Sheffield Adventure Talent at Expert Nights from 9 Feb
24th Jan 2012
SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE SPORTS STARS LINE-UP FOR
SHEFFIELD ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL EXPERT NIGHTS
IN ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF THE UK
(Press release 23rd Jan 2012)
To whet your appetite ahead of the 2012 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (March 9-11) we’ve lined up three evenings celebrating the cream of the crop of adventure sports which make Sheffield and the Peak District the adventure capital of the UK.
We’re holding three Thursday night Expert Evenings on off-road running (9th Feb), climbing (23rd Feb) and mountain-biking (1st March) at the Showroom Cinema with panels of world-class athletes who will talk about their careers, events and offer tips and advice.
Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Director Matt Heason said: “It’s a reflection of just how vibrant the Sheffield adventure sports scene is that we’re able to put on such an impressive line-up of speakers ahead of the main festival weekend. Steve Peat is a Sheffield legend. His Q&A at last year’s festival sold out so fast we had to double the size of the screening room so we’re delighted he’s back for an expert night, bringing the best of young talent with him. Pete and Tom have climbed some of the hardest cracks in the USA and it’s a real treat to have them give their first talk about their adventures here in Sheffield. And kicking the series off we’re honoured that Sheffield running store Accelerate has put together and sponsored an evening with some of the UK’s most impressive ultra runners and adventure racers.”
Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Judge,Team GB duathlete & adventure sports writer, Nik Cook said: “It’s a great chance to meet genuine experts in their field, pick their brains and hear first-hand about their adventures. Living, training and working in the Peak District I know how lucky we are to have incredible mountain bike trails and running routes as well as world-class gritstone rock and great indoor climbing walls right on our doorstep. To my mind, it’s no exaggeration to say that Sheffield and the Peak District can lay claim to being the adventure capital of the UK.”
EXPERT EVENING PROGRAMME DETAILS
9th February 20.15 - RUNNING
For anyone who wants to find out what's involved in Ultra Running and Beyond, now is your chance - from a Bob Graham to the Lakeland 100 and even a multi sport 900km non stop adventure race...
Trail Running Magazine editor, Claire Maxted, and Adventure Journalist and ultra runner, Nik Cook, will lead the audience and panel of experts through a series of questions about the challenges of Ultra Running and Beyond. This will be backed up by the real life experience of finding time to train, summoning the strength of mind to continue running when the body is screaming 'stop' and what it is like to race in the Adventure Race World Series as the only female in a team of 4.
Audience participation will be invited throughout the evening in what promises to be an unveiling of what it is like to be training and competing in an ultra and then recovering... and that's on top of a normal everyday life!
Nik Cook: Peak District based Adventure journalist & Sheffield Adventure Film Festival judge, ultra runner, advocate of barefoot and GB Duathlete.
Dan Shrimpton: Sheffield based ultra runner, who despite having a hectic job, young family finds time to win the Hardmoors 55, Lyke Wake (42 miles) and finished 4th in the UK Ultra Series, 2011, at his first attempt.
Stuart Walker: Record Holder for the fastest ever solo and unsupported crossing of Hadrian's Wall (84 miles). 8th Lakeland 100, 6th in category UK Ultra Series. Confirmed finalist for 2012 Adventure Racing World Championships. Considered, by many, as one of the UK's top up coming ultra talents.
Caz Bullard: One of the UK's top adventure racers and regularly competes in Expedition style, multi day non stop races around the World. She finished 8th in her first World Series event and is now in search of that elusive win following a 2nd in the Terrex- UK and a 3rd place in XPD Africa. As a result she has already qualified for the 2012 Adventure Racing World Championships final.
Caz and Stuart are both sponsored by New Balance, High 5 Sports Nutrition and SKINS.
The evening has been put together and sponsored by Sheffield based running company, Accelerate with additional support from New Balance.
The audience will also have the opportunity to win trail shoes from New Balance in a free to enter prize draw. There will also be goodie bags with stuff from New Balance and Trail Running magazine.
23rd February 20.15 - CLIMBING
Peak based climbers Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker (aka The Wide Boyz) have become household names recently with an amazing string of ascents of the world's hardest offwidths, culminating in their first ascent of Century Crack which, at 5.14b / 8c or E10 is now the world's hardest wide crack. And as well as that they've finally proved to Americans that, in their own words 'Brits aren't crap at crack climbing' and forced a few re-evaluations of what's possible with plenty of effort.
