So, I tried to learn how to play golf

Me attempting a decent swing

I am not much of a golfer, but seeing as golf will be an Olympic sport at Rio 2016, I couldn’t turn down a couple of lessons… I am not a natural it seems.

First published in CB Magazine.

Challenging Team GB at their own game

 

Nick Dempsey making windsurfing look oh so easy

At work we’ve been madly trying out all the sports Team GB won medals in during the Olympics.

It’s been pretty tough so far – I have been punched, bruised, ridiculously achy, had my toes cut open, submerged in icy water and have learnt to swing a metal bar – it’s been pretty fun too. Don’t ever say I don’t go the extra mile for my job!

This is what I’ve been up to:

Boxing: My film-fuelled idea of big box office fights (glitz, drama, tumbling into the ropes) quickly wore off as it became clear boxing is more about stamina, footwork, accuracy and reactions than what song you walk down the tunnel to.

It’s also completely addictive.

As coach Gary put my technique and wobbly fitness levels to the test sparring with pads I just couldn’t stop grinning. Whirlwind rounds of combination punching and ducking spun by happily, even though my arms felt like lead and my feet kept getting muddled up. You just get caught up in it.

Canoeing: It was much more of a workout than I was expecting. My arms and oblique muscles, as well as my thighs from bracing my knees and feet against the inside of the boat, were already achy even before we had to work out how to drag ourselves off the water and into new boats.

Struggling to keep the boat steady + hang on to the side + haul yourself out of the boat without going under = a very ungraceful, beached whale flop onto the concrete jetty and a whole lot of scrabbling around. But I didn’t fall in!

Although we beginners only got a taste of the calm river Cam, it’s easy to see why white water canoeing must be terrifying, addictive and exhilarating all at the same time… One of the best things about the sport is just being outside, battling with the elements. We left achy and damp, but also massively happy.

Windsurfing: My ankles were numb in seconds, (our coach Gareth later admitted he’d brushed the frost off our boards before we turned up, it was that cold), but otherwise we had perfect conditions: bright wintry sunshine and a light wind coming crisply off the lake inland so, in theory, we wouldn’t end up stranded in open water – in theory.

My first attempt was very wobbly and not in a cute Bambi way. It involved quite a bit of shrieking and then the hefty slap of my sail smacking back on the water.

My second attempt, once I’d relaxed a bit and stopped shaking with effort was slightly more graceful…

So, I tried out a street dancing class…

First published by CB magazine.

Five minutes with shooter, and local Olympic hopeful, James Huckle

James Huckle

James Huckle might not be on your Team GB radar just yet, but come the summer, we guarantee he will be.

The 21-year-old Harlow marksman, who was crowned Essex Sports Personality of the Year last November and competes in the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle Three Positions events, is humble, eloquent and instantly likeable.

Ella Walker caught up with the Commonwealth Games medal holder ahead of the ISSF World Cup to talk firearms, breaking records and playing a ‘pure sport’

How are you preparing for London 2012?

Well, I’m training at the moment and have always been in training for the Olympics. I’ve got a competition coming up in just under two weeks time, at the end of April which is the last one of the year (the ISSF World Cup) too, so, fingers crossed.

What got you into rifle shooting?

We had a really large garden and my dad had an air rifle but was reluctant for me to use it. He said if I could find out more about shooting and join a club then I could do it. So I joined a local shooting club and the rest, as they say, is history.

What do you love most about it?

I love that it’s just about self improvement; it’s a pure sport in that it’s just you up against yourself and your target, which doesn’t change and doesn’t shoot back and you can’t cheat, there’s no way to.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It has to be winning two silver and two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, and breaking the British record for the 50m three positions in June last year.

How do you stay motivated?

The self improvement element makes you want to train more and work harder. London 2012 is such a great motivator too. Even for people who don’t really understand sport get that having the Games here is a really big deal. The chance to perform in front of your friends and family, and in front your peers too, so close to home, it’ll be amazing.

What are your tips for any youngsters interested in getting involved in shooting? Where should they start?

Read up about it as much as you can so you can better understand it, you’ll get more of an idea talking to your parents too. Safety-wise it’s one of the safest sports to do; it’s the only sport in the Olympics that hasn’t had any recorded injuries! But join a local club; it’s really the only way to get into it because there are so many restrictions about owning a firearm in the UK. Just go along to your local club and say hello.

Who in sport inspire you the most and why?

Matthew Emmons. He’s an American shooter who in the 2004 Olympics was out in front the whole way, but then on his last shot he hit someone else’s target, he missed, but he went on to the next Olympics and carried on. He’s taught me that sport isn’t all about winning. It’s about picking yourself up after a setback and carrying on. It’s not how you fall but about how you get up from a fall.

