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Written by Peter Carol
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Thursday, 11 February 2010 10:25 |
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Rich Witheridge - Chief Instructor
 Rich is our Open Canoe Guru, and soon to be Level 5 Canoe Coach. Instructs Open Canoeing, Kayaking, Rock Climbing and Abseiling, Gorge Walking, Team-Building, Mountain Biking, First Aid, Woodcraft and doubles as IT Man! His claims to fame include working for Ray Mears on Canoe expeditions in France. Name:
| Rich Witheridge | Full Time Job:
| Chief Instructor for ProAdventure | Age: | 34 | Outdoor Qualifications: | BCU Aspirant Level 5 Canoe Coach
BCU Level 3 Kayak Coach (5 Star Trained)
Mountain Bike Instructor Award Level 2
Single Pitch Award
Foundation Safety and Rescue Training Assessor
UKCC Level 1 and 2 Course Tutor
BCU Aquatic First Aid Assessor
Raft Guide
BFA Level 1 Coach (Fencing)
RYA Dinghy Instructor
RYA Safety Boat Instructor
BOF Instructor (Orienteering)
GNAS Leader (Archery)
Rescue Emergency Care - Emergency First Aid
| Other Qualifications: | MCSE Windows 2000
MCP Exchange 2000
MCP Active Domain | How long have you been working in the outdoor industry? | 18 years | What did you do previously? | In between times, I have managed pubs and worked as a computer systems desktop support and network engineer | What’s your biggest achievement to date? | Canoeing Swallow Falls, scary but great!
Being asked to, and working for, Ray Mears on courses in France. | What do you love most about your job? | Meeting people and helping them to improve at their sports or to open the doors to new adventures for them. | What do you like least about your job? | The bangs and bruises that you get that ache for ages. Ouch! | What do you do for fun? | Erm...bike, boat, climb and read. Sounds a bit like a busman's holiday but I love my sports and love doing them! | What’s your ultimate ambition? | To get my Level 5 Canoe and to lead a group of disadvantaged people on a trip to Canada canoeing | What’s your favourite… | | …climb/walking route, etc? | Crib Goch, the first awkward ridge I had ever done, and led it myself, it was awesome and scary all at the same time. | …river/paddling venue, etc? | Too many to mention, just being on the water is fantastic. Early morning on the Dee looking for otters, paddling the Ardeche gorge watching eagles soar, black kites fishing, black redstarts buzzing about and beavers just meandering around. Any of the Scottish lochs, so changeable but always beautiful. Nevis Bluff, with its terrifying boil lines and sumps. All are fantastic for different reasons. | …book? | All of the Star Wars books, and anything by Jeremy Clarkson or Ben Elton/ | …film? | Dune | …song? | 3 words by cheryl cole (sad i know) | Something not a lot of people know about you: | I used to be the lead violinist for Staffordshire Youth Orchestra. | Anything else interesting about you? | loads, but all in good time |
  
Pete Carol - Managing Director
 Current fun: Mountain Biking. Also instructs Kayaking, Canoeing, Mountaineering, Mountain Walking, Rock Climbing, Gorge Walking, Team-Building, and Orienteering when not glued to his desk! Instructing 21 Seasons. Name:
| Pete Carol | Full Time Job:
| Managing Director for ProAdventure | Age: | 42 | Outdoor Qualifications: | Mountain Leader
Single Pitch Award
Mountain Instructor Award Trained
Raft Guide
BCU Level 4 Kayak Coach
BCU Level 3 Canoe Coach (Trained)
BCU Level 3 Sea Kayak Coach (Trained)
5 Star Kayak
Mountain Bike Instructor Award Level 4
UKCCLevel 1 & 2 Course Director (Temporary)
Foundation Safety and Rescue Training Assessor
Rescue Emergency Care Assistant Trainer
Association Ski Slope Instructors (Trained)
RYA Tidal Dinghy Instructor
RYA Powerboat Level 4
| Other Qualifications: | BEng Mathematical Engineering | How long have you been working in the outdoor industry? | 21 years | What did you do previously? | Student | What’s your biggest achievement to date? | Setting up and running a successful outdoor centre and shop. | What do you love most about your job? | Delegating! | What do you like least about your job? | Not enough time to instruct courses. | What do you do for fun? | Running, biking, spending time with my kids | What’s your ultimate ambition? | To be able to hire someone to run the business so I have more time to instruct. | What’s your favourite… | | …climb/walking route, etc? | Clogwyn Person Arrete | …river/paddling venue, etc? | Fairy Glen | …book? | The Earth Sea Trilogy | …film? | Leon | …song? | Songs form the Wood - Jethro Tull | Something not a lot of people know about you: | I can juggle fire clubs. | Anything else interesting about you? | My first business was selling butterscotch on the playground at school! I am now a Young Enterprise Advisor at Ysgol Dinas Bran, the local secondary school. |
 
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