Mountaineer and Patron of the Keswick Mountain Festival – Sir Chris Bonington has revealed the names of some of the adventurers who will be speaking at this year’s Keswick Mountain Festival, sponsored by Jennings and Ordnance Survey (13-17 May 2009).To celebrate the third successive festival, the organisers have scoured the country looking for Britain’s most talented individuals to inspire the audiences at the Theatre by the Lake. And local activity providers have come up with hundreds of different ways to get up on the fells, out on your bike or away on the water.
Sir Chris Bonington said: “Everyone will be inspired by this year’s speakers, from our home-grown climber Leo Houlding to expedition Doctor Mike Stroud and from Mark Beaumont, who cycled around the world, to Rosie Swale Pope, who ran around it! We have also taken to the seas this year with Paul Rose, who presents the BBC series ‘Oceans;’ to the ice with polar adventurer Hannah McKeand and to the road with one of our finest ultra-distance runners Jez Bragg.”
“Keswick Mountain Festival is a fabulous way to come and try new activities and to hear our new pioneers talk about some of the most magnificent adventures on earth. I am proud to be the Festival patron and I am looking forward to taking part in May.”
Leo Houlding – Take me to the Edge (Friday 15th May 8pm) A whirlwind world tour of his adventures and his rise from climbing’s golden boy to celebrity extreme sportsman. He free-climbed the mighty cliffs of El Capitan in Yosemite, bouldered at 28,000 feet on Everest, rode erupting volcanoes, BASE jumped into caves and experimented with parachute-assisted descents.
Sir Chris Bonington
Mark Beaumont – Circumnavigation of the Globe by Bike (Thursday 14th May 8pm)The fastest man to cycle around the world ever according to the Guinness Book of Records! Mark completed his 18,297 mile trip through 20 countries in 194 days and 17 hours, that’s a rate of 100 miles per day!
Paul Rose (Wednesday 13th May 8pm)- Presents ‘Oceans’ for the BBC, he has a long record of leading Greenland Ice Cap Expeditions and was awarded the Queen’s Polar Medal. For ten years he was the Commander of the Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.
Dr Mike Stroud – From Ice to Dust (Saturday 16th May 6pm) An expert on human health under extreme conditions. Has partnered Sir Ranulph Fiennes on several expeditions and completed the seven marathons in seven continents in seven days. He completed the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent.
Rosie Swale Pope – Rosie’s Run Around The World (Wednesday 13th May 6pm) At 57, Rosie set off to do a circuit of the globe, now four and a half years later, she is back to tell the tale. The death of her husband Clive, from prostate cancer, taught Rosie more than anything about how precious life is.
Jez Bragg (North Face Athlete) – In the Long Run (Wednesday 13th May 7.30pm) Jez will speak of his experiences of running ultra distance races around the world (100km), when and why he started running, highlights of his running career, his training and lifestyle and quest to inspire others.
Hannah McKeand (North Face Athlete)- Cold hands, Warm heart (Wednesday 13th May 5.30pm) One of the foremost polar athletes of our time, Hannah set a world record of 39 days, nine hours and 33 minutes for skiing the 690 miles from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole – beating the previous record by two days.
Joint headline sponsors Jennings Brewery and Ordnance Survey are thrilled with the line up.
Ordnance Survey commented: “The Keswick Mountain Festival is an exhilarating and fun event, giving everyone the exciting opportunity to challenge themselves, conquer their fears and take inspiration from the experts. With an activity for everyone, the event encourages participants to fulfil their potential, taking outdoor activity to a new level. Ordnance Survey is proud to be involved.”
Jennings Brewery added: “Once again Jennings is proud to support Keswick Mountain Festival along with many other local events in Cumbria, which helps support growth in our local industries.”
Booking for talks at the Theatre by the Lake opens, Monday 2 February – Box Office, telephone: 017687 74411 or www.theatrebythelake.com.
In March, the full festival brochure will be online at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk and for the first time you can book all your activities on the internet.
The Keswick Mountain Festival dates you need for your diary are 13-17 May 2009 – it promises to be jam packed with every conceivable outdoor activity and coupled with an impressive line up of inspirational speakers.
