Rachel Howard
My personal details
Date of Birth: 04 March 1985
Place of Birth: Welwyn Garden City
Living: Bath
Right/Left hand: Right
Height: 5ft 8in
Racket: Ashaway Superlight T5
Sponsors: Ashaway, Badminton England
Highest world ranking: LS 121 (Current 124 due to injuries 2008-9)
Highest national ranking: LS 3 (Current 10)
About me on court
Event(s): Ladies Singles
Coach(es): Pete Bush
County/Team: Hertfordshire/ Almere BC, Holland
Started badminton at age: 11
How I got started: Schools competition representing Abel Smith School, Hertford
Ambition as badminton player: To fulfil my potential, and achieve in international competitions.
First represented England: Junior - 8 Nations, France (1999), Senior - Uber Cup, Holland (2008)
Season’s best performance: Slovenian International Series Semi-finalist (2009)
Best performance of career: U22 4 Nations Singles & Doubles Winner (2007) beating Camilla Sorenson and Karina Jorgenson
Major national achievements
- National Junior Singles & Doubles Champion (2004)
- Challenger (second) Circuit Winner (2003/4, 2004/5, 2005/6)
- Elite (top) Circuit Finalist (2006/7) and Winner (2007/8)
Major international achievements:
- Welsh & Czech International Series Doubles Finalist (2006)
- U22 4 Nations Singles & Doubles Winner (2007)
- Bulgarian International Challenge Singles Semi-finalist (2007), beating Elizabeth Cann and Anu Neminem
- Selection for Uber Cup & European Championships (2008)
- Slovenian International Series Semi-finalist (2009)
Biggest disappointment: Struggling with foot injuries, including two stress fractures and ankle ligament damage, during my first two seasons playing full-time
Favourite tournaments: World University Student Games, Bangkok, All England Championships
The one change I would make to improve my sport: To have a club system like other European countries.
About me off court
Occupation: Part-time MSc student/ Part-time badminton player
Qualifications: MSc Mental Health Studies, King’s College London (2009-11), BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Bath (2003-7) 2.1, A-levels, Simon Balle School Hertford (1996-2003) AAABB
My hobbies: Psychology, travelling, live music, theatre, golf, playing guitar.
Family: Mother Cheryll, Father Keith, Sister Ruth (22)
Significant Other: Daniel
My car: VW Golf
Favourite food: Flapjack!
Favourite cities Bath, Edinburgh
Favourite holiday destination: The Algarve, Portugal
If not badminton then I’d be: A clinical psychologist
My personality in a nutshell: Hard working, friendly and caring.