Bristol Explorers

Bristol Kids Youngest to Swim Channel

Belinda Kirk — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Congratulations to BEST, Bristol English Channel Swim Team, on reaching France in the early hours of this morning to become the “Youngest Team to Swim the Channel”

The team reached France at 2:35am on the 4th september 2010. Congratulations to them all.

To hear more about it come to Bristol Explorers Drinks on Wednesday 8th September

Haigh Lyon Sea Gals’ are The First Women to Row Around Britain

Xavier Keeling — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:17:31 +0000

”Quite the most remarkable achievement carried out by any women alive today. Absolutely magnificent both for mental and physical achievement bar none” SIR RICHARD BRANSON

On the 23rd July the Haigh Lyon SeaGals – Belinda, Bev, Angela and Laura – claimed a new World Record as The First Women to Row Around Britain. After 51 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes at sea, their epic non-stop and totally unsupported 2010mile row around GB came to an end as the crew passed under Tower Bridge to a heroine’s welcome.

Belinda would like to pass on her “huge thanks to all our supporters, sponsors, friends and families”.

Photos and videos from the World Record breaking row

Monty’s Currach Row

Belinda Kirk — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:49:51 +0000

Great Escapee Monty Halls is attempting to row a traditional wooden boat – a currach – from the offshore Aran Islands to Roundstone on the mainland in a single day. This is a trip of about 25 miles over some fairly wild water, and has never been done in the modern era.

Monty hopes to row will raise funds for a rescue pontoon for stranded whales and dolphins in Ireland. There are about 150 strandings a year round the Irish coast, and many of these animals could be helped if there was a pontoon to hand. As there are only two in Ireland at present, this extra pontoon could make a real difference to getting the right kit to the right place in good time.

Monty is training like crazy, and hopes to attempt the crossing before the end of September.

Monty says “I’m hopeless in a currach, so this will be a very long day indeed! It’d be really great to raise enough money for the pontoon though – large blisters and a sore backside seem a small price to pay.”

If you go to http://www.justgiving.com/Aransweater you can sponsor Monty.

We’ll let you know how he gets on with his attempt. You’ll either see the attempt when the next series of Great Escape comes out, or when the next series of 999 comes out….

Days of the Raj Party

Belinda Kirk — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:28:29 +0000

Clifton Sub Aqua Club are having a party….

Admidst the frenzy of diving and holidays that everyone having a very jolly time at, it may be time to think about what happens as the shadows lengthen and mad-dog heat disappears from the sun……and have something lovely and rather silly in your social calendars to look forward to…and now you have.

The rear guard have been out in action and bought their tickets and now we need you cavalry to fall upon your drinkies and come out and have a good time….it’s easy…and cheap…

The ticket price includes a drink, a bbq supper and high tea of cakes and scones, plus films, music, special entertainments (and no, I don’t just mean Billy in a sari!) and dancing till late. The venue has a licence till 12.30am, so carriages at 1am.

All are welcome, so feel free to bring a friend or two.

All you have to do is:
1. email me at daysoftheraj2010 {at} gmail(.)com to say you want to come
2. Transfer some money into the club account – or give me cash when you see me
3. Don a suitably silly Days of the Raj themes outfit (you do not need to wear this until the actual night unless you wish to)
4. Show up on the night – 18th Sept and have a few bevvies, some delicious BBQ and have a bop.

So to summarise….

Saturday 18th September – at 7:30pm.
Kings Arms – top of Whiteladies Road.
Theme: Days of the Raj.
Tickets – bargain £20.

To confirm your your attendance please email Barbara at daysoftheraj2010 {at} gmail(.)com

Country Coordinator – Cambodia

Belinda Kirk — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:56:25 +0000

Frontier – we are seeking a Country Coordinator to run our country headquarters in Phnom Penh. The successful applicant will have overall responsibility for all administrative aspects including management of budgets, accounts, reporting procedures, meeting and greeting of volunteers and supervision of local staff.

We are looking for candidates that have the drive to push forward our conservation work in Cambodia and who will be comfortable networking with other organisations and local government departments as and when required. Proposal writing and sourcing additional funding will also play a key part in this role.

