Helen Toh Mui Chiam - Top Runner of Dunearn Secondary School (Early 1990s)
Picture 1 - Helen (right) standing with husband Andrew Oh (left)
From Underdogs to Champions
With former pupils like Helen Toh, Xu Pei Hua and other Dunearn Secondary School students, Dunearn Secondary, School once a upon a time came in champions in the under 17 girls division. I was there for teaching practise for 3 months. Within 3 months, I realised that there were about 30 students who joined the middle and long distance running group as a CCA. Of the lot, Helen Toh was the fastest. In one of the Swift cross-country meet, she even came in as a champion. In C Division National Schools' Cross-Country Championships under 14 race Xu Pei Hua came in third. When Helen went up from sec 3 to secondary 4 and Xu Pei Hua go from sec 2 to secondary 3, the team of Dunearn became formidable. I used to call them Dunearn Dynamites in the past. True to the words, these girls did wonders by coming in as the champion team for the under 17.
The amazing thing about Dunearn Secondary School was that it was a government school and was not really known for long distance in the past.
I also remember Anglo Chinese Junior College calling me and requesting me to give these runners to them. Both were able to go to the university and finish their degree.
The best thing about these girls plus the other Dunearn girls was that they were able to achieve excellent result when they actually entered the arena of running as the underdogs.
Having said that, I would like interview Helen as I have finished interviewing Xu Pei Hua earlier on.
This is good for mainstream schools as government schools can become champions if they put their heart mind and souls to train hard. They should not lose heart and to also go for the title if they want to work hard with discipline and determination like the girls from Dunearn. Helen’s two children are in Flexifitness Young Champions' Programme and she believes that they will excel through in the long run through this programme. Now, it is time for her to give back to her children.
An Interview With Helen Toh Mui Chiam
When did you take up running?
In Secondary One
Can you tell us on your background when you were young, your activity pattern?
I lived in the kampong, it is called village in Malay, in Chua Chu Kang Road. I had a wonderful childhood, playing most of the times, especially during school holidays. I climbed Rambutan trees, picked durians in the middle of the night, ran after chickens and ducks to scare them, played catching with my cousins, catch fishes in the river, played jumping airplanes (ie the 1 leg hop), cycled a lot and played badminton with my siblings. My dad built a badminton court in front of our house, it served as an area to sun our clothes in the morning and afternoon, and a playground in the evening. I loved to cycle. My uncle picked up an old small blue bicycle from the market and gave to me. I would push up my bike up a slope 100m long, 45 degree gradient behind my house, sat on the bike and down I went, balancing myself and fell a few times, but after a few attempt, I ride like a pro, hahaha. Later I moved to ride adult bike at age 12 onwards.
Tell us on how you joined the school cross-country?
I wanted to join computer club at first. When I stepped into the computer lab, the person in charge asked me to choose a computer and show him what computer skills I had. I chose a computer and sat down, but I did not know where the switch to power on the PC was. He looked at me, and smiled. I felt so embarrassed as I don’t even know where the switch was. I stood up, thanked him and left the room. My friend Limei, who was beside me at that time, suggested to me to try Band. We went, got in, and chose an instrument. I practiced the instrument at my house. My dad did not like it. He said it will hurt my lung and asked me to quit. As for myself, I did not really enjoy the blowing. I decided to quit. Limei, my friend, then suggested that we joined Track & Field.
How did Dunearn Secondary School win the Cross Country Championships in the past? name me the year if you can and the names of the runners as well.
We trained a lot. Macritchie Reservoir was our favorite training ground. The Track team was a big group, comprising A-Division, B-Division & C-Division boys and girls. Head Coach was Mr Lim, later came Coach Ram. Both of them trained the team. Coach Ram fine tuned a big part of the training programmes. We ran a lot in Macritchie, long distance route, followed by exercise, sprint and positive visualization. Training on a Sat would start at 8.30am, everyone was on time, and ended around noon. After the training the team would go out for meals, it was very fun. We would go for lunch at Serene Centre or Beauty World. Weekday training will either be in school field or Macritchie also. Training became a routine for the team, after school we go. The team spirit was high and positive and encouraging. As we trained and improved our timing, winning became a possibility and not just a dream. We believed we can win and indeed we did. Luck is a combination of opportunity & a lot of hardwork. I still remember the names : Limei, JieJun, Jinlian, Baojing, Peihua, Yongmei, Yongchuan, etc.
Why did you join cross-country as a cca?
In the then Dunearn Sec Sch, there was no split between Track & Field & Cross-country. I prefer Cross-country as it was an individual sport and the run allows me to have time of my own and think. Also I like to run long distance, the longer the better. I couldn’t sprint.
Can you tell us about your best achievement to date?
My best achievement in sports was I came in second in national school cross-country championships. In real life, my achievement is raising up 3 active children and being a supportive spouse to my husband.
Did you continue running?
Yes but not frequent. I stopped running for a long time when I gave birth to my 3 kids, in a span of almost 10 years. Only picked up running again 4 years ago, casual run on weekends when I bring them to the park. Now I joined my daughter running on Saturdays. .
Can you share with us on how you children are doing in sports?
My daughter Emma P6 switched from competitive swimming (Primary 4-Primary 5) to Young Champions' sports programme, training under Coach Rameshon. My son Ethan Primary 5 is currently in competitive swimming, his focus is in Backstroke. Ethan is able to run, swim and cycle. My youngest son Ewan P1 is very fortunate being able to join his sister for running on Saturdays, and learning swimming twice a week during weekdays. He is able to swim all strokes, and is now learning stroke correction with the coach.
Why are you still passionate about sports?
Helen –Sports instill discipline and self control and sport also give confidence and self worth. I experience the goodness of sports in my life and I firmly believe sports can bring out the best in a person.
What about your husband, is he passionate about sports?
My husband played water polo in his University years. He also swam for the army and University. He is as passionate about sports as I do. That is the reason we are both very supportive to our 3 kids and fetching them to training is not an issue and we love it.
Why do you think sports is good for life?
Keep you healthy and focus and is very important to be healthy at retirement age so can enjoy life and remain active. Our children will also be influenced by the good habit of keeping healthy and learning to choose healthy lifestyle.
Why did you put your child in Flexifitness Young Champions' Programme?
I had benefitted so much from Coach Ram’s coaching 20 years ago when he started coaching us in year 1988. Because of his well thought training programme, I am able to achieve timing good enough to be admitted into ACJC after my O-levels via DSA. I continued training under Coach Ram in JC1 ; 2. Because of the discipline and maturity developed through endurance running, coupled with good teachers in ACJC, I am able to do well in my A-levels and enrolled into NUS. It was a dream fulfilled for my father and I am able to make him proud. I firmly believe Emma will benefit under Coach Ram vast experience as a running coach. Coach Ram is an excellent mentor and coach, bring out the best in the kids and believing in them. That is why when Coach Ram told me about this programme he started in July 2011, I enrolled my daughter in August. Having the right coach is very important.
How do you find the program?
Focus on the kids’ motor skills and agility, develop the core skills they need to have before embarking them into specialized sports. A well thought all rounded programme.
Do you think that motor skill is important for children?
Yes very important.