In this first joint lecture / slideshow since their return from the USA they'll tell tall (maybe that should be wide) tales from their trip, divulge some of their secrets, talk about crack technique and demonstrate how they trained for the world's hardest crack. And with a bit of luck they'll also be unveiling their special 'secret weapon' for the first time ever which will guarantee a night of thrills - and spills.
So for anyone who doesn't know their 'widepony' from their 'trout-tickler' or even their 'armbar' from the pub bar, this is a must see lecture from two of the most charismatic guys on the UK climbing scene.
1st March 20.15 - MOUNTAIN BIKING
Sheffield’s Mountain Bike scene is arguably the most vibrant in the country with a wealth of superb cross-country trails in the Peak District, a thriving downhill community and a number of promising young riders hellbent on following in the tracks of local legend, Steve Peat. So, what better way for the Bike Expert Night to celebrate that scene than to take a close look at some of the young guns making a name for themselves in a diverse range of bike disciplines? James ‘Swinny’ Swinden, Josh ‘Loosedog’ Lewis, Annie Last and Abbie Taylor are Sheffield hard-chargers with talent to burn. Local mountain biker, scribe and rabble-rouser John Horscroft and special guest Steve Peat will be asking the questions and finding out what makes the next generation of super-shredders tick.
James ‘Swinny’ Swinden has steadily built a reputation for phenomenal pace in the National Downhill Series and has a huge viral video presence. 2012 however could be the big year for Swinny as he has just joined the Steve Peat Syndicate and moved up to the Elite category in this year’s series.
Josh ‘Loosedog’ Lewis has a similar story to Swinny. Known as one of Steve Peat’s protégées, he’s got big boots to fill. But with a huge personality and a growing profile in the UK scene, he’s another Junior rider to look out for. There’s every chance we’ll see him moving up the rankings in 2012.
Abbie Taylor is an Olympic hopeful in the newly added sport of BMX Racing. A World Silver Medalist in 2011, she regularly mixes it up with the top Female Elite riders. She is now receiving help from British Cyclings’s Olympic Development program which could be all the help she needs to take things to the next level.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
HIGH RESOLUTION PRESS IMAGES: http://www.shaff.co.uk/press-filmakers-volunteers/press-images/2012-images/
- ShAFF is the weekend of 9-11 March 2012 (www.shaff.co.uk) at the art deco Sheffield Showroom cinema - the UK’s biggest independent cinema outside London. (15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX / tel 0114 275 7727 or book online at www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/)
- Film screenings are mixed in with talks and lectures on epic climbs, runs and rides by world-class adventurers.
- It’s great value - one ticket buys you a multi-film screening so you can see several films in one hit. Passionate about your sport? Then try our specialist selections. Want a high energy hit? Then book our Adrenaline showing. Fancy inspiration and escapism? Try the Adventure Medley. - For a family friendly weekend try our morning Young Adventurer showings were both sell outs last year so this year we’ll also have afternoon matinees with urban orienteering afterwards.
- Chill out in the bar/cafe between screenings with live music, comfy-seating and free wifi. During the day grab a light lunch and coffee with friends and in the evenings, book dinner made by experienced chefs with fresh, local produce. Why not try the great selection of on tap or bottled beers, wines and ciders - not forgetting the awesome cake cabinet!
- Getting there’s easy - We’re just across the road from the mainline train station with regular services to the Peak District, Manchester and the UK, there are also local buses, trams and a plenty of nearby car- parks.
- We’re growing in the face of a global recession. Now in its 7th year, for the past six years 100% of the audience said they’d come back again and recommend it to a friend. ShAFF 2011 was our best ever year with a 77% increase in ticket sales, an amazing film programme and a packed series of lectures including the legendary Steve Peat.
Contacts:
Festival Director, Matt Heason, Heason Events - [email protected] or 1433 639378 / 07966 529219
Lissa Cook, PR & Media consultant, Heason Events - [email protected] / or 01663 751 126 / 07818 411 791
Follow us on facebook and twitter at @Heason_Lissa and @HeasonEvents
