A former pupil has returned to Rydal Penrhos to work with the school’s aspiring young athletes.

Mark Chan, who attended the school from 1996-2003, has been appointed as Strength and Conditioning Coach and has already made a significant impact since the start of the academic year.

Upon leaving Rydal Penrhos with some impressive qualifications, Mr Chan attended Royal Holloway at the University of London before obtaining his PGCSE at Bangor University.

He then took up a teaching position for a brief period before taking up a Strength and Conditioning coaching role with the Welsh Rugby Union Academy at nearby Coleg Llandrillo.

A qualified personal trainer with ten years’ experience in the field, Mr Chan specialises in strength training through which mobility elements play a key role, in addition to general fitness and conditioning.

The appointment is the latest boost for Rydal Penrhos’ thriving sporting provision, which has achieved considerable success at national and international level in areas such as Rugby, Hockey, Sailing and Swimming in recent years.

He is the second former pupil to return to his roots in recent weeks, with ex-Deputy Head Boy Sean Kitchen also joining the ranks as a teacher of Physical Education.

Head of Physical Education Nicky Head, said: “Mark is a highly experienced figure that has already achieved a considerable amount throughout his career, so it is fantastic to have him on board to enhance our athletic development programme.”