October 2008 25www.the-actuary.org.uk
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SIAS Event
SIAS summer
boat party
Report by
Nilantheny Christie
Friday 25 July was a glorious summer's
day, and what better way to enjoy it
than a cruise along the Thames? That
is exactly what 170 actuaries did to
celebrate this fortunate and highly
improbable day of sunshine in London.
After two hours of hard graft decorating
the Golden Jubilee, we were ready to
begin the `Traffic Light' summer party.
Covered in red, yellow and green balloons
and streamers, she met her eager guests
at Embankment pier at 6.30pm. Together
with Zara Fox from RBS Insurance, my
first task was to make sure everyone got on
board and all received a fun party bag.
Thereafter, guests were welcomed by a
refreshing glass of Pimms and lemonade,
much to the delight of Shamim Ashraf
who had built up quite a thirst from all
the balloon blowing.
The upper deck was full of music and
chat with everyone soaking up the sun's
rays, and enjoying the tasty BBQ aromas.
Food was served at 8pm and what
a feast it was. Capital Pleasure Boats
cooked up a fine spread, with guests so
impressed they clamoured for seconds.
As the casino table opened, lucky
Hannah Morris from Axa won a bottle
of champagne. It was then time to
try out a few disco moves and Rachel
Beasley and Katherine Catchlove from
AIG Life got the party started and ruled
the dance floor.
The saying `time flies when you're
having fun' fitted well with this party
as four hours had flown by and, before
we knew it, we were docking back at
Embankment. Luckily, Alvin Kissoon had
thought ahead and had organised a mini
after-party at Motion bar with cocktails
provided by SIAS -- just when we
thought the night couldn't get any better.
I would like to thank everyone for
coming and I can safely say that it was a
roaring success and fun was had by all.
John McAleer, an actuary with Aon
Consulting, shares his experience of training
for London 2012
Chasing my goal of representing Great Britain
at the London 2012 Olympics has been an
amazing and life-changing experience.
At the end of 2006 I was given the chance
to join the British Handball Association's World
Class Handball Programme after a UK-wide
selection process. Midway through studying
for my final actuarial exams, I decided to seize
the opportunity and put my actuarial career
with Aon Consulting in Glasgow on hold.
So, what is handball? It's a fast, high-
scoring contact sport, with seven players
in each team. Players try to throw the ball,
which is slightly smaller than a football, into
a two by three metre goal. Each team has a
six metre goalkeeping area (shaped like a
`D') in which only the goalie may stand. The
team that scores most goals wins.
There are professional leagues in most
European countries, though it has never
really taken off in Britain. Handball was
introduced as an Olympic sport for men at
the 1936 Olympics but dropped after that,
only to be resumed at the 1972 Olympics.
Women's handball was introduced at the
1976 Olympics.
As part of my preparation for London
2012, the Programme has set up base at a
sports academy in Denmark, funded by the
lottery. The training is demanding at six
days a week.
The plan is to fast-track the GB team's
development by linking up with the
Danes, who have a long tradition of
Olympic success in handball. There are
currently around 30 British players based
at the academy which is in Denmark's
second largest town of Aarhus.
Highlights from the past few years
include winning `Player of the Year' for
my Danish club side last season, and
beating teams that would have defeated
us two years ago.
Alongside my training, I also managed
to finish the dreaded actuarial exams at
the end of 2007.
As much as I enjoy training with
the sports academy, there are a few
drawbacks such as being away from
home, sporting injuries and training at
7.30am on a cold winter's morning.
The team is busy preparing for a tour
of Asia at the end of October. I am also
trialling at a new club -- Aarhus GF -- and
am hoping to secure a spot for the coming
season. My ultimate goal for 2012 is to win
a medal for Great Britain.
For more information check out www.
britishhandball.com or feel free to look at
my blog on www.blog.scottishhandball.com
The actuarial Olympian
People/Society News
Staying out for the
summer: the SIAS
crew set sail

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