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Young Adventurers Awards

The Search for Young Adventurer of The Year Goes Nationwide

The search is on for the UK’s most adventurous young person. We're looking for the best runners, bikers, climbers, cavers, skiers, skateboarders, free-runners, kayakers and sailors in the country.

Following the success of the ‘Derbyshire Young Adventurer of the Year’ Awards, won last year by 16 year old Peak District cyclist Tom Craig, this year the awards are open up to applicants from anywhere in Britain.

(We will retain a stand-alone ‘Derbyshire Young Adventurer of the Year’ category with special prize.  The local winner will also be eligible to win the national award).

The winner of the new, nationwide ‘University of Derby Young Adventurer of The Year’ competition will be announced at an awards ceremony at Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre on Friday 10 October with special guest speaker, pro climber, Shauna Coxsey.
 

 

NOMINATE A YOUNG ADVENTURER

Do you know a young person who is excelling in adventure sports?  Are they pushing their boundaries? Or have they overcome a challenge or demonstrated great progress in the face of adversity? 

Perhaps they are leading by example, volunteering or coaching to help others reach their potential?  We want to hear their story.

Tell us in 250 words or less why you want to nominate your son, daughter, young relative, friend or classmate, student or club member, fellow team member or even yourself!   Click here to nominate

WIN PRIZES

THREE IPADS FOR THE WINNER & TWO RUNNERS UP
 

The overall nationwide winner will be awarded the Young Adventurer of The Year trophy and an iPad.  Our two runners up will also each receive an iPad. 
 

A PAIR OF FIVE TEN CLIMBING SHOES
 

Plus, Five Ten, sponsors of our guest speaker, 21 year pro climber Shauna Coxsey, are offering a pair of their Hiangle shoes worth £100 for the best climber nominated.
 

OAKLANDS MANOR ADVENTURE DAY EXPERIENCE
 

There will be an additional special prize for our top Derbyshire nominee of an ‘Adventure Day’ experience at Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre for themselves and up to 20 classmates. 

A PAIR OF FREE YOUNG ADVENTURER SESSION TICKETS

All nominees short-listed by our judging panel of top British adventurers will be invited to the awards evening and receive a medal and two free tickets to our Saturday morning triple bill Young Adventurers’ session featuring adventure sports short films, Danny Butler's Extreme Mountain Bike Show, and The Meek Family talking about completing 100 outdoor adventures in a year.

 

MEET THE JUDGES

 

Dave Cornthwaite

Adventurer, author and motivational speaker, Dave Cornthwaite presented last year's awards. Since quitting his life as a couch potato in 2005 Dave got busy, so far completing ten non-motorised journeys each over 1000 miles, including skateboarding across Australia, paddleboarding the Mississippi and swimming the Lower Missouri.

He has written 3 books, entertained audiences on 6 continents, broken 8 world records, made hundreds of short films, completed countless quirky projects and is the founder of potential-fulfilling brand SayYesMore.

SQUASH FALCONER

Squash Falconer is an adventurer, mountaineer, speaker and presenter and spoke at the first ever Buxton Adventure Festival three years ago.

Combining her love of different sports Squash was the first British woman to climb and paraglide from the summit of Mont Blanc having ridden there from the UK on her motorbike.

Not only has she summited Mount Everest Squash holds claim to be the worlds highest ever bum boarder, a title she gained on Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world.

Passionate about sharing her adventures; Squash has a unique and quirky outlook on life and firmly believes that with the right attitude every one of us can achieve incredible things.  Dedicated to fund-raising for charity Squash believes we can all make a difference no matter how big or small.
 

Tim, Kerry, Ella and Amy Meek

The Meeks hit the newspaper headlines as the parents so determined to keep their two daughters from watching TV that they set them 100 outdoor challenges to keep in a year.   Parents Tim and Kerry and Amy (10) and Ella (8) started writing a blog about their "Meek-ro Adventures" - DoTryThisAtHome.com. 

They have so enjoyed their challenge, they've now sold their home and quit their jobs as teachers to travel round the UK in a caravan in the Xplore Challenge 2014.  (Read more in the Daily Telegraph).

Last year they entertained us at the Buxton Adventure Festival Young Adventurer of the Year Awards, this year they're back at BAF to give us a full talk about their adventures and are packed with ideas like 365 easy family activities and 50 Thrifty Eat Outs.  (Book tickets for our Young Adventurers session at 10.30am on Saturday).

Like their Meekro Adventures page on Facebook and follow Dad Tim on twitter @tmeeky
 

WHAT ARE OUR JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR? Read more...

Terms & conditions

• Nominations must be submitted online below.
• Nominations will close at midday on Monday 6th October.
• Nominees must be 17 or under and live in or go to school/college in the UK on 10th October 2014.  To be considered for the Derbyshire only prize, you must also live in and/or go to school/college in Derbyshire on the 10th October 2014.
• Nominations are open to the public as well as to schools, clubs, groups etc. You may nominate more than one young person (please submit one form per nominee).  You may nominate yourself.  Previous nominees and award winners are welcome to enter again.
• Our judging panel (to be announced) will draw up a shortlist of nominees who will each receive a medal and an invitation to the awards ceremony at Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre on the evening of Friday 10th October plus a free ticket for themselves and an adult to our Saturday morning Young Adventurers Session.  
• The top three winners in the nationwide category will each win an iPad (model tbc) from the University of Derby.  
• There is an additional prize for the top Derbyshire nominee of an ‘Adventure Day’ experience at Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre for themselves and up to 20 classmates.   
• The overall winner will also receive the University of Derby Young Adventurer of the Year trophy.
• In the event of a tied decision, Festival Director Matt Heason will have a casting vote.
• View our 2013 Awards Nominees and 2013 Awards Winners.
• Contact details: Buxton Adventure Festival PR Lissa Cook 07818 411 791 / 01663 751 126 / [email protected] or Festival Director Matt Heason [email protected] or at the University of Derby, James Mitchell at [email protected]
• The Buxton Adventure Festival Young Adventurer Of The Year Awards are proudly presented by the University of Derby in partnership with the Rural Derbyshire School Sport Partnership.  Click here to read press release (Thursday 3 July 2014)