ShAFF Ambassadors
ShAFF Ambassadors are climbers, bikers, runners and other active folk who live in or near sheffield and who are famous within their circles. check out the list of ambassadors who have endorsed shaff and what it's all about. there are links to their blogs and websites plus a bit of info about each of them. being an ambassador means tickets to the festival too, so you might well bump into them in the bar. we've also gathered some lovely testimonials from one or two famous 'adventure folk' from outside of sheffield.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes - The World's Greatest Living Explorer: "Unless you are on top of Everest there are few better places to be on a March weekend." Julia Bradbury, broadcaster, whose love of the countryside & travelling...
Alan was born and bred in Sheffield. He did his first climb on the local gritstone in 1971 following in his father's footsteps, taking it up as a full-time passion through the 1980s. In 1992 he wrote his first guidebook...
I grew up in the Peak District, going to school in Bakewell. I moved away from the area but soon gravitated back to the steel city. I have represented GB in both Duathlon and Triathlon over the past three years but...
Andy is ShAFF's Patron, a climber, award winning author, public speaker and all-rounf funny man. (You can also watch his teenage daughter Ella attempt to climb the 1000m El Capitan in My Life: The Big Climb at this year's...
“Sheffield is a fantastic place for being able to pop out onto the rocks and a top spot for heading out for a run. For me SHAFF is a brilliant event for seeing the best outdoor films on offer, being inspired and for...
Annie Last based out of Bakewell in Derbyshire started MTB racing as a 13 year old after a bet with her brother. 9 years later she is a MTB World Cup Winner, 2 x Silver Medallist at the U23 MTB World Championships and...
Ben moved to Sheffield in 1997 – to be close to the climbing on the illustrious gritstone edges of the Peak District. Not only is there an endless amount of world class climbing on it’s doorstep, but Sheffield also...
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Moon, along with his climbing partner Jerry Moffatt drove forward the level of sport climbing in the UK especially, but also throughout the world. He was the first person to climb a...
Ben is a Sheffield based cameraman. He has made award winning films since 2000. benpritchard.tv
Brian McAlinden moved to Sheffield from a much rainier Northern Ireland to work in the outdoor industry and try "this much heralded 'Gritstone' climbing." He became the manager of The Climbing Works in 2007 and has been...
I came to Sheffield University as I loved the Outdoors. Here I learnt to snowboard at the Ski Village and I then followed my love of this sport around the world. Whilst living in Whistler for a snowboarding season I...
Dave is an experienced fell runner with a background in teaching sport and outdoor education. He loves the variety of running that the Peak District offers and the fact that it is so close to Sheffield. He said: "I...
Dave has been Chief Executive of the BMC since 2002. As a keen all round climber his recent highlights include the west face of Cerro Torre in Patagonia (2013) and the previously unclimbed 20,500ft peak – Gojung – on...
Retired teacher, Dot Kesterton took up running in 2008 after a challenge from a friend to run 10k within 8 months. Her first race, in June 2008, was a Race for Life at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield and was a “ bit of...
Duncan Philpott is a freelance adventure sports photographer specialising in mountain bikes. After stumbling his way into the Sheffield riding scene while studying for a Maths degree he started with a small commercial...
Ed Douglas is a writer and journalist who recently featured in the feature documentary Sherpa. He is currently working on several book projects, including a meditation on Kinder Scout. @calmandfearless (Photo by Alex Ekins)
Ed moved to the Peaks for the climbing in 2010, the year he became British Junior and Senior Lead Climbing Champion. Sheffield Walls for training and the Peaks for outdoor climbing are legendary, world class, climbing...
Young entrepreneur, Edward Birch set up his own production company - Salt-Street Productions - whilst at university and now works full time producing online sports videos. His career started at ShAFF with his first film,...
I was born in Newcastle (Staffs) in 1960 and took up climbing with my brother in 1973. In 1977 I did my first new route and have since dedicated almost my entire climbing career to the pursuit of new routes. Along the way...
I was born in the peak and started climbing with my dad at about age 7 (the much loved and missed climber, runner and cyclist Dave Elmore ) I went away to travel and study but the gritstone bouldering and friendly nature...
When the time came to find a place to settle Sheffield was always going to be a first choice for this Yorkshire lad. Mountain Biking for as long as he can remember, he can occasionally be wrenched off the bike for a bit...
