‘ It is fun. You can be a coach too. I will
help you to play and to be a coach like me. We are very very good at it. If you don’ t have Down’ s syndrome you can play too.
HARRY’ S GAME 15
H arry
Fairchild is a bit of a local celebrity in Brighton. A talented actor, dancer and musician, he has worked as a professional Makaton sign language teacher at St Luke’ s Primary School for over three years.
However, table tennis is Fairchild’ s real passion. He has been part of the Brighton Table Tennis Club( BTTC) coaching team for a year and in 2016 he passed his Level 1 coaching course to become the UK’ s first qualified table tennis coach with Down’ s syndrome.
The demanding three-month course included a practical assessment of delivering table tennis skills to a group of children, as well as a whole host of written work.
But Fairchild took it all in his stride:‘ I had help from my coaches and other friends on my course,’ he says.
‘ People helped me learn it. I had help with writing. There was a lot of writing! I had to work hard. I did good listening too. I liked practicing and telling people what to do.
‘ I am best at helping people play table tennis. I make the players feel good and they like me being a coach. I think I coach children best and they love me a lot.’
Fairchild has represented the club at the Malmo Open, one of the biggest disability sporting events outside of the Paralympic Games.
And despite going down the coaching career path, he is still a very ambitious player. As he puts it:‘ I am a coach and a player.’
Tim Holtam, BTTC Director and founder thinks Harry is a great role model for his club and the sport.
‘ Table tennis is lucky he has decided to focus his boundless energy on the sport.
‘ He plays between three and five hours, six days a week, and his passion for the sport and support for others make a great contribution to the club.
‘ He is also an outstanding player with a great future ahead of him and was last year crowned UK table tennis champion at the Special Olympics national competition as the highest finisher with Down’ s syndrome.’
‘ It is fun. You can be a coach too. I will
help you to play and to be a coach like me. We are very very good at it. If you don’ t have Down’ s syndrome you can play too.
‘
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