I knew that I’d found my tribe…

… that first weekend away on a Leeds University climbing club meet. Sleeping on a karimat in a dusty Welsh barn, with a slightly foggy head I woke up to a day of unknown adventure. Over time since then and as life has weaved its course, climbing in all its forms has never left me.

My fingers have curled around the bubbly orange quarzite of Arapiles (AUS), I’ve stood on the luminous green lichen of the Needles (USA) and been at sea on the vast walls of the Verdon (FRA). But my home for the last 25 years has been Sheffield. The lure of the roughness and familiarity of the gritstone outcrops in the Peak District never tires. The fact I know it’s 10 minutes from my house gives me huge comfort.

It was at the age of 30 I had an epiphany that stepping away from my career in sport events and project management and fully immersing myself in climbing was the only way to go. That was almost 20 years ago and I haven’t looked back.

Better Eat Your Wheaties V8, Hueco. Photo: Alex Messenger

My approach

There are many components that contribute to you developing your climbing and to reaching your goals. I always take this holistic approach. After almost 20 years coaching, my skills and experience allow me to pick out the key elements of technique, tactics, physical and mental skills, which you need to work on. I do not promise silver bullets, but I do promise a thorough, honest, observant and fun process.

I love working with people - I want to know what makes you tick and what climbing means to you. Life is rarely straightforward but climbing can be our constant and our teacher - I will support you to get where you want to be.

I have worked with literally 1000s of people in the following areas:

Trad climbers climbing up to E7, competition climbers on the British Team, sport climbers and boulderers in the 8s.
I’ve run 15 foreign sport climbing holidays and 4 pioneering young people’s climbing camps in the Peak District.
I am a provider for the BMC and Mountain Training coach education training and assessments for the National Coaching Scheme.
I’ve also written for many climbing publications including BMC Summit and Climb Magazine and featured in podcasts for UKClimbing and Niall Grimes’ famous Jam Crack podcast (see below).