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In 2002 Ben wrote down on a piece of paper a list of
things that he wanted to accomplish in his life, and
has subsequently set about achieving them.
Prior to 2002 Ben was a Semi-Pro and County
Representative footballer and over the past 8 years
has become an experience and accomplished Ultra
Distance runner, Mountaineer and Ocean Rower.
Alongside his primary passion for adventure, Ben also
holds a Senior Managerial position at one of the
biggest financial institutions in the country.
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2002. Climbed Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in
Africa in just 2 days without acclimatisation.
January 2006. Ben ran his first Ultra Distance
Marathon the 54 mile non-stop Thames Meander finishing
39th in just over 10 and a half hours.
April 2006. Ben completed in the 21st Marathon des
Sables, the year the organisors have said was the
toughest on record. In an international field of elite
athletes with the largest contingent from the UK, Ben
finished in the top 10 Britons completing the 150
miles in 30 hours, 25 minutes and 56 seconds, with a
highest overall ranking of 84th on the long stage.
June 2006. Ben ran 100 miles non-stop over the
Pennines in the inaurural Pennine Challenge. Only 25%
of the competitors finished and Ben finished in 3rd
place.
January 2007. Ran 50 miles non-stop in the Thames
Path race, finishing in 9th place in just 7 hours 57
minutes.
June 2007. Completed 2 back to back circuits of the
Yorkshire Dales 3 Peaks in 11 hours 15 minutes.
July 2007. Successfully summited and transversed
Denali (Mt. Mckinley), the highest mountain in North
America,one of the coldest mountains in the world and
second only to Everest in overall difficulty of the 7
continental summits.
The summit and traverse was particularly significant
as the team was the only team that year, the first in
4 years and only the 3rd in 10 years to be successful
in doing so.
December 2007 - January 2008. Rowed across the Mid
Atlantic with Ian in just 37 days, 5 hours and 50
minutes narrowly missing out on the open class world
record.
The crossing also made the records for the fastest
1000 miles rowed out of the Canaries, it was the 5th
fastest crossing of the Atlantic ever (any class of
rowing boat, any route), the 2nd fastest crossing of
the Atlantic in a conventional rowing boat, and the
fastest ever crossing (any class of rowing boat) from
Canaries to Antigua. (Done by the Great Circle route,
i.e. no real currents or trade winds).
September 2008. Ben completed the 50 mile challenge
with Ian just under 10 hours.
Feb 2009. Ran 45 miles in 6 hours 40 in the Tring to
Town Ultra Marathon.
April 2009. Attempted a speed crossing of Greenland
but was evacuated with 3rd degree frostbite.
June 2009. Survived a capsize at sea in a solo sea
kayaking training trip around the Isle of Man.
August 2009. Completed 2 back to back laps of the
Yorkshire Dales 3 peaks for the 2nd time.
January 2010. Completed the 90 miles 'Ultra Race' in a
time 17 hours 28 mins.
April 2010. Returned with Ian to complete an ultra
weight speed crossing of Greenland in just 12 days.
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Ian has served for 17 years as a British Army officer
and has now gone on to establish his own company,
Adventure Hub Ltd, providing ultra endurance events,
training and support to expeditions and individuals
wanting to push their limits.
In his 17 years Ian has travelled widely and has
considerable experience in organising and delivery
training and operations and events that test the
boundaries of physical and mental endurance.
Over the past 5 years Ian has rocketed to one of the
most experienced and best Ocean Rowers and Adventurers
in the world.
March 2007. Jurassic Coast Challenge. 75 miles in
three days over the rugged and hilly Dorset Coast. |
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May 2007. The Grand Union Canal Race. This is 145
miles non-stop running from Birmingham to London.
November 2007. Record Breaking Row across the
Atlantic. Whilst planning to row the North Atlantic,
Ian found the Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger and the
attempt to break the speed record for rowing across
the Mid Atlantic, and after an interview process Ian
was fortunate enough to be selected for the crew
alongside Ben.
The watch pattern during the crossing meant that Ian
and Ben rowed together for most the crossing and a
strong friendship emerged. The crossing became the
fastest ever from the Canaries to Antigua.
Throughout the row various plans were made for future
challenges and Ian learned of Ben's ENDURE
expeditions. Months later Ian asked to support the
expedition and was asked to be the other team member.
January 2008. Gobi Desert. Ian finished 5th in the 7
day Gobi Challenge Ultra Running Race, covering 150
miles over terrain that ranged from ice filled gorges,
rocky plains, to the highest sand dune in Asia in
temperatures that reached 47 degrees.
September 2008. Ian ran the '50 mile challenge' in
just over 10 hours.
ENDURE Greenland April 2009. In April 2009 Ian and Ben
ventured to Greenland to set a speed crossing from
coast to coast. The expedition was cut short when Ben
suffered 3rd degree frostbite, but less than two
months later Ian was down in Australia, set to row
across the Indian Ocean, and attempt to break the
speed record for this crossing.
Indian Ocean May 2009. Ian rowed across the Indian
Ocean as part of the crew Aud Eamus, from the west
coast of Australia to Mauritius in 58 days becoming
the fastest ever crossing of the Indian Ocean.
January 2010. Again just months after his last
successful challenge Ian set out in pursuit of
records. This time Ian skippered a 12 man Ocean Rowing
boat across the Mid Atlantic in an attempt to break
the overall speed record. The crew finished
successfully in 38 days, and Ian became the first
person to have rowed the Mid Atlantic twice in under
40 days and one of only 6 people ever to have rowed
across 3 Oceans.
April 2010. ENDURE Greenland. Ian and Ben returned to
Greenland to cover the 360 miles from coast to coast,
unsupported in just 12 days.
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