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Meet the Tall Stories Team
For further information on guided events see the section on "Benefits of Guided Events"
TALL STORIES STAFF
 Clare Appleby
Since 2004 Clare has been a key member of the Tall Stories team, taking only a brief spell away to gain further experience in the Corporate Charity sector.
Providing seamless administration and organisation is an essential part of the job, but for Clare, actively Tour Leading the challenges and trips allows her to deliver the service with a famous smile, whether it be making another cup of tea or moving luggage into hotel rooms at the end of the day.
Her own passion for the outdoors and a healthy way of life is evident, and in her spare time she is often found swimming at the local pool, riding her bike or taking part in multisport events such as duathlons.
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 Sarah Leach
Sarah is a relatively new addition to the Tall Stories team and works with Clare and Tina full time in the office and on events. Her background is in the charity sector; after leaving Northumbria University with a degree in Geography she went to live in Bolivia for a year to work for a street children charity. This then led onto working for the youth development charity Raleigh International. After 3 years at Raleigh she thought it was time to take on another challenge and indulge a great interest in sporting events.
Sarah is a keen cyclist who has recently been trying her hand at triathlons. She made her debut in the Blenheim sprint triathlon this year and also managed to complete the Olympic distance at the London Triathlon where thankfully she overcame her fear of open water swimming.
Travelling is another great passion and Sarah has travelled to many destinations over the past few years, her favourite being South America. When not planning her next holiday or keeping fit Sarah can be found cooking, socialising with friends or drinking too much wine!
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 Tina Makin
Having spent every holiday since her teens trekking up a mountain,
diving in the sea, or just travelling the world, 1991 saw Tina start
Tall Stories Adventure Sports Holidays as an excellent way to blend
business with pleasure. In 1998, the charity fundraising industry took off for Tall Stories allowing her to get the perfect balance of blending pleasure with pleasure.
Tina is devoted to her dog, Fish, who also accompanies her on some events and lots of reccies. They train for marathons together but somewhat unfairly, Tina always keeps the medal! Holidays are best spent deep under tropical seas in search of sharks and big fish or up a mountain somewhere with the best of magical views.
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 Clayton Payne
Clayton loves Tall Stories events so much that he has gone from guiding to being a full time member of staff. He specialises in organising 'mass participation events', but don't worry we cant hold him back so you will still find him guiding a number of events as well.
Clayton comes from a triathlon background, he competed as a professional Triathlete around the world after graduating form Loughborugh University. He is a National Aquathlon and Biathle Champion and has won a number of International races in Thailand, Australia, Europe and Africa.
As well as triathlon, Clayton also likes to mountain bike, ski, canoe and generally do anything that involves going fast!
In 2007 he set up his own bike company, Atum22 Ltd, creating and building ‘One-Off’ Titanium bikes. He is also a qualified coach. As such he is regularly advising athletes how to get the most out of themselves and their bikes.
Achievements
- 2007 National Aquathlon Champio
- 2007 National Biathle Champion
- 2007 Irish National Triathlon Championships 2nd
- 2006 Phuket International Triathlon 6th
- 2005 London Triathlon 5th
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GUIDES AND LEADERS
 Joe Ayres
MTB and Road Biking Events
Joe has spent most of his life on two wheels. Originally competing on trials bikes around the UK, he moved into mountain biking to get closer to the dirt.
Having ridden all of the off road Meccas in Europe, it was then a natural progression to move into road biking. He now leads our mountain and road biking events all over Europe.
In the winter Joe can be found looking for the freshest of virgin snow and building kickers. When he’s not skiing he’ll be taking on some of the great stamina mountain bike trails across the UK.
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 Mark Bruce
Road Biking Events
Mark was a professional triathlete for a number of years. He gained a place on the World Class Performance Programme at the age of 18 and has raced around the world, representing the British Elite team at the World Championships and numerous European Cup events. Mark’s strength was his cycling, especially growing up in the Yorkshire countryside and spending a few months training in Alpe D’huez.
