Excel Staff
Ben is the Founder of Excel, Pilates Works, and Room4health
After schooling in Edinburgh Ben went to Loughborough University studying Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreational Management. Ben then set up Excel Sports Academy in 1996 which offers children's sports camps in Edinburgh. After a brief spell in leisure club management he trained with the world famous Lynne Robinson of Body Control Pilates in London graduating in 2001.
Ben is a rugby enthusiast having represented Scotland while at school. He is also a keen amateur golfer although for one with such a good posture and balance he still finds it difficult to keep the ball on the fairway (can we say that about the boss?)
Monka Foo - General Manager
Monka Foo joined Excel in 2004 and set about developing a wide range of Excel Plus specialist sports and other activities for the less sporty. Having practiced in the alternative health care sector and undertook a postgraduate degree in Public Policy, Monka recognises the demand to keep Scotland active and healthy, and this begins with engaging children to develop an open and balanced view to sport and activities.Excel has that unique factor that gets children enthused in keeping moving. Excel’s sports coaches are always up for fun, and the challenge is turning that ‘oh, I hate when we have to play this at school’ to a fresh take on a familiar sport and turning it into a friendly competitive tournament, all competing together. Sport is great fun, in the right environment. Monka firmly believes that every child has something they can succeed in, sport is not just about playing the mainstream ball games, but a host of different activities to become involved in.
Monka is a sportswoman and has competed for Scotland in Home Internationals. She strongly believes that participation is the motive, after all, you have to be in it, to WIN it!
Jamie Donoghue - Cameraman and Director
Jamie has been the camp's cameraman/video editor for the past three years. His main duties at the camp are to organise the drama workshops and record highlights of the week's activities to show parents how their children have been getting on.
He recently finished an Honours Film and Media degree at Queen Margaret’s University, during which time he had 3 of his short films shown at the Filmhouse cinema. Since completing his degree he has been working at Edinburgh and Fife based video production companies, working on a variety of projects.
Jamie says the best thing about Excel is the variety of activities that the camp offers for children... at 11am you could be scoring the winning goal for your team in a game of football, at midday you could be showing the coaches how it's done on the tennis courts and then after lunch you could be putting in a prize winning performance in the week's drama film!
Colin Macpherson - Lead Practitioner and Camp Manager
Colin has managed Excel Sports for the last 3 years and he is also a Physical Education Secondary School Teacher.
Kayaking is Colin's favorite sport. He is an avid rugby fan and spectator and he enjoys taking his pet dog Jed for walks. Colin's hero is Lance Armstrong.
Colin feels his greatest personal achievement was Graduating as a PE Teacher and he has a goal for the future - to one day be the Head Teacher of a school.
Colin says that camp is a fun place for children to come and participate in a variety of sports with people of similar ages. The children are taught new skills to improve their performance within the activities, whether it is the first time they have tried the sport or confident performers. The camp staff is a friendly, approachable group of people who all have a variety of sporting background, from local sports clubs to international performers.
Carly Ralfs - Instructor
Carly loves all kinds of sports and she will have a go at anything and everything! Her latest craze is tennis, both playing and as a spectator sport. Saying that, her favorite sport is hockey. Her sporting hero is Dame Ellen MacArthur. Away from the world of sport, Carly enjoys nothing more than spending time with her three cats: Megan, Tasmine and Rufus.
Carly has met a lot of famous people: Kate Winslet, Robbie Coltrane, Saffron Burrows, Eddie Izzard, J. K Rowling. The list goes on, but we'll leave it here!
She says that life at camp is lots of fun and the best thing is getting to do a variety of different activities on a daily basis!
Ben Williams - Instructor (Specialist Instructor for Rugby)
Ben has just finished university, completing his Resource Management degree. When not studying hard, his great passion lies in the sport of rugby. Unfortunately, an injury stopped Ben from going professional in the sport. This has not dampened his love of it though and when he is not watching it, he is passing on his encyclopedic knowledge of it onto others through coaching! Other sports that Ben enjoys to watch and play are golf, football and tennis.
His love of rugby again shows when asked who his heroes are, with Andy Nicol and Gregor Townsend being top of the list. However, Ben is keen to prove there is more to him than meets the eye and also cites Secretary of State William Hague as being another hero of his! Also, another thing about Ben you may not know is that he used to have a goldfish called Sammy and he now has a dog called Lucky!
Ben says he loves how every day at Excel offers a new challenge and that is a whole lot of fun along with it.
Abi Beautyman - Children's Representative & Assistant Sports Coach
Abi used to come to Excel for a number of years as a participant but has since become the Children's Representative here. Her role is to provide the children with an always approachable outlet to discuss anything that's on their mind. Due to her many years experience here as a participant, she became known amongst the children and staff as one of the most friendly and easy to talk to 'Excel-ers' and her appointment as a Children's Rep was a very simple one!
