Golden ambition
Multi-medal winner and Head of PE Amy Pharaoh will represent England at bowls in the Commonwealth Games starting in Glasgow – aiming to add another gold to her collection.
Mrs Pharaoh lifted the pairs’ title in 2010, when they were held in Delhi.
Last time out, when the Games were hosted by Birmingham in 2022, she took silver in the same competition. Previously, she won bronze in Manchester (2002) and Melbourne (2006).
She travels to Loughborough to meet up with the rest of the team on Saturday before they go to Glasgow together next week.
Mrs Pharaoh’s first match will take place next Thursday (23 July), ahead of the opening ceremony on the same day.
Her partner in the ladies’ pairs will be Sian Honner from Kent, who she played with several times in the run-up to her golden performance in Delhi.
Mrs Pharaoh explained the competition will take place indoors at Glasgow’s SEC Centre alongside other sports in a quick-fire format, with two sets of five ends. Normally, a game would be 18 ends.
"It will be short and sharp and actually quite brutal,” she said.
“Anything can happen in short matches like this and I think the format lends itself to plenty of surprises. It should be exciting to watch.”
There will be four groups of six teams, meaning each has five fixtures. The winners of the groups will go into the semi-finals.
Mrs Pharaoh’s opening game will be against Namibia.
She switched to playing indoors for the first time in years in readiness for the Commonwealth Games.
She found out about her selection in February and it has been full on since.
“Preparations have gone really well and I feel good.
“We have had various training camps and had test matches against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
“We were in Loughborough at the weekend getting kitted out. Suddenly, that’s when it becomes very real. I’m just excited and can’t wait for the tournament to start.”
The Games have been hastily arranged in Glasgow after Victoria in Australia pulled out because of the costs.
It will be a pared back event as a result. Mrs Pharaoh will stay in hotels rather than an athletes’ village.
“I am just really grateful that bowls is still a part of it.
“We do not have an Olympic platform so the Commonwealth Games is a big thing for the sport.
“This is our chance to shine on a multi-sports stage.
“It taking part in Scotland is terrific because it’s a big sport up there.”
Mrs Pharaoh thanked colleagues, Executive Principal at Waltham Toll Bar Philip Dickinson and Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust’s Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown.
“They have all been so supportive and, as I’ve said before, I would not be able to do it without their support.
“The students have also been great. A lot of the older ones have an idea about what I’m doing outside of school.”
Mr Dickinson wished Mrs Pharaoh and her teammates good luck.
“She continues to be an inspiration to our students, maintaining the desire to stay at the top of her game,” he said.
“It takes a huge amount of dedication and practice but to represent the country in the sport she loves must help.
“We are delighted to have a genuine champion on the staff team and, hopefully, she will return to the academy in September with a gold medal in her hands.”
Some of Mrs Pharaoh’s students helped give her a send-off from the academy.
Emily Hornsey (15) said: “I think the school is very lucky to have her as a teacher.
“She’s great and a good role model. We are proud she is representing England at the Commonwealth Games and know it is an honour.”
Beth Horsewood (15) said Mrs Pharaoh was “inspirational”.
“It’s cool to know such a famous person and have her as our teacher.”
Head of PE at Waltham Toll Bar Academy Mrs Pharaoh, in her England kit, with students (left to right) Bella Horsewood, Emily Lamb, Betsy Willis, Ella Love, Emily Hornsey and Lily Stennett.
Mrs Pharaoh, representing England at the Commonwealth Games, with Executive Principal Mr Dickinson.
