did rather well at most. My highlights include representing England at women’s Rugby and, most recently, competing at the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Hawaii. For the last two years I’ve been competing as a professional triathlete.  How important is sport in a young person’s life? As a young person growing up, sport was (and still is) so very important in my life. I have gained great lifelong friendships through sport over the years. It develops you as a person, harnessing important life skills such as leadership, communication and team working. It also has a very positive impact on your health and wellbeing. You don’t have to be the best athlete in the world to gain something from a good run around on the hockey or rugby pitch. Favourite sporting moment at Teddies so far? It has to be when the 2nd VII netball team won away to Rugby against the odds last year in a thrilling match. The girls drew together as a team that day and showed such great spirit, commitment, competitiveness and that “will to win” – I really was so very proud of them all. Best thing about working in Oxford? The huge variety of things on offer and the contrast A piece of advice from one of my coaches that you should always race or compete in sport with a smile. We play and take part in sport for enjoyment and sometimes this can get lost so, for me, it’s really important to go out there and enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong though – I always want to win!  Which book would you take to a desert island? Probably the one I’ve just started – First Man In, Leading from the Front by Ant Middleton. I was working at Oxford University. What does your role involve? with where I live back home on the farm.  Best advice you’ve ever been given?