Ian Parnell is one of the UK's leading mountaineers, co-editor of Climb Magazine and a Sheffield resident for the last 15 years. 'It's been exciting to see SHAFF grow over the years to take it's place amongst the world's...
Jack Ramsden started having climbing lessons when he was 9 years old after going to an indoor climbing party. From there, he entered local competitions before finishing third in the Youth Climbing Series Competition and...
Jake Thompson is a Sheffield-based adventure photographer and filmmaker. With a wide range of experience in shooting sport and travel, he thrives when capturing moments in hard-to-reach, inspiring places. As an ambitious,...
James Swinden, Swinny to most. Raised from day 1 on the border of sheffield & the Peak District, Sheffield has been my base for all parts of life.. it's home. I've been riding bikes from an early age round these parts &...
During his long and illustrious career he: Won 10 international competitions (in just two and a half years of competing) and retired in 1990 ranked No 1 in the world Was responsible for countless first ascents all over...
Being brought up, just over the hill in the Hope Valley, allowed Joe to reap the benefits of both Sheffield and the Peak's surroundings from a young age. After having worked at Bigstone, heading up Five Ten Bike in the...
Now based in Ariège in the French Pyrenees and running www.chezarran.com accommodation for climbers, John has a long record of climbing exploration at the highest levels of performance. Major bigwall freeclimbs in...
John Horscroft came to Sheffield, inevitably, for the climbing but now finds himself also obsessed with mountain biking. After years of writing for the climbing press, he's now heavily involved with mountain bike campaign...
John is a mountain bike coach in Sheffield, specialising in skill development. He runs ALine Coaching in the city; a mountain bike training company dedicated to providing a structured approach to developing technique...
John Welford is a third generation Steelmaker who was born and bred in Scunthorpe, he began Climbing whilst at School, traversing back & forth & back & forth & back & forth on Pete Livesy's old training wall, eventually...
Jon is the managing director of Vertebrate Publishing the award winning name behind many of the best mountaineering, mountain biking and walking books produced in the UK. Jon is author of climbing, cycling, mountain...
Since moving to Sheffield eighteen years ago I’ve made it my mission to disprove the notion that climbing in the Peak District is worked-out. I think I’ve succeeded, I’ve had a lot of fun trying anyway and there’s...
I first moved to Sheffield in 1998, and I’ve never looked back. As a keen climber, it’s the perfect place to live. We’ve got the Peak District on our doorstep, fantastic training facilities and a great social scene....
Karen has the philosophy that to have the most impact in life we should challenge our constraints, adopt a positive mindset and support each other to be the best we can be. Somewhat an expert in overcoming challenges,...
"Sheffield may have a reputation for industry and grime, but underneath all that is a city full of people who are like me. They share the same passion, which is the outdoors. The Peak is 10 minutes from my house and I...
I grew up in the Peak District and spent many years as a child playing around on the grit stone. When the time came to choose universities I didn’t want to leave the grit stone so I only applied to Sheffield Hallam. I...
I’m so excited to be back in Sheffield after many years elsewhere. I was a fell racer (and orienteer) when based here between 1984 and 1992 and back then my climbing friends were manufacturing the first resin hand holds...
Sheffield is a natural magnet to any outdoor enthusiast. And 15 years ago the pull became too strong for Lucy and the move up north was inevitable. With world class training facilities, a ready-made community and The Peak...
Marc is Sheffield born and bred, a life long cyclist and spends most of his free time cycling in and around the Peak District. Marc is Secretary of Sheffrec CC which is the largest cycling club in Sheffield, Vice...
Marcus Scotney is a Peak District based International Ultra and Trail Runner, he has ran for England 6 times and once for Great Britain at 100km on tarmac. Going hard and long is what Marcus specialises in, 2014 he won 5...
MIles Gibson is an unbelievably weak climber, blah ,blah, bouldering, new routes on the grit, and some big walls around the world. I moved to sheffield over twenty years ago now - just never quite managed to leave! It's...
I love Sheffield! I moved here from the London area when I was 18 to study at Sheffield Hallam University but it was all just a ploy to get to Sheffield; to the rocks and the scene that I heard so much about. I am 25 now...
Neil came to Sheffield Uni in 87' to study rock climbing, culminating in the first E10 on gritstone just 5 miles outside the city (Equilibrium, 2000). He has starred in three award winning climbing films, Hard Grit;...