Mark currently works as a broker for ICAP Plc, so is trying to desperately hang on to his fitness. He is new to guiding with Tall Stories, but enjoyed his first ride so much he has come back for more!
Achievements:
- Over 40 Derbyshire county swimming medals
- Top 5, British Junior Triathlon championships, 2003
- World Junior Elite Triathlon Championships, 2004
- Top 10 European Cup Triathlon, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Top 10 British Elite Triathlon Championships 2007
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 Adrian Butler
Road Biking Events
Adrian got into cycling whilst on a sabbatical in 2007 and cycled in Laos, Vietnam, New Zealand and Bolivia.
Upon his return to the UK he was determined to keep cycling long distances as much as possible and eventually fate brought him into contact with Tall Stories.
Unlike the other guides he is not, nor ever has been, nor ever will be a professional athlete, his day job is as a Finance Analyst for a media firm based in London and occasionally he gets out from behind his desk to do this.
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 Richard ‘Baggy’ Buttle
Road Biking Events
Baggy in recent years has been a convert to cycle activities as the decades of running marathons and events deemed it the prudent option. Now wishes he had taken it up some time ago.
You can now see Baggy training on his bikes at every opportunity both in the UK and up the "Cols" in the Alps.
Baggy enjoys nothing more than assisting his group on an event to achieve their goals and would do anything to ensure that happens.
Baggy is a keen skier also and enjoys life to the full.
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 Barrie Clarke
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Barrie has been a professional cyclist for 15 years,
racing at the highest level and travelling the World
with mountain biking, road racing and cyclo-cross.
He won 5 Elite National titles in the 90s at cross-country
mountain biking and cyclo-cross, not to mention numerous
national series titles and the “King of the
mountains” in the Milk Race.
Barrie has been guiding for Tall Stories for the
last 5 years on both corporate and charity events
including; Lands End to John O’Groats; mountain
bike C2C; London to Paris; Wembley to Berlin; as well
as tours in Italy, France and Spain.
Achievements
- British Mountain Bike Champion 1995 1996 1998
- British Mountain Bike Championships - silver medal
2003 2002 2001
- British Cyclo-Cross Champion 1995 1997
- Seven times British National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series
Winner
- National MTB Points Series - winner 2002
- Commonwealth Games 2002 - Manchester - mtb 6th place
- MTB Tour of Spain 1995 - winner
- MTB Tour of Britain 1996 - second place
- Girvin Premier Calendar 2003- winner KOM
- Ruban Granitier 2002 - Final stage winner - 7th overall
- Milk Race 1989 - King of Mountains - winner
- Tour of Normandy 1989 - King of Mountains - winner
- Tour of Willamette USA 2000 - Sprints competition
- winner
- Tour of Willamette USA 2000 - King of Mountains -
second place
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 Sue Clarke
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Sue has been racing mountain & road bikes since 1994, which has taken her all over the World as part of the Great Britain cycling team & several professional teams. She is currently part of the Science in Sport/Trek team.
Highlights so far in Sue's career include spending two winters over in Australia on the Gold Coast, training away from the rain of the UK! She represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, narrowly missing a medal due to a puncture.
Sue enjoys all cycling disciplines & has competed at the highest level on the road in the women's World Cup races with great success. When not racing, Sue enjoys hiking in the Lake District with husband Barrie & her springer spaniel Charlie, relaxing at home & seeing new places.
Sue is a qualified massage therapist & fitness instructor & fits both of these jobs around her training & racing schedule. She has been guiding with Tall Stories for 2 years now & enjoys helping people achieve their goals & raising money for charity in the likes of London to Paris rides.
Achievements
- 1996 Gold medal National hillclimb championships
- 2001 Bronze medal British National cyclocross championships
- 2002 7th Commonwealth Games, Manchester
- 2002 10th European MTB Championships, Switzerland
- 2002 British National series winner MTB
- 2001-2003 Silver medal British National MTB Championships
- 2004-2005 Gold medal British National MTB Championships
- 2004 10th Crist Alp, Switzerland
- 2005 Winner of National Cyclocross Trophy
- 2005 11th European cyclocross championships, France
- 2009 British Cross Country Champion!
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 Sam Gardner
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Sam Gardner is 32 and has been racing bikes for 20
years now. His first race was on a mountain bike back
in 1987 and since then he has won medals at all forms
of cycle sport, racing Cyclocross, track, road and
of course his first love mountain bikes. He has represented
Great Britain on numerous occasions on both road and mountain bikes.
In 1996 Sam won the National Hill climb title. Sam is currently concentrating on Triathlons (Swimming, Cycling and Running) and is Top British male in XTERRA (Off road triathlons), finishing 10th in the European series in 2008.
Sam has always loved cycle touring and has travelled
around a lot of Europe this way, including Lands End
to John O’Groats. He has been guiding for 4
years, working mainly in the Alps and Sardinia, before
starting with Tall Stories in 2007. When he's not
on two wheels Sam is a Fire Fighter with Surrey Fire
and Rescue service.
Achievements
2008 results:
- XTERRA Japan 1st
- XTERRA US Champs 11th
- XTERRA European series 10th overall
- XTERRA UK 6th
- XTERRA France 7th
- XTERRA Austria 10th
- XTERRA Italy 9th
For more information: www.samgardner.com
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 Jim Griffiths
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Jim has been riding bikes for over 20 years and has tried everything from racing Track to Downhill. His main passion is Mountain Biking and loves nothing better than getting lost in the hills and seeing where the trail takes him before heading home. Having competed in all variations of the sport he is now racing Triathlons both on and off road. He enjoyed the thrill of triathlon so much he became a coach to help others gain the same experiences and highs of completing what can seem as lofty goals.
Jim is also a highly skilled bike mechanic and has worked in cycle shops and for elite althletes on bike set up. When not in the great outdoors he likes nothing better than to relax and play guitar although admits this could use some work.
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 Chris Hill
Trekking, Biking and Multi Activity Events
Chris has been part of the challenge events business for over a decade. He has worked all around the world, from China to Chile, Kilimanjaro to Everest.
In the wider world, he can be found leading high altitude treks. For Tall Stories in Europe we don't send him up quite so far, but we will test his guiding skills on a bike from time-to-time so we can laugh at the result.
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 Pete Hughes
Skiing, MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
I have always had an interest in cycling and spent
many hours cycling the South of England, Scotland
(where I am predominantly based in the Summer), and
the French Alps. When I am not cycling, I ski. I run
Freedom 2 Ski, a small independent ski school in the
French Alps. I also work as a BASI trainer, training
and examining ski instructors.
Whether I am teaching people to ski, or guiding on
a bike, I aim to share my experience and enthusiasm
to have a great time.
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 Jean-Jacques Malineau
Mont Blanc Summit Challenge
Born near the Atlantic ocean 41 years ago,
I discovered the mountains when I was 12 years old
with my family. The nature and particularly the mountain
attracted me.
I have lived in the Alps for 22 years and now work
as a Mountain Guide. Before I was a guide, I worked
in Chamonix for 12 years in the Helicopter Rescue
Team and after as a Ski Patroller.
For 7 years I have worked as an independent Mountain Guide. During the winter I ski and ice-climb and in summer I go mountaineering, rock climbing, via feratta and trekking.
My philosophy: "Where there is a will, there is a way!"
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 Jim McConnel
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Jim has been riding bikes for 20 years and loves nothing more than to head out the door on two wheels. He says it's the combination of freedom, the experience and exercise that make it so appealing. Having competed in almost all disciplines - on and off the road, Jim is now racing as a professional Triathlete at XTERRA Off road Triathlon - where swimming and running are included in the gruelling events all over the globe.
