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MARCH/APRIL 2022 s ISSUE 093

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE RUGBY James Haskell takes his podcast on tour

Life In The Fast Lane Formula One’s Christian Horner

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My life ... FREYA ANDERSON MBE , TEAM GB

How would you describe yourself ? Resilient and determined. And I try to be happy and bubbly – most of the time! Where is home? And work? Home is on the Wirral, in Upton. I currently live and train in Bath but I like to get home to see family and friends as much as possible. What did you want to be when you were younger? I actually always wanted to be a vet when I was younger but as my swimming progressed and became more than a hobby, it took over my studies! How did your time at Ellesmere College help nurture your future success? It allowed me to combine my swimming and studies in the same place and the support from my coaches and all the teachers was amazing. I feel very lucky to have been able to study there. You have previously commented that swimming helped to build your confidence when you were younger– what was it about competing in the sport that helped give you that boost? Swimming just helped me become confident in myself and my own skin, I learnt that I am quite strongwilled which is a great confidence boost. You find yourself out of your comfort zone all the time when you’re a swimmer, whether that’s training,

“Swimming just helped me become confident in myself and my own skin, I learnt that I am quite strong-willed which is a great confidence boost” competing on a world stage or speaking to the media, and that has been good for me as I’ve got older. I am definitely a lot more confident now. Name a few of your favourite places to be... I love going on city holidays. My favourite has to be Paris. When I’m home I just love to enjoy family dog walks along the Wirral way walk. Who is your sporting idol? When I was younger my idol was Rebecca Adlington. Her two gold medals in Beijing were just incredible and she has done so much to raise the profile of the sport and encourage more people to take it up. What was the last gift you gave someone? My friend and I baked a cake for my friend’s 21st which I was very proud of. I also gifted her some dried flowers which I love (they last for ages) and a fluffy jumper from SKIMS. Tell us a secret/fun fact? A secret fact is that I used to have a Hunger Games fan page on Instagram when I was about 12!

Who or what would you place in Room 101? Loud breathers or chewers - sounds mean but it’s a pet hate. What would your mastermind subject be? Hunger Games. What’s been your biggest life lesson? I think at the Olympics last year; to realise I’m more than just swimming. I’m a daughter, sister, friend, etc. And it took me a while to realise how important that is. How would you describe the dedication it takes to become an Olympic Gold Medalist? Gruelling I would say. It takes blood, sweat and a lot of tears (from me!). How has life changed for you since winning last year? It’s still been pretty normal. I just want to train even harder now. What was your reaction when you found out you would be receiving your MBE this year? I thought it was fake! My entire family was so made up. I was away when I got the letter as it was sent to my family home. My dad opened it for me and when he called to tell me, I thought it was a joke. It’s a real honour. Do you find younger generations look up to you now and what advice would you give to the students of Ellesmere College looking to achieve their own aspirations? Yes, I hope I can be a good role model. My advice would be to make sure you’re enjoying it, sometimes it can be hard to check yourself and it can turn into a chore when you’re not enjoying yourself so just make sure you are having fun. Instagram: insta freyaanderson_ Twitter: freyaandersonn

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A Life in the

FAST LANE Christian Horner is one of the biggest names in the world’s most glamorous sport

sk the team principal of Formula One champions Red Bull Racing what he wishes he’d known a decade ago and the response comes back full throttle. “Only that Lewis Hamilton would still be driving after all these years!” The 48-year-old is only half-joking. In December, Horner led his team to victory in the most dramatic season in F1 history, with Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, locked in a bitter battle from start to finish with Lewis Hamilton. The intense rivalry with Mercedes resulted in collisions, accusations and open warfare in the pit lane. The final final race of the season in Abu Dhabi saw Verstappen handed the trophy after a freak series of events that has caused repercussions throughout the sport and is set to shake-up the way races are run. “We really pushed hard to win the championship. It was no surprise to me that the season went down to that last race in Abu Dhabi. It was a fantastic climax to an incredibly challenging year,” says Horner. “It’s been so long since Red Bull won our four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013. The intensity of competition was fierce in 2021 but for the first time in seven years we put Mercedes, Hamilton and their team principal, Toto Wolff, under serious pressure.”

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Chester

the Perfect Day Cheshire’s namesake city is a brilliant way to spend the perfect day, from shopping to socialising, you’ll drink in the city sights and enjoy every minute.

UK’s most revered brands like Burberry and McQueen alongside high fashion from Italy, like Bottega Veneta and Valentino, not to mention classics like Mulberry and Saint Laurent. With three levels to explore, the welcoming team will happily help to dress you to the nines. Leaving the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, you will find Jigsaw on your left on Bridge Street Row. Jigsaw is renowned for its classic tailoring and timeless looks. Whether it’s a casual loungewear look, a chic suit, or a floaty dress, it is the place to stop for additions to the perfect capsule wardrobe. 56

IMAGES, FROM TOP - LEFT OT RIGHT: CHESTER SHOPPERS UNDER EASTGATE CLOCK - VISIT CHESTER; CITY GATE; CHESCA; EPICUREAN; FLANNELS; JIGSAW

s many racegoers will agree, there is nowhere finer to display your glad rags than the pretty Instagram-worthy streets of Chester. And as many also know, Chester city centre is the place to choose the perfect outfit. This is your guide on how to do both in style. Outfitters, as they were once known on these historical rows, are plentiful in the period buildings that line the atmospheric Chester streets. The city has become nationally acclaimed for its wealth of upmarket independent boutiques which sit happily tucked away amongst some of the more well-known retailers. For the ultimate in luxury attire, one of the first stops on any shopping spree should always be Flannels, situated on historic Eastgate Street, near the beloved Eastgate Clock – the second most photographed clock in the UK after Big Ben. Flannels is a beautifully fitted-out-haven with some of the

