Course: Brewing & Distilling, 2nd year
Club: Edinburgh Sports Club

How did you get into your sport?

I played a mixture of sports as a kid. The town that I grew up in, Montrose, had a sports centre that I attended most days after school and all through the school holidays. The squash courts were the first thing you could see as you walked in, but it was the sound that drew me in. The thumping of the ball off of the wall combined with the dynamic movements requiring all aspects of fitness mesmerised me. The sport had everything and I knew I had to try it. From my very first Saturday morning group as a 9 year old I was hooked.

What are the best and most challenging things about your sport?

Gladiatorial Chess in a glass box!

What have been your biggest achievements to date?

My proudest moment was returning to the world tour after being out of the game for 3 years with an illness. I never thought I would return and compete however with a lot of perseverance I got back and won a title within a few months, the title wasn’t what I was proud of, putting myself back out there and coming full circle gave a lot of belief.

I have over 100 caps for Scotland and represented Scotland at two commonwealth games. We are now gearing up for Birmingham 2022 and it’s bringing a lot of excitement to the training environment. Playing an individual sport we don’t often get to come together and be team. There is not a feeling like it when hundreds of athletes are all wearing the same kit all fighting for one another.

What are your goals in your sport?

I hope to achieve a medal at the next Commonwealth Games. We get an opportunity to play ‘doubles’ in squash once every 4 years at these games and getting a medal alongside my partner is something thats always in the forefront of my mind.

What do you do to relax when you’re not training or competing?

Source a coffee shop I haven’t been to yet…

Who is your sporting icon, and why?

To be honest I couldn’t pin point one person as throughout my career there have often been different individuals that have had an impact on me for one reason or another, whether it be in my sport or other sports. it’s easy to identify with other racket sports and often I have looked up to tennis players and in particular taken a lot from their books or interviews. Not quite an icon or role model as such but something I take a lot from in that sense is my own training group here in Scotland. There are some incredible individuals that in their own way inspire and motivate me and that is a privilege I don’t take for granted. Surrounding yourself with likeminded athletes who are all so hungry to be better and achieve is a really great feeling.