Niall Grimes lives to climb, climbs to write and writes to live. He will talk for money, and raffles are a speciality. He once picked up Radio Luxembourg on a false teeth, which was where he first heard about Anna Friel's...
I moved to Sheffield in 1992 straight after my Physio Degree as I wanted to be in a place near climbing and amongst lots of climbers. I've never looked back and can't think of a better place in the UK. Shaff is a...
Nick Hamilton was Born, Bread and Buttered around the hills of Sheffield and now develops and extols the virtues of Sheffield’s mountain bike scene. Organising bike races and events all around Sheffield and the Peak he...
Although born in London, Nicky Spinks moved to a farm in Glossop in her childhood and as has loved the Peak District and surrounding moors ever since. Taking up competitive running in 2001 she has gone from a 4 mile fell...
Oli is an orienteer and fell runner who has lived in Sheffield since 1997. Having come to the city as a Southern student, he now considers himself to be a surrogate Northerner, although his (Yorkshire) wife Jenny assures...
Ollie is one of Sheffield's GPs, he believes that being active is probably the most important ingredient of a healthy and happy life. Ollie is proud to have lived longer in Sheffield than any other place in his life. He...
Percy arrived in Sheffield fresh from Newcastle University in 1994 and has stayed here ever since. He started climbing at the tender age of 13 and has done little else since, apart from a little work as a route setter at...
Pete grew up in the Peak District just a stone's throw away from Sheffield. Having the Gritstone edges on his doorstep for all his life, he has grasped the opportunity to embrace the outdoors, great landscapes and unique...
Richard is a member of Dark Peak Fell Runners and would run more if he could find a away to earn a living and have more time off. He works full time as a vet in Sheffield but in his spare sell Tyvek Wristbands, organises...
I was born and bred in Doncaster and started climbing on the gritstone edges 20 odd years ago, before moving to Sheffield in 1996. Soon afterwards I became a UIAGM mountain guide and I’ve been lucky to work and climb in...
There's an independence to the thinking in Sheffield that is very seductive. Following whims I fell in to climbing and then film making. 15 years later I'm still here trekking out to the peak when I have time. We've been...
Internationally renowned climbing legend, Guru of Gritstone, Ron Fawcett lives in the Peak district and has shown his support for ShAFF for many years. Thanks Ron. Check out his biography ' Rock Athlete '
I originally came to Sheffield as a hockey player who did a bit of road running for fitness. Having done several marathons and half marathons, I soon discovered the real fun is in the off road running. With The Peak...
Sam moved to the Peaks for the climbing in 2010. He is one of the top all round Peak/Sheffield-based climbers enjoying E8 Trad, V11 boulder and 8b sport. Only this area could provide the climbing opportunities he needs to...
Seb moved to Sheffield 20 years ago to improve his climbing. Despite this plan not working out he decided to stay on since Sheffield was nice place and the weather is better than Manchester. Most weekends Seb can be found...
Aside from a brief foray to North Wales I’ve lived in Sheffield all my life. I started climbing indoors at a young age and met a group of people who introduced me to the outdoors. Ever since, I’ve been an outdoor...
Steve McClure - Sheffield based rock climber. Steve is one of the best rock-climbers in the world, having climbed the hardest sport route in the UK at 9a+, numerous new routes at the grade of 9a and onsighted many at 8b+....
Steve Peat is a downhill mountain bikng legend. He's responsible for putting Sheffield well and truly on the mountain biking map. He's kindly agreed to put his name to the annual 'Steve Peat Best Biking Film' at ShAFF....
Stuart is an Ultra-distance and expedition runner, most recently having crossed the Alps solo on foot. He was born slightly further north and came to Sheffield in 2003. He was forced to move away for a couple of years but...
Tom chose Sheffield as a University placement mostly for the amazing climbing opportunities of the Peak District. He liked to think his parents thought it was because of the amazing geography course at Sheffield Uni... He...
Adventure and lifestyle photographer Tim Glasby has travelled the world on assignment for many of the best clients in the industry, including editorial work for The Times, The IOD, GQ and National Geographic Adventure,...
Having lived in Sheffield all his life, Will has always had a connection to the Peak District and outdoor activities. During his time in the British Sailing Team, Will took up cycling for fitness and has never looked back...