IMAGES, FROM TOP - LEFT OT RIGHT: BRIDGE ST ENTRY TO GROSVENOR SHOPPING CENTRE; THE GROSVENOR SHOPPING CENTRE, ST MICHAELS ROW; REISS; CHISOLM HUNTER; RIGBY JEWELLERS; TRUST & CO; THE ROWS JEWLLERS; LOTUS DIAMOND; CLOGAU

Take the steps down from the rows onto Bridge Street where so many independent clothing boutiques reside and take your pick of the shops. From local favourite, Chester Boutique where the friendly Dawn is always on hand to suggest an outfit, to City Gate for men that like to stand out from the crowd. Epicurean is the relatively new kid on the Bridge Street block. Independently owned, with a carefully curated collection of beautiful items, look out for styles from Emily Lovelock and Zanne for a cool and effortless look. While you’re there try to keep yourself away from the homewares and gifts - if you can... Stroll back up Bridge Street and you can either dive into Chesca on Eastgate, the ultimate in occasion wear for sizes twelve plus, or waltz down to Watergate Street passing Chester’s famed cross, where the city’s four pedestrianised streets meet. On Watergate Street, alongside the modish bars, restaurants, and hip beer spots (we’ll get to these...) sit some of the city’s best-loved high street retailers. Reiss is a favourite luxury high street brand for any fashionista who loves modern tailoring and wants to transcend time and trends. The Chester store is a cool airy space that could be mistaken for an art gallery and is a joy to shop in. If you want the epitome of a classic English gent on your arm, there is no finer, more proper place than Gieves & Hawkes for suits and outfits for special occasions. From a simple navy blazer to tweeds and linens, Gieves will make him as

dapper as dapper can be. Even a small accessory from Gieves & Hawkes, like a pocket square or tie, will be sure to bring out his gentlemanly qualities. With the outfit put together, it must be time to style it to perfection. Chester is well-known for its jewellery offering and has jewellers to suit every budget, and many antique jewellers too if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind period piece. Mappin and Webb are set to launch a large showroom in one of Chester’s most pretty buildings within the Eastgate rows, or dip under the Eastgate clock onto Foregate Street and you’ll find Clogau, for attractive and accessible pieces. Alternatively try The Rows Jewellers, Chisholm Hunter, or for a little sparkle, Lotus Diamonds or Trust & Co, whose diamonds sparkle as much as their reputation for service. Chester independent, Rigby Jewellers have the perfect accessory for the well-turned-out fellow, in the form of a silver and gold pocket watch.

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A udi d o that? James Fossdyke reckons the go-faster version of Audi’s flagship saloon is an engineering masterpiece with extraordinary breadth of capability

istory and logic tell us that big things should not go quickly. It didn’t do the Titanic much good, and I’m pretty sure the B-52 is not the fastest aircraft in the sky, even after the demise of the diminutive Concorde. Were large things meant to go quickly, John Prescott would be speed skating and F1 cars would be the size of ocean tankers. So why in the name of all that’s holy is Audi – the sensible German brand that built your estate agent’s diesel hatchback – making a 2.2-tonne, 5.2-metre luxury saloon car that does 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds? And that’s before we get on to the fact that, in this day and age, the idea of a petrol-powered superlimousine seems somewhat old-fashioned, with the clever money going electric (or at least hybrid). In a brief nod to convention, Audi has also built a big hybrid saloon car – the snappily named A8 60 TFSI e – but decided a faster, more powerful and more expensive car was also required. So the Germans ditched the electric motor, bolted a dirty great V8 engine in under the bonnet and created this: the S8. From the outside, it looks every inch the luxury saloon car, with chrome trim on the grille and door mirror fairings, as well as some 20-inch alloy wheels. Even the striking Ultra Blue metallic paint looks classy, albeit a bit more garish than the traditional blacks, greys and silvers most customers will almost certainly choose. Anyway, it looks much the same as the standard A8 that chauffeurs you to and from the airport.

It looks similar inside, too. The design is ultramodern in that oh-so Germanic way, with lots of metal and shiny surfaces, mixed in with the sumptuous leather and some glossy trim. The piano black plastic on the dash won’t be to every taste, and it looks a bit grubby if it gets touched, but when it’s clean it adds some shine to the cabin. But the biggest light bringers are the three screens that punctuate the whole dashboard. In front of the driver is Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, which is pin-sharp and highly configurable, allowing you to choose the information you see. It’ll even give you a Google Maps-style satellite image of the surroundings when it’s in ‘navigation’ mode. Not only that, but the system allows you to choose the size of the instrument dials or even select which vehicle parameters it will display. Want to see the fuel economy, rather than what’s on the radio? You can, but you probably shouldn’t. In the centre, there are two screens that work together to take the strain normally carried by conventional buttons. I’m no fan of hiding buttons in fiddly, distracting touchscreens, and this is no exception. However, the screens are clear and relatively logical, so it isn’t as bad as it could be. Adjusting the temperature is still a bit of a faff, though, and it would be much safer if those things were controlled with proper switches. Anyway, I digress. All this is fairly standard for Audi’s big limo, and the S8’s only real concession to sportiness is the carbon-fibre trim that replaces the usual wood, aluminium or piano black veneer. Otherwise, it’s a picture of comfort, with soft leather seats and plenty of space. Admittedly, there’s no long-wheelbase ‘L’ version available to offer extra rear passenger space, as there is with lowlier versions of the A8, but it’s hardly cramped. The back seats offer plenty of legroom and headroom, so fitting four adults won’t be a problem, even on a long journey. Even their luggage will travel comfortably, thanks to the 505-litre boot. That’s enough for suitcases and golf clubs, but beware of its shape. It’s long, wide and shallow, so

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