16 Abingdon Prep • January 2023 SPORT MEET OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF SPORT, ELLIOT BIRKBECK Meet Elliot Birkbeck - New Director of Sport at Abingdon Prep School - a job which couldn’t be better suited to this diverse and dedicated sportsman. For in his time, Elliot has played a variety of different sports to a highly competitive level. At School, he played in the 1st team for hockey and cricket and captained the 1st XV rugby side. Thereafter, he represented Northamptonshire in hockey; represented Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire and then the South of England in rugby; and he won a rugby scholarship to The University of Leeds (where he did a degree in Sports and Exercise Science). When he graduated, he took up Triathlon, representing the Great Britain in his Age Group team, seeing success in both the European and World championships. And his love for sport is almost equal to his love of teaching. Elliot may be a new face to Abingdon Prep but his is not a new face to the Abingdon Foundation. He joined Abingdon in 2014 as a graduate trainee. During his time here, he has done his PGCE, been a PE teacher, Boarding Tutor, become Teacher in Charge of Cross Country and, most recently, has been Head of Cross Country and Head of Athletics. As he moves on to take up the mantle of Director of Sport at Abingdon Prep, he jokes: “My career is better than being a professional athlete. I get to take pupils to competitions, see their progress and share in their successes and losses, without having to deal with the sore muscles afterwards! It is so rewarding to give young people the opportunity to try new disciplines and develop a love for sport. I’m so grateful for the support and career progression I’ve been given at Abingdon and now can’t wait to start my new role at the Prep School where I believe my expertise will lend itself to directing an overall sports programme.” Asked what he is most looking forward to about his new role, Elliot says: “I really love the energy and enthusiasm that you get with younger children and I think watching their progress as they grow and develop their skill set is going to be enormously rewarding.” Elliot’s excitement in anticipation of his new role is nothing compared to that of Headmaster, Craig, who adds: “Not only is Elliot a fine sportsperson with fantastic credentials but he is also someone who understands the requirement for all children to participate, and have fun, in sport - an ethos which is at the very core of the Abingdon Foundation. “Elliot’s knowledge of our Senior School and his strong relationships with the staff will also help to serve Abingdon Prep School for our continued and closer collaboration in the year’s ahead.” Elliot Birkbeck starts as Director of Sport at Abingdon Prep School in January 2023.
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