OAs and the Olympics
ALEC COLLYER, Carpenter 1976 - Olympic Torch Bearer
Alec Collyer
works for the
BBC in the
Southwest
out of the
Plymouth TV
studios. He has
served for 36
years as a member of Dartmoor Rescue Group, and
helped establish the Ashburton team in 1976. His
love of the moors and the great outdoors comes to
a great extent from CCF expeditions at King's under
Ken Kerslake's tutelage. Many fond memories of Ten
Tors training and Lake district weeks.
Alec was at RNAS Culdrose filming when the Olympic flame arrived from Athens, he was also on the Royal Navy search and
rescue helicopter that flew the flame to Lands End, as he is often filming with the crews there.
he BBC was given two torchbearer places by Lloyds TS. An email went to
all staff asking for nominations or self-nominations for a place. You had to be
involved in community projects out of normal work time. Alec applied and
was notified he had won a place.
he actual bit that Alec ran was very meaningful as it was in Shaldon, his
home village, and started next to his family home. All his friends from the
village turned out. . . . . . and a few beers were drunk. . . . . .
David Hunter is currently Chief Executive & Clerk of the Course at Fakenham Racecourse
and the Performance Manager for GB Paralympic Dressage. David splits his time between
the two roles which works very well as the busy racing season is in the winter and the
dressage season is in the summer. Having just finished the current National Hunt season
at Fakenham, David is now pretty much full on in dressage mode in advance of he
London Paralympic Games.
His role is to manage and co-ordinate horses,
kit, logistics, training, support staff and anything
else that is needed to ensure the GB Paralympic
Equestrian team arrives at all major international
competitions best prepared to be as successful as
possible. It is a role David has combined with his
racecourse duties for 9 years and he has taken the GB team to the Athens and Beijing
Games, as well as numerous European and World Championships.
David is not a trainer or coach to the riders or team,
but he works very closely with them and the riders to ensure horses and riders are best
prepared. 'All of us are thoroughly looking forward to London. he atmosphere of a home
games will be huge and we are determined to use this in a positive way to enhance the
performance of our riders. We go into the Games as current European, World and Paralympic
Team Gold medallists - so no pressure!!'. he London Paralympic Games runs from 29 August
to 9 September and equestrianism will take place in the temporary venue that has been built
in Greenwich Park.
DAVID HUNTER, Neates 1982 - Performance Manager, GB Paralympic Dressage