Sport

Glyn Barnett

Attended Gresham’s from 1981 to 1989 (Kenwyn & Woodlands).

As a 14 year old I had Alan Ponder and John Rowley visit my home encouraging me to pursue their respective sports. I chose shooting and my competitive rifle shooting began in 1985. In 1989 my International shooting opportunities began; I have now competed world wide, including success at 4 World Championships (3 gold, 1 silver) and 3 Commonwealth Games (Gold, Silver, 2 Bronze). It is, however, a success on home ground I am most proud of; I am one of only 5 marksmen (and women) to have won Her Majesties The Queen’s Prize 3 times in it’s 150 year history. It was the opportunity and foundation created at Gresham’s Rifle Club that set the path for my future, for which I will be forever grateful.

Deborah Fenn

Attended Gresham’s from 1994 to 1999 (Edinburgh).

In April/May 2013, international target rifle shooter Deborah competed for four weeks in The West Indies as part of a 22-strong team representing Great Britain. This is Deborah’s second time representing Great Britain at Senior Level, and her eighth overseas shooting tour. In team shooting, Deborah also regularly shoots for Suffolk County, the North London Rifle Club and Wandsworth Fullbore Rifle Team. Individually, Deborah has had a number of shooting successes, and notes one of her favourites as winning The Royal Naval Air Command open competition in 1999 (the year she left School), beating the then shooting master, Nigel Ball! Outside of shooting, Deborah is a Private Banker at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management and is very grateful for their support during her time away.

Ralph Firman

Attended Gresham’s from 1988 to 1993 (Farfield).

He is English-born but races under Irish citizenship. On leaving the School, Ralph Firman went straight into racing and led much of the 1995 Formula Three championship, but lost the title at the final round. He went on to win the title in 1996 – the same year in which he won the Macau Grand Prix. In 2003, he raced in Formula One at the Jordan team, taking part in 14 Formula One Grands Prix. In 2007, he won the Japan Super GT GT500 class championship with the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri. His sister, Natasha, is also a racing driver.

Natasha Howard

Attended Gresham’s from 1996 to 1998 (Edinburgh).

Natasha is a British rower. She rowed in the women’s eight at the 2008 Summer Olympics but could not row in the finals due to illness.

Richard Leman

Attended Gresham’s from 1972 to 1977 (Tallis).

Richard Leman was a member of the gold medal-winning Great Britain hockey team in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Four years earlier he won Bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He also won silver with the England squad at the 1986 Hockey World Cup in London. He Captained Great Britain and England from 1988 to 1990 ending his career with 228 caps. In 1984 Leman was awarded UK Hockey Player of the Year. After completing his playing career, he went into sports administration and was the Chair of GB Hockey from 2007 to 2017 when the women’s team won a Gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tom and Ben Youngs

Attended Gresham’s from 1995 to 2003 (Tallis) and 1996 to 2005 (Tallis) respectively.

Brothers Tom and Ben Youngs, Rugby Union players for England. Both play for Leicester Tigers, Ben as scrum-half and Tom as hooker. Although both have, at different times, played for England, they made their first joint appearance on 24th November 2012, as part of the line-up against South Africa at Twickenham. Talent for the sport runs in the family: the brothers’ father, Nick Youngs, played for both Leicester and England as scrum-half.

Gawain Briars

Attended Gresham’s from 1968 to 1978 (Crossways & Howson’s).

Gawain Peter Briars is a sportsman and lawyer. In the world of squash, he has won several major international titles and now serves as Executive Director of the Professional Squash Association.Gawain learnt to play squash at Gresham’s and became a professional squash player on leaving school at the age of eighteen, continuing as a professional until 1989. He became the British number one player in 1985, and at the top of his career was the fourth-ranked squash player in the world. He won titles in the USA, France, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Monte Carlo, Singapore and Malaysia, and was President of the world Professional Squash Association from 1985 to 1987. On retiring from the professional sport in 1989, Briars went to University College, Cardiff to study law, and subsequently qualified as a solicitor in 1994.

Kimberley Halton-Farrow née Morrison

Attended Gresham’s from 1991 to 2006 (Britten)

“I loved my time at Gresham’s School and took part in absolutely everything.. from the school ski trips to Europe, Hockey tours to South Africa and Canada and the highlight of each year in the senior school.. the annual Triathlon (Teachers V. Pupils)! I loved to race Julie Moore, my house mistress..

I dedicated myself to school and having been told to perhaps not pursue Mathematics at A Level Mr Beaney supported me to an A at A Level and I went on to study Mathematics at Loughborough University where I also played Field Hockey. Graduating from Loughborough, where I met my husband, we moved to London to both work in Finance, 4 years in to my banking career I took a career break to pursue the Professional World of triathlon. The day of writing (early 2022) I am ranked 44th in the World and have 2 x World Championships coming up this year in long distance Triathlon in Utah, USA and Hawaii.”