For a full job profile and more details please visit www.frontier.ac.uk

Please contact Joanna French on 0207 613 2422

Please quote Bristol Explorers in your application

Closing Date 30th September 2010

BE Drinks – Wednesday 8th September

Belinda Kirk — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:10:17 +0000

After a break over the summer, Bristol Explorers Drinks is back and will be held at The Square on 8th September. We will be joined by Jonathan Bradshaw at 8pm to tell us about the most amazing young explorers in Bristol. This month six children from Bristol, BEST, are attempting to become the youngest relay team ever to swim the English Channel.

See you there to catch up on adventures over the summer….and plan some new ones.

Also for those of you wanting to make up for the lack of BE Drinks over the summer, there is also a Cardiff Explorers Drinks on Thursday 9th September from 7pm at the Terra Nova Bar

NB The following BE Drinks will be on Thursday 7th October.

Men and Women Wanted For TV Expedition

Belinda Kirk — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:10:10 +0000

Bristol Explorer, Jacki Hill-Murphy, is looking for men or women of any age who may like to take part in a Bristol based expedition to the Llanganates National Park in Ecuador in January – February 2011.The expedition will be filmed for broadcast next year by a local television production company.

This is extremely difficult terrain, we will be following Valverde’s route and investigating the lost Inca gold and our team will be fronted by a TV presenter used to rugged and hostile conditions.

You will have to pay your own costs but will have professional backup and support.

Please contact Jacki Hill-Murphy if you are interested.

Bristol Explorers… in Cardiff

Tori — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:39:08 +0000

We are delighted to announce our 1st event outside of Bristol.

On Thursday 8th July, Bristol Explorers will have it’s first regional drinks event in Cardiff. The awesome Terra Nova Bar have provided an ideal location for the inaugural event in Cardiff Bay from 7pm. There’ll be a free drink for everyone on arrival.

Hear from Tori James, how she got from Pembrokeshire via the north magnetic pole to become the first Welsh woman up Everest! Tori is the youngest British female as well as the first ever Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest. The BBC documentary ‘On Top of the World’ was produced using the video footage which Tori shot whilst climbing Everest.

For mountaineers, climbers, cyclists, sailors, rowers and all with a thirst for adventure. Meet like-minded people, share ideas and inspiration… and be in with a chance to win some outdoor kit!

If you know of anyone who would be interested in coming along and meeting likeminded people, please forward this on to them, it’s an open invite to the expedition and adventure community in Wales!

The event is being managed by Tori James, Sarah Mayer and Maria Leijerstam.

Arctic Diving Talk at Drinks Event on 17th June

BristolExplorers — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:24:43 +0000

Bristol Explorers Drinks will be on Thursday 17th June. The usual mix of planning, chat and inspiration amongst adventurers and explorers throughout the evening plus we’re really excited to present Martin McGrath speaking about his life as a professional diver, working in some of the worlds most remote and dangerous diving locations.

Martin has logged more than 8000 dives in a career that spans more than 25 years. He is a PADI Master Instructor, a BSAC Advanced Instructor as well as being a commercial diver. He has specialty instructor training in more than 16 specialties and he is also a qualified skipper with sea survival and VHF qualifications. He is an emergency first response instructor trainer and scuba technician. Martin has dived throughout the world in locations as diverse as Antarctica, Australia, Scapa Flow, UK, Norway, France, Spain, Sicily, Beirut, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South Africa, Mozambique, Maldives and the Galapagos Islands. He owned his own dive centre in the UK for over 5 years.

Bristol Explorers founder, Belinda Kirk, is currently somewhere along the coast of Great Britain rowing with the SeaGals all-girl team competing against an all boy team. You can track their progress and show your support and donate to the Help for Heroes charity.

As Belinda is away, we are honoured to have Tori James take her place to co-hosting the evening – we’re delighted to announce Tori will be taking Bristol Explorers to Cardiff for the first event outside Bristol on 8th July.

Drinks will be held at the Square Club, Bristol and start from 6.30pm with the talk starting at 7.30pm.

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Post tags: arctic, diving, professional

SeaGals kick off the Virgin GB Row

BristolExplorers — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:54:55 +0000

The SeaGals – the first all-female team to row round GB in the Virgin GB Row started off today.

You can track their progress from the start of the race at 5:23pm today.

The race is in aid of the Help for Heroes charity – please support the team and donate today: