Meet the Zenith leisure Team
Dave Griffiths has been working outdoors for over 10 years and been a very keen outdoor enthusiast for 20 years. He holds many instructional qualifications in skiing, canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, caving, first aid trainer and assessor, archery, sailing and mountain biking. Dave has been the company director since 1999 building a wide customer base around the UK and abroad working in Norway, Canada, Spain, Cyprus, Majorca, The Alps and The Pyrenees. Dave has been an outdoor advisor for several Local Authorities within the Tees valley area and has vast experience of the requirements for schools and youth organisations. Being an active member of a local Mountain Rescue Team you could fairly say that Dave's life is all about the outdoors. Primarily Dave specialises in Primary Outdoor Education, staff training and development.
Jason Armstrong has been devoted to the outdoors for more than 20 years and left the Armed Forces in 2009 after 22 years of service. During this time he has conducted training in America, Kenya, Norway, Poland, Germany and Austria and he has also served on Operations in Iraq. His key achievements were passing the All Arms Commando Course and when he and his family met the Queen on a visit to the North East.
During his time in Norway Jason has worked alongside Royal Marines and acquired Arctic Survival skills and passed the Arctic Warfare Cadre. He is a keen biker and runner and enjoys taking part in endurance events. These have included running the Cleveland Way (twice), cycling the Coast to Coast (twice) and completing a gruelling nonstop 81 mile march; in full kit of Hadrian’s Wall. All these events were in order to raise funds for worthwhile causes.
Jason took up the role of Operations Manager for Zenith Leisure in early 2010. He is an avid member of the local Search and Rescue Team; for which he has qualified as a Mountain Rescue Basic Casualty Carer.
Ben Arrowsmith has been an outdoor enthusiast since he can remember. As a keen mountaineer, climber and skier Ben has had countless uncomfortable night's sleep in places such as the French and Swiss Alps, Austria, Bavaria, Sweden, Finland, England, Scotland and Wales. As a MLTE Mountain Leader and Single Pitch Award holder, Ben is now working towards both Winter Mountain Leader and Mountaineering Instructor Awards. Amongst other things, Ben is also a UKCC BCU Paddlesports coach, MBLA Trail Cycle Leader, GNAS Archery Leader and Coasteering Instructor. Ben is a probationary member of Cleveland Search and Rescue Team, and is easily bribed with either biscuits or a brew. He joined Zenith Leisure in May 2010 as a freelance Instructor, became a full-time Senior Instructor in December 2010 and was promoted to Chief Instructor in November 2011.
Steve Lambert has been introducing young people to outdoor activities for over 8 years. He feels it is important that young people get the opportunity to explore the outdoor environment in a safe and exciting way. Steve joined Zenith Leisure as a full time Outdoor Instructor in 2010 and became a Senior Instructor in December 2010. He holds the MLTUK Single Pitch Climbing Award and is a Summer Mountain Leader. He is also a qualified Archery Leader. In his spare time Steve keeps himself busy by walking, climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and fell running.
Adam Parr has had a huge passion for the outdoors from an early age and growing up on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors really helped him to gain new skills and experiences. Whilst at Laurence Jackson School he took part in an outdoor pursuit’s course which introduced him to new range of activities. Upon leaving school he trained as a joiner. Realising this career choice was not for him, he decided to retrain to become an outdoor instructor. He is a very keen kayaker, qualified to level 1 and enjoys mountain biking in the local area. He now holds a trail cycle leader qualification and is a qualified coasteering instructor.
Graeme has had a love of the outdoors for as many years as he can remember climbing his first mountain at the age of 6. In his spare time he is a member of the Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team and he has volunteered with this team for over 19 years. In January 2011 he successfully graded his Springer Spaniel as a mountain rescue search dog. He has spent most of his time walking in the high Pennines and the Lake District. Before joining us at Zenith Leisure he worked as a chef in various public houses in the north east. He made the decision in May 2011 to follow one of his dreams to work in the outdoors. He is looking forward to working with the team hear at Zenith Leisure and gaining lots of experience and achieving his goals.
Aaron Carabine is never happier than when he is in the 'middle of nowhere' hiking or climbing a rock. Even in childhood, most of his time was spent in a forest or climbing a tree- it was always in his nature to understand his surroundings and use the great outdoors as his playground.
He joined the army in 2004 after leaving college and at the end of his army training he received the award for 'Best Recruit'. During this army career, he served on tours of The Balkans and Afghanistan as an infantry soldier and medic. He has taken part in adventure training in some of the most unusual places the planet has to offer.
You can take the squaddie out of the army but you can't take the army out of the squaddie with his favourite quotes being 'If it ain't raining, it ain't training!' and "If it ain't snowing, I ain't going!"
Aaron is now a probationary member of the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team and is working towards his qualification as a outdoor activities instructor.
Malcolm Selby has been active in the outdoors for over 30 plus years, kayaking, skiing, walking and mountain biking for most of that time and still has his first mountain bike in the back of the garage at home.