Jim has seven years of international experience in the Challenge Events Industry, has participated in many events himself and draws on a sports and marketing background to create a strong all round Bike Guide & Tour Leader.
Recent Achievements:
- 2007 XTERRA Guam - 3rd
- 2007 XTERRA Saipan - 5th
- 2007 XTERRA UK - 10th
- 2008 XTERRA Xduro - Nice - 1st
- 2008 XTERRA US Champs - 17th
- 2008 XTERRA World Champs 21st
For more information: www.trijim.co.uk
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 James Ouchterlony
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
James has been a professional cyclist for 4 years,
racing at the highest level and travelling the World
with mountain biking.
James has been guiding for Tall Stories for the last
five years on charity tours.
He also holds a world record for the most fuel efficient
road legal vehicle from July 15th 1998....set on Silverstone
with a car designed by himself. Consumption...280ml/100km.
He has trained as a mechanical engineer and has worked
as a draughtsman and technician. He prefers to work
with bikes, guiding and racing, and has spent many
years working as a mechanic with bicycles. He has
also raced motorbikes.
Achievements
- 2004 Scottish XC MTB Champion
- 2005 Bronze medal for British National XC MTB Championships
- 2005 Sliver medal for British National Marathon MTB
Championships
- 2006 Scottish XC MTB Champion
- 2006 Bronze for British National Marathon MTB Championships
- 2006 Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne, AUS
- 2007 Gold medal for British National Marathon MTB
Champion.
Has also won races in Turkey, Canada, Pakistan, Wales,
Scotland, Cyprus and Israel.
For more information www.jamesouchterlony.blogspot.com
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 Paul "Tortoise" Rayfield
One of the founding fathers of Tall Stories, Paul a.k.a “Tortoise”, thrives off meeting new people and indulging himself in new cultures while travelling.
Nowadays he is never far from a Garmin or a map as he is our cycling route planner extraordinaire. So far we’re pretty happy with the stupendous views and the challenging rides he comes up with!
On events, Tortoise makes sure everyone benefits from his unquestionable tea making abilities, usually washed down by a choice of chocolate treats. In his leisure he is a musician and singer song writer and it will only cost you the price of a doughnut to get him to write a ditty on your event.
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 Jonathan Smith
Road Biking Events
If just one person, on each of these trips, will get half as much enjoyment and as great experiences as Jonathan has had with a bike, then the trip will be worthwhile for them and him.
He started cycling and racing as a schoolboy, and still manages to race and do other events in England and abroad.
In his early twenties, after serving an apprenticeship, he thought he would have a gap year, before they were even invented. It should have been a couple of months cycling in Central Western Europe, but in the end he went further and he never did get back home till the following year.
He now has the guiding job that he should have had when he left school, many years ago. Just goes to show, there are always more adventures ahead!
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 Tony Smith
Road Biking Events
Tony was a late convert to cycling having become involved through participating in a Tall Stories event in Italy in 2004 and becoming immediately hooked – not just because cycling in some of the most beautiful parts of Europe is unbeatable, but also because the camaraderie on such events is quite unique.
Since then he has taken part in rides in across Europe with Tall Stories as well as acting as a guide in more local rides. His view is that whilst he may not be the fastest on 2 wheels, few have more fun and get a bigger buzz from being on the road.
Perhaps this is because whilst sport has always been his hobby and his passion, having worked for Unilever for the last 30 years left too little time to indulge in this passion. Having retired in June 2009 he now has the time to enjoy being out and about doing what he loves.
He is a keen, if not particularly fast, marathon runner, having completed 11 of the last 12 London Marathons as well as numerous half marathons and has recently qualified as a Personal Trainer just going to show that age is no barrier to embarking on new projects.
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 Elly Staddon
Road Biking Events
Elly came to sport a little late in life, but since her discovery she hasn't looked back.
She ran her first marathon in 1997 and has now completed 8 marathons with her best time being just under 3 hours.
When Elly met Graeme, her now husband, in 2001 she took up triathlon in a desperate attempt to see him during the summer months. She soon realised that although her swimming is pretty terrible, she could make up time on the bike and the run and competed at world age group level in 2002. Following that she changed to duathlon and competed at world and european age group level in 2003 and 2004.
Elly has since been resting on her sporting laurels taking a competitve break to have children. She hopes to become a lean mean racing machine again sometime in the future, but for now she is happy making cups of tea and executing 100 point turns in the vans!
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 James Tansley
Everywhere
James Tansley grew up in Toulouse with the Pyrenees as his back yard and adventure playground. So it was no surprise that James went into the world of adventure sports. In the early days he worked in St Anton running chalets for ski companies, his summers were spent running holidays for Tall Stories and in between he took off to New Zealand and Australia to do ski seasons there.
With all this experience and more qualifications to his name, James has now achieved the perfect work balance – all winter he works as a senior ski patroller in the French Alps, sorting out accidents, the challenges of too much snow or too little snow and occasionally hanging out of helicopters wielding a stick of dynamite. All summer he works for Tall Stories as a bike guide and tour leader leading bike and trekking tours around Europe, and planning future itineraries.
Amongst his hobbies he counts ski mountaineering as the “best thing in the world”. His free time in the summer is dedicating to climbing, mountain biking and ultra distance mountain races – when the traditional marathon of 42kms is just not far enough, 70kms is the obvious next step he claims!
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 Ed Taylor
Ed Taylor is one of our support staff, he is an aspirant cycle guide but having tested out with the professionals realised that he wasn't quite fit enough to do that at the moment.
Ed deals with the logistic side of things and is involved with the set up for the food, accommodation and ferrying of clients when they've run out of steam. He also comes in handy for the odd bit of foreign translation from time to time.
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 James Underwood
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
James has worked for Tall Stories for three years. He has extensive experience in all aspects of cycling,
and active holidays.
He started his cycling career running mountain biking
holidays in France, has worked as a ski guide, and
recently a flotilla skipper in Greece.
He has a passion for road biking, and is able to
enthuse his guests in the sport he loves.
When he is not thrashing himself in to a sweat trying
to find the back entrance to the Eiffel Tower, he
can be found fiddling around with old ladies eyes
in his country optometry practice in Suffolk.
He says "The world would be a better place if
everyone used a bike"
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 Mike Penn
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Mike has been a serious rider for the last 10 years. He rides anything from down hill to cross country to road cycling and loves it all!
He has done a lot of riding in France; both on road on various touring trips, to off road in the Alps.
When he's not working for Tall Stories, he works in childcare and does freelance instructing.
Mikes other interests include rock climbing, paddling and fixing the ever increasing collection of bikes that he has.
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 Graeme Staddon
Road Biking Events
Graeme is from New Zealand and has been involved in sport all his life with an extensive range including cycling, running, swimming, sailing, kayaking, rugby, football, adventure racing and aerobics. He has been working in the fitness industry for the last 10 years as a fitness coach and sports massage therapist and has huge range of clients including professional football teams and Wimbledon tennis winners.
He discovered a passion for road and mountain biking in the last 5 years, competing in L'etape du tour, guiding coast to coast across the Pyrenees and from London to Paris. With talking one of Graeme's strong points there is seldom a dull moment in his group.
In the 10 minutes Graeme is not exercising you can find him with his family and building in and around the house.
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MEDICS
 Donna Barleycorn
A word from Donna: I'm Donna and I am a medic for Tall Stories. I love my role, it's a great rewarding job especially
as it's for charities!
The events and challenges are exhilarating and a
life changing experience. I particularly enjoyed the
Sierra Nevada event. This was tough but thoroughly
amazing on all levels!! The scenery, hiking and mountain
biking was out of this world, an event to challenge
the best of you…I dare you!!
The Tall Stories team are great fun, supportive and
organised.
