"I began teaching at Waltheof School," she says, "and am now a lecturer in sport at Sheffield Hallam University. I was a student at both universities (the old Poly) in Sheffield.

"My grandparents lived in Sheffield so I visited often when I was a child and was walked through Whiteley Woods to the Botanical Gardens by my grandfather, where my earliest memories are of the talking mynah bird, the statue of Peter Pan and the bear pit.

"I learned to ride my bike and roller skate in Endcliffe Park. I started rowing when pupils and staff at Waltheof School encouraged me to have a go in a four at Damflask."

Sports clubs

We have a wealth of sporting opportunities and great partnerships with schools and the universities. If you want to achieve in sport then Sheffield is a good place to be.

Before I took rowing seriously I played student hockey and basketball in Sheffield and then progressed to Bankers and Sheffield hockey clubs at Abbeydale Park.

I don't remember many highlights on the pitch from my hockey days. However, my memories of post match activities in the bar at Abbeydale on a Saturday still make me smile…

The best Saturday action progressed to Tigers Rugby Club. Match days usually finished off at the New India Garden for a curry. Happy days! The annual varsity fixtures between Sheffield Hallam and the University of Sheffield are coming up and it's good to see that students of both unis still enjoy competitive sport with a few pints of cider and black afterwards.

I still follow local hockey and rugby in the Telegraph. I'm a supporter of Betty Codona and the women's basketball club Sheffield Hatters. Volleyball is also big in Sheffield. I'm an active member of Sheffield's rowing clubs: City of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam and University of Sheffield RC, which operate as a partnership at Damflask.

Damflask Reservoir

This is my favourite place to row, in the company of the mallard ducks (with ducklings in April), the white geese, the heron families with long legs and big chests and Colin the cormorant who has been sitting watching me from the red buoy in the middle of the dam for about ten years – or maybe it's son of Colin?

The dam is usually at its best for rowing in early morning and if it's mirror flat and we can row a full 2000 metres from the dam wall to the neck, even better. I mostly scull up and down in a yellow single sculling boat.

We rowers are quite hardy and our club facilities are fairly agricultural and basic with just one toilet and no heating. However, those that stick at it are determined and committed characters. We have to tough it out in the winter and get pretty good at handling cold, rough water.

The reservoirs and rivers are a huge asset to Sheffield and it's good to see them made available for a variety of recreational users. Check out the walking tracks.

Postcard café, Low Bradfield

My number one refuelling point after rowing.

In fact if the water looks too rough from the road at the dam, I don't even bother to go down to the boathouse but just head straight for the café!

Butternut squash soup with fresh bread, banana cake and coffee are my top choices. This is amazing good value and even better as a couple of the rowing club girls work there to help me choose the biggest piece of cake! Try to avoid upsetting Shaz (Postcard proprieter) by asking for soup before midday!

Peak District

Sheffield is a bit like Rome with its hills and rivers and anyone that spends time running or biking is sure to get fit.

The Peak Park is the jewel in the crown and my preference is for the rugged Dark Peak scenery and its related outdoor activities.

My best off-road bike ride starts at Ashopton Viaduct and goes up Derwent Edge, over to Jaggers Clough, Hope Cross, Edale, Mam Tor and down Pindale (black run) with a mug of tea and treacle tart pit stop at the Woodbine Café in Hope.

My top walking day involves taking the train out to Grindleford and walking back to Sheffield via Padley Gorge, Burbage, Houndkirk Moor and finally down the Porter Valley, through the parks to Hunters Bar.

As a teacher at Waltheof we used this as an induction walk for our new Y7 pupils. I now take the Hallam PE students on the same trip at the start of their teacher training course. I hope it inspires them to use the Peak Park and the parks with Sheffield pupils.

If you have a spare day it's not much money to get a single ticket on the train and start your walk with a breakfast at Grindleford café.

Parks, woodlands and a gas lamp…

The Sheffield parks are another highlight, particularly Endcliffe Park where a fantastic adventure playground has been created. The park is also the venue for The Wood Fair with music, dance and woodcraft exhibitions.

Ecclesall Woods at bluebell time is not to be missed. Finally the old gas lamp on Brincliffe Edge Road is always a positive landmark for me. If I'm on my bike or running it means that it's down all the way…

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