Having been made redundant last year Malcolm has followed his long term ambition to assist others to appreciate the outdoor world and has recently qualified as MLTE Mountain Leader, MBLB Trail Cycle Leader and UKCC Level 1 Canoe and Kayak Coach. He is currently mid way through his UKCC level 2 Coaching award.
In addition Malcolm is also a GNAS Archery Leader and is working towards his Single Pitch Award in climbing.
When not "working" outdoors Malcolm can usually be found playing in the Moors, either running, biking, or just walking the dog, with his wife and two children.
Malcolm is a long term member of Cleveland Search and Rescue Team and is a key part in their specialised Swift Water Rescue team.
He joined Zenith in March 2011 as a Freelance Outdoor Instructor.
From an early age I have always had a passion for the outdoors. This inspired me to undertake an outdoor degree course in the Lake District and subsequently I have spent a number of years as an outdoor practitioner. My favourite outdoor activities include kayaking, surfing, mountain biking, scrambling and walking. Over the years I have pursued the sport of rock climbing and have climbed in France, Spain, New Zealand and many areas of the UK. I have a variety of current qualifications including mountain walking, kayaking, mountain biking and climbing. I would like to continue to expand my professional development in the outdoors and hopefully spend more time travelling and pursuing my outdoor passions.
I have always loved the outdoors, I have a passion for surfing and snowboarding and enjoy many other activities such as mountain biking, walking & scrambling, kayak surfing, and diving. I enjoy travelling and have worked in a number for ski seasons in France and Canada. I have spent time surfing and diving around the world and also some time living, working and travelling in New Zealand, Canada, France and Ireland allowing me time to pursue various outdoor activities. I have been working in the outdoors as a practitioner for a number of years and have gained a variety of current qualifications including climbing, mountain biking, mountain walking and water awards. I hope to continue to expand my experiences of living, working and playing in the outdoors.
Matty Stather has been a Fire-fighter for 12 years and during this time has spent 4 years training recruits. He now runs a watch at a local fire station. His hobbies mostly resolve around the outdoors including surfing (all be it very much a beginner), mountain biking, camping and walking and always wants to try new and challenging activities. He also enjoys leading team building challenges and problem solving activities especially when under pressure which some may say is a touch strange. Matty joined Zenith Leisure in August 2010 as an assistant instructor.
Danny Phillips has always loved the outdoors and has more than 30 years experience of mountaineering, climbing, and paddling. In 2008 he decided to fulfill a lifetime ambition by becoming an outdoor instructor. He has qualifications in mountaineering, climbing, canoeing, kayaking and caving, and when he’s not working he enjoys fell running and cycling. He is also a member of his local Mountain Rescue Team. Many years ago he adopted the North East as his home because it is a fantastic playground for enjoying the outdoors. Danny’s ethos is to inspire and develop you by trying new outdoor activities.
Dave Bate is the IT manager for Zenith Leisure and has been using computers since Vtech released a laptop. Dave has a passion for the outdoors either in his Land Rover or out walking and climbing in the local North Yorkshire area. Dave has brought a new dimension to our work by integrating IT in our advertising and also linking IT with the courses we deliver.
Allan Fishpool is a primary school teacher specialising in P.E, geography and earth education. With nearly a decade of teaching experience, including several years in outdoor education, he has taught throughout the primary range and led field work studies for secondary schools.
His child centred approach to learning stems from his firm belief that people learn from their environment and that;
“If a child hears they forget. If they see they may remember but if they DO they understand.”
Allan has been enjoying walking and climbing all over the UK for over 15 years and has completed his Mountain Leader training. He holds a number of sport coaching awards, including Orienteering and Bikeability. With a lifelong involvement in scouting he has a wide knowledge of practical camp craft skills and team building activities.
Martin Codd, a professional mechanical engineer, has always sought relaxation and exercise in the outdoors away from the stresses of working life particularly enjoying walking, running and biking. In years gone by Martin has participated in long distance Challenge events on the North Yorkshire moors, run countless half marathons and cycled End to End, both John o Groats to Lands End and the length of Ireland! Martin is a member of the Cleveland Search & Rescue Team and has been associated with the Team for over 20 years; he is also currently the CSRT Transport Officer. His philosophy - the worst day outdoors is always better than the best day in the office - don't wait for the storm to pass, get out and learn to dance in the rain!
Michael Burnip has been into the great outdoors forever; mountain biking since they came out, snowboarding for nearly 15 years and always loved being in the hills and mountains. Although more recently he has started walking up them rather than riding. He also enjoys kitesurfing which he took up last year. He finds this great fun and something to do when it’s too windy to do anything else!!
Michael loves spending time with his two daughters, taking his ten year old skiing, biking and climbing amongst other things. He is also passionate about seeing youngsters achieve new goals and having fun in the outdoors.
He is currently studying Outdoor Leadership at Teesside University and also works as a Youth Worker.