Athletes inspired by National Parks
Celebrating our winning landscapes
Inspired by the Yorkshire Dales
John Dunne
Sport: Climbing
John Dunne is a world-class climber who has been at the forefront of the sport for 20 years. He has climbed extensively in the Alps and California as well as in the UK.
Born in Bradford in 1968, in 1988 he became the first person to free climb the 80-metre high curved central wall of Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
John, aged 43, said: “Climbing in the Yorkshire Dales National Park has provided me with life-changing experiences. Early walking trips soon lead onto climbing and exploring the world class venues of Malham Cove, Kilnsey Crag and Gordale Scar.
He went on: “The Dales are a great place for young people and new climbers to experience the fantastic climbing that is available; from the easier climbs of Twistleton Scar and Giggleswick Scar to the huge overhanging faces of Malham Cove."
John was instrumental in brining compeition climbing to the UK in the late 1980s. He now runs the Manchester Climbing Centre and two other centres designed to give young people a way to experience the sport.
More information
For more background on John see www.johndunneclimbing.com
www.manchesterclimbingcentre.com
Inspired by the Yorkshire Dales
Andrew Triggs Hodge
Sport: Rowing
Andrew Triggs Hodge, from Wharfedale, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park was one of the four oarsome oarsmen who won gold for Team GB in the men's coxless fours (his second gold - he also won in Beijing). He rowed to victory with Peter Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory to the delight of thousands of delighted fans at the London 2012 Games.
