Athletes inspired by National Parks
Celebrating our winning landscapes
Inspired by the North York Moors
Alan Hinkes
Sport: Mountaineering
Alan Hinkes is the first Briton to climb all 14 of the world's highest mountains - peaks which are 8,000-metres or higher and are the most dangerous mountains on the planet.
Only 12 people alive have achieved this feat - many have perished attempting this challenge.
Born in 1954, Alan began his mountaineering career while at Northallerton Grammar School, North Yorkshire. He progressed to the Alps with ascents of many difficult mountains, including the notorious North Face of the Eiger, then the Himalayas.
He said: "Climbing the minor crags of the moors as a lad eventually led me to the tops of Everest and Kanchenjunga. It is vital that we encourage young people to enjoy the great outdoors and the North York Moors is a terrific place to start."
Alan currently works as an outdoor equipment technical consultant, writer and is an accomplished cameraman (filming 11 documentaries), photographer, motivational speaker, environmentalist and mountain guide.
He has been awarded an OBE for his climbing feats. He lives in North Yorkshire and still enjoys fell walking and climbing.
More information
Alan Hinke's Yorkshire: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/alan_hinkes
Alan's biography: www.pro-trek.co.uk/alan-hinkes
Inspired by the North York Moors
Katherine Copeland
Sport: Rowing
Katherine Copeland is from Stockton-on-Tees, a stone's throw from the North York Moors National Park. Katherine won gold in the lightweight double sculls - a feat now marked by a golden postbox in Ingleby Barwick.