Full article first published by the Harlow Star.

London’s Calling: (full) interview with British triathlete Will Clarke

Will Clarke (left) running alongside Laurent Geelong

Will is such a nice guy! Wishing him all the best this summer. You can read the Q&A version of this feature on the Cambridge News Online and the full version in CB Magazine.

Raising the bar: interview with British high jumper Robbie Grabarz

Robbie - all set for the Olympics and hoping to break the British high jumping record too...

First published in CB magazine

A tiny bundle of Hope

Having overcome illness, bereavement, miscarriages and a cancer scare, Ellie Stoneley Gradwell turned to IVF to fulfil her dream of having a baby and, at 47, she’s now the proud mum of a gorgeous new daughter – with a perfectly appropriate name… (First published by the Cambridge News)

Five minutes with British cyclist Laura Trott

Laura in action

At just 19-years-old, Laura Trott, the world champion team pursuit cyclist from Cheshunt, is already racing toward her dream of competing in front of a home crowd at London 2012.

She told Ella Walker how chocolate, her family and the adrenaline buzz of winning keep her on track

How are you preparing for London 2012?

I have a number of different competitions that I’m hoping to compete in as stepping stones to the Olympic Games. My first competition will hopefully be on the Olympic track in London for the London World Cup. This will be a big competition for me as it’s on the track we’ll be using for the Olympics – it’s quite scary really. Next I’ll be aiming for the World Championships in Melbourne. That will be the last competition before the Olympics. In between that time I will be on the road for a bit, building my endurance and then back on the track for final preparations before the Games.

What got you into cycling?

Well it’s a long story really. When I was born I had a collapsed lung so when I was old enough, the doctor told my mum and dad I needed to do some sport to build up the strength of it and help regulate my breathing. So they chose swimming and trampolining to begin with, which I really enjoyed. At the time my mum also wanted to lose weight, and she got talking about it to a lady at swimming. She suggested we go to Welwyn and have a go on the outdoor velodrome. Then that was that; I was 8 at the time and haven’t stopped since.

What do you love most about it?

There’s not one thing that I love, it’s a number of things. I just love riding my bike and couldn’t imagine not doing it. I love all the people I work with, from my team mates to the people behind the scenes that you never see; like the people I work with at the English Institute of Sport. Then of course I love winning with my team. I love the way we all come together for the same thing and when it works, the feeling is great.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My highlight would be when I won my first senior World title in the team pursuit when I was just 18-years-old. I would never have imagined I’d be a first year senior and win at my first attempt.

What other sports do you enjoy watching or playing?

I still love trampolining. If I wasn’t cycling I would definitely start it again. I also like watching gymnastics and swimming.

How do you stay in shape?

I have to train six days a week so it’s quite easy for me to stay fit. I do a mixture of track training, road and even in the gym. It’s nice to have a bit of a variety, nothing gets boring that way.

Do you have to stick to a specific diet?

I wouldn’t say that it was strict. I have to eat well and eat the right things, but I wouldn’t say I’m the ideal athlete. As long as I feel healthy and I’m going well on my bike then that’s what matters to me. I don’t put on weight easily so I can get away with eating pretty much what I want to be honest. I absolutely love chocolate so that’s always part of my diet!

How do you stay motivated?

I love the feeling when you win. The adrenaline buzz you get is like no other feeling and I’d do anything to get it. Remembering what my dream is keeps me going. My family help keep me motivated as well, it’s nice to know that they are there for me.

What are your tips for any youngsters interested in getting involved in cycling? Where should they start?

Nice family rides are a great place to start, down local footpaths or even the new Sky rides which are great because they are all on closed roads so anyone can do them. There are also a lot of clubs all over the country for youngsters now which are great for teaching the basics of cycling.

My main tip is enjoying it and having fun, that’s the starting point for anyone getting into the sport!

Who in sport inspires you and why?

I have two people that really inspire me; one that everyone will know and one close to me.

Sir Chris Hoy inspires me because he just keeps going no matter how hard it is. Even after his favourite event got pulled out of the Olympics he didn’t give up, he just turned his hand to something different and became the best in that event too. He just has the right attitude towards his sport and is so motivated to win all the time.

The other is my sister Emma Trott. She inspires me because she was never on any of the programmes that British cycling run, she had to do it the hard way and try and make it as a pro on her own. When she was just 18 she moved to Belgium to live to try and kick start a career. She didn’t give up no matter how hard it got. She is someone I think a lot of people could learn from. She is now on a pro cycling team out in Holland.

Follow Laura on Twitter @LauraTrott31.  

First published by the Hertfordshire Mercury.