Finally, the feeling of helping others through charitable
events is both physically and emotionally worthwhile.
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 Nicola (Nix) Burwood
Nix is a registered nurse with 8 years nursing experience
in accident and emergency, trauma, primary care and
expedition medicine.
She has undertaken two expeditions as medic for a
charity, in both Namibia and Borneo as well as various
cycling events around Europe. These involved ensuring
the safety of the participants and providing emergency
medical services in remote jungle and desert environments.
Nix is a keen skier with two ski seasons under her
belt and she is a qualified PADI diver who has a passion
for adventure and travel.
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 Steven Flanagan
Since graduating at Edge Hill University in Lancashire
as a nurse in 2001, I have spent much of my time employed
within the acute sector of the N.H.S.
Currently working within an intensive care unit at
a large London hospital I have recently undertaken
a Diploma in Tropical Medicine Nursing at the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
I have a true passion for working and travel in challenging
environments around the world which has resulted in
an a photo album overflowing with pictures from countries
including Borneo, Thailand, India, Costa Rica, Nicaragua
and Honduras.
My most memorable travel experience was trekking
through the rice terraces of the Northern Philippines
and when I'm not travelling I'm in my home city of
Liverpool catching up with friends and putting on
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 Aidan Foley
A registered nurse with a background in emergency care, Aidan became involved with Tall Stories while working in a London emergency department. Having now returned to a wet but very green Ireland, he is easily tempted back to join the guys at Tall Stories on their events around Europe. In addition to an established background in emergency nursing, Aidan has a keen interest in expedition/event medicine, having undertaken study in the same, whilst working with a large events medical support company at music festivals etc.
When not cycling to work in rainy Dublin or on the road with tall stories, Aidan can be found travelling pretty much anywhere, usually with a pair of trainers in his backpack ready for a run....
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 Jonathan Isaia
Jonathan is a HPC registered BSc (Hons) paramedic with 7 years pre-hospital experience in London and the South West.
A passion for travel and adventure directed Jonathan to study Travel and Expedition Medicine and paved the way as a medical officer on conservation expeditions to Honduras and South Africa and a Jungle Marathon to the Brazilian Amazon.
Jonathan is a keen water sports enthusiast and is one day hoping to travel to Antarctica but not to swim! |
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 Steve Marshall
Steve is a registered nurse and keen cyclist who loves the buzz that comes from being involved in charity events. Seeing participants arriving at their destination, the sense of achievement in their eyes, the comradship, the fun and most importantly the glow of having done it all for a good cause. Steve says, 'I never fail to be up-lifted by the people from all walks of life who give up their time and energy to raise money to help others'.
Steve has worked in A&E, primary care, opthmology and palliative care. He spent time in Borneo as a medic with Raleigh International and goes to Lourdes each year as group nurse with the childrens charity HCPT.
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 Jonathan Morton
MTB, Road Biking and Multi Activity Events
Between working for Tall Stories as “bike doc”,
I’m a Plastic Surgeon in Liverpool (no, not
that sort of Plastic Surgeon!). Mostly skin cancer
surgery.
What I like: Mountain biking, rock climbing and red
wine, though not simultaneously. I realised mountain
biking was the meaning of life during my first mid-life crisis at 37.
Best ever rides: The Trans Alp, in 2004 and 2006
Best ever climbs: Integrity, MVS, Sron na Ciche,
and the Cuillin traverse with an unanticipated overnight
stay. Worth the bitter cold for the fantastic sunrise.
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Team Mascot
 Fish
The ultimate events dog, Fish likes nothing better than to go on our trekking events. Last year Hadrian’s Wall got her approval and now it’s firmly on the list. Having been on almost all of our UK trekking events, our Pyrenees trek, a ski recce in the snow, to the tops of countless Alpine cols and to Paris several times, she really knows her way around Europe.
Fish gives a low rating to Paris for its lack of parks but loves hanging out in the events van in the hope for titbits, tickles or a game of football.
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