Julia Mitchell

ONE word summarises my sporting philosophy: companionship. The word, synonymous with sharing food together – from the Latin com panis, literally ‘with’ and ‘bread’ – expresses a celebration of enjoyment, derived from spending time with others.

Etymology aside, this ancient ‘togetherness’ distils perfectly for me the joyful essence of sport and friends, conversation and mealtimes. A simple word, forged deeply into my DNA and shaping my family’s history.

I was raised amidst