Abi loves to watch tennis and rugby (especially the 6 nations) but participates mainly in dancing and rock climbing. She has proven herself to be a very talented rock climber and in 2009 got to the British Rock Climbing finals and in 2010 managed to come second in the Scottish Bouldering finals. Abi considers these to be her two greatest achievements to date.
She says that she really enjoys her time at Excel and she loves the fact that, despite having grown up, she can still be very much a part of Excel!
Andy Lambert - Sports Coach
Andy is a PE Teacher who loves all sports, rock music and and eating! Andy particularly enjoys playing Rugby but his favorite spectator sport is Boxing. Andy, a huge music fan has met the famous singer Paul Weller.
Andy completed that Edinburgh Marathon in 2007 and this is his greatest personal achievement to-date. He has a big goal set for sometime in the future - to cycle from John-o-Groats to Land's End! Might Andy have been inspired by his sporting hero Lance Armstrong?
Andy thinks life at camp is fun, fun, FUN!
Chris Hobson - Sports Coach
Chris says he is a calm, active and social person who likes playing and watching football. He also enjoys watching rugby matches and he has met some famous football players and rugby players too. Chris greatest personal achievement so far is having graduated as a PE Teacher. His grand goal for the future is to comlplete a marathon.
Chris has a pet dog called Ellie and she's a Westie.
Chris enjoys camp since it's both fun and educational, and it's a place for being active and making new friends!
Lucie Michell - Sports Coach
Lucie is a fun, out going and bubbly person who always has a smile on her face.
Lucie likes playing hockey and enjoys watching athletics and tennis. She says her greatest personal achievement is when she came 4th in the under 17's at National Finals, running 800 metres. Lucie has met the athlete Kelly Holmes.
Lucie goal for the future is to become a PE Teacher.
Robert Watson - Sports Coach
Robert loves life and lives it to the full. Robert likes watching football and boxing. He enjoys Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing and won a European Silver Medal in Tae Kwon Do Heavy Weight sparring. He says this is his greatest achievement to-date. His goal for the future is to succeed in his career as a Teacher.
Robert has meet some famous people: Gerard Buttler, Ricky Hatton, Danny Dyer and Jordan. His heroes are Bruce Lee and his own family.
Life at camp is fun, lively and non-stop!
Robin Cumming - Assistant Sports Coach
Robin is currently on a year out before going to University. His goal is to get through University successfully. Robin likes watching football and enjoys playing rugby. He says his greatest achievement to-date is been a part of his school's 1st XV team, winning the U18Scottish Schools' Cup.
Robin met the Queen when he was 6 years old. He admires Michael Jackson for his talent. Robin had a pet rabbit called Fidget when he was younger.
Camp is a lot of fun!
Dawne McPherson - Sports Coach
Dawne is a 21 year old PE Teacher student who loves a range of sports. Her favorite spectator sport is football and she got met her hero Herik Larsson.
Dawne plays rugby and her greatest personal achievement is when she got the opportunity for a trial for the Scotland U21 Women's Team and really hopes to get the chance again! She also hopes to become a successful PE Teacher.
Life at camp is enjoyable, an amazing experience and lots of fun!
Ross Grant - Assistant Sports Coach
Ross has just finished a gap year and is now heading for University and his goal is to get a degree.
Ross enjoys watching and playing football and his hero is Wayne Rooney. Ross also plays rugby and his greatest achievement to-date is playing Premier 1 rugby!
Ross had a pet hamster called Rosie when he was younger.
Camp is fun and enjoyable!
Siobhan Goldie - Sports Coach
Siobhan loves playing sports with her friends, especially badminton. She also likes swimming and going to the cinema.
Siobhan's greatest achievement to-date is to have graduated as a PE Teacher and her grand goal for the future is to complete a marathon. Siobhan has met the famous sporstman Steve Redgrave. Her hero is Kelly Holmes.
When Siobhan was younger she had pet dog called Buster.
Camp is fun - very busy but always fun!
Blair Duncan - Sports Coach
Blair is 19 and training to become a PE Teacher and getting in to Uni is his biggest personal achievement so far. He aims to graduate with a good degree.
Blair plays football and enjoys watching all sorts of sports live and on the TV. Cycling is one of his favorite spectator sports and he particularly enjoys watching his hero Chris Hoy in the saddle. Blair's grandest goal for the future is for Scotland to win the World Cup. Now, will Blair as the new Scotland manager be able take Scotland to the top?
When Blair was younger he had a pet dog called Meg.
Life at camp is lots of fun!
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE 
