The Team
Ben Spicer (Director & Instructor)
Benny aka ‘the ginger ninja’ is a true waterman. Growing up in Cornwall he has spent most of his time in the sea around the Cornish coast surfing when there were waves and Coasteering when there weren’t. This naturally led him to study at Falmouth Marine School, gaining qualifications as a Beach Lifeguard and a Surf Coach. After a couple seasons teaching surfing he started with Cornish Rock Tors and rapidly became an indispensable asset . Benny is now a Director of Cornish Rock Tors and is loving the challenge. He can mostly be seen sporting a Cornish Rock Tors t-shirt, a smile and looking a slightly rouge shade of tan/burn.
Matthew Wheadon (Director & Instructor)
Matthew discovered climbing at university, since then (sadly a long time ago now) he has climbed all over the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Indian and Nepalese Himalaya. Matthew also has a strong connection with the sea as he grew up on Guernsey and spent much of his misspent youth scrambling around the sea cliffs, sailing and power boating there. Matt is a qualified Climbing Instructor, Kayaking Instructor, Mountain Leader, Beach Lifeguard, Lifeguard Trainer, Coasteering Instructor and Powerboat Instructor. Matthew spends the majority of his time up cliffs, in or on the sea and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Harrison Honan (Senior Instructor)
Harri is the Senior Instructor at Cornish Rock Tors. He has years of experience (he doesn’t like to say how many!) climbing and kayaking all over the world. Harri instructs all of the different activities that Cornish Rock Tors has to offer, and is committed to ensuring customers have a great time in and out of the water. With an infectious enthusiasm Harri leads exciting sessions and isn’t afraid of a challenge. With more qualifications than you could poke a stick at you are in safe hands with Harri Honan.
Jack Rockliffe-King (Coasteering Instructor)
Jack ‘The Rock’ started instructing with Cornish Rock Tors in 2007 and since then has safely taken out over 1000 people coasteering here in North Cornwall. Jack is a keen surfer and a bona fide Cornishman. Jack is a qualified Beach lifeguard and trained Coasteering Instructor.
Ed Batty (Coasteering Instructor)
Back for the summer after working in Switzerland, Ed is starting his second season with Cornish Rock Tors. A qualified Coasteering Guide and Beach Lifeguard. A keen runner, Ed pushes the limits and enters the Lakeland 50; a gruelling 50-mile-run through the hills of the Lake District, ever year. 2011 saw Ed place an impressive 5th. A graduate from Birmingham University, Ed is now turning his interests to Outdoor Activities; alternating seasons from mountains, to oceans. Ed would score 10 on a Top Trumps Card from strength, speed and ‘great-guy-ness’. (So would William ‘Jon’ Waters).
Joe Lou ‘Legend’ Leach (Kayak & Coasteering Instructor)
A level 3 Sea Kayak Coach and a general all round enthusiast for kayaking. Joe enjoys flat water Racing, canoe polo, surf kayaking and of course his first love sea kayaking. Joe held the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the Isle of Man at one time and is currently planning a circumnavigation of Great Britain record attempt in 2012. Other interests include coasteering, table tennis (he’s a coach) and crabbing (2008 world champion).
Harriet Smith (Coasteering Instructor)
Growing up in Cornwall, Harriet has been surrounded by extreme sports such as surfing, open-water swimming and Coasteering all her life. This encouraged her to seek waves further afield in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. It has also provided her with experience and qualifications such as her Beach Lifeguard, Surf Coach and BCF trained Coasteering Instructor. Harriet has been with CRT since 2010 and thoroughly enjoys being a Coasteering Guide. ‘I am currently studying at English at Leicester University, I have gained skills in articulacy and smart-ness, although being in a sea of books is not quite the same!’
William ‘Jon’ Waters (Coasteering Instructor)
Jon ‘Legend’ Waters is local surfer and bonafide Cornishman, Jon has in-depth knowledge of the local surf spots and Coasteering venues. A keen sportsman, Jon is currently training for his second marathon at the end of the summer before heading to Australia for the winter months. Jon will go surfing in all conditions rain, shine, swell or not. Jon is guaranteed to be seen walking down the beach with a board under his arm.
Kate Batty (Coasteering Instructor)
This is Kate’s first season with Cornish Rock Tors, and she is very excited to be part of the team. She has graduated from Southampton University and is hoping the experience gained as a Coasteering Guide will help establish her in a career in Outdoor Activities. Kate is Ed’s younger sister and it’s unanimously agreed that she is lucky to have such a positive role model.
Ben Schofield (Kayak & Coasteering Instructor)
Ben is the kayaking instructor at Cornish Rock Tors and has experience in surf kayaking around the Bournemouth area (don’t mention the reef, it’s a sore point!) and Europe. A qualified BCU level 1 coach, with 3 star canoe, surf, sea kayak certificates, Ben has all-round experience in kayaking. His commitment to safety and enjoyment means Ben leads exciting Kayaking adventures around the Cornish coastline. Ben has also recently become involved in Coasteering, making his knowledge of the local area even more in-depth.
Clarice ‘Cat’ Payne (Coasteering Instructor)
Not only has she got one of the best last names on the earth! She is a great member of our team. She will mostly be seen admiring the beauty of the beaches?! Personally we think she’s admiring other things as it’s only on hot sunny days! Cat has recently gained skills in Coasteering, Kayaking and on our Powerboat Tours. A keen football player, she has transferred her interests from the field and to the water with enthusiasm.
Lou Dart (Admin Ninja)
Lou is the glue that holds the Cornish Rock Tors admin together! Lou drinks lots of tea and brings a great vibe to the office every day. You will know if you are on the phone to her as you will forget why you rang and she will probably start talking to you about Furniture! Her bubbly personality brings life to Cornish Rock Tors. Just don’t ask about her mad dancing skills!
Jane ‘JD’ Davies (Number Cruncher)
JD dutifully takes care of the Cornish Rock Tors book keeping, no mean feat we can tell you. After a career path including farming, electrical engineering and semi-pro Moto GP JD has found her place bringing order to Cornish Rock Tors. JD’s daughter Bella is a massive fan of Isaac the puppy.
Isaac (Puppy & Team Mascot)
Born on the 24th of March 2011 Isaac is a Labrador Springer cross. His main interests are chewing, digging and running away when being called.
Our Technical Advisors
Andy Davey (Kayaking)
Andy is the technical advisor for Cornish Rock Tors kayaking activities but also teaches and guides with us here on the North Coast. Andy has Kayaked almost everywhere in Europe and been involved in expeditions in Norway and Nepal. Andy has also represented Great Britain and Scotland at international level in different disciplines. Andy holds the highest personal proficiency in Sea Kayaking, Surf Kayaking, Inland Kayaking and Open Canoeing and is a level 4 coach in all four of these disciplines. He is also a National Trainer Assessor and is the BCU Paddle Sports Development Officer for the South West Region. He also holds the Single Pitch Award (SPA) and is a RYA Dingy Instructor. Andy says he divides his time between paper work and inspiring others into the sport he loves.
Andy Newton (Climbing)
Andy is the technical advisor for Cornish Rock Tors climbing activities. Andy has been a full time outdoor instructor since 1980. Since then he has been involved in guidebook production, has been a technical advisor to the Mountain Leader Training Board and Secretary of the Mountain Leader Training Board Wales and is also an Inspector for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. Andy has climbed all over Europe and America and holds the Mountain Instructor Certificate the UK’s highest qualification in climbing and mountaineering. Andy says he splits his time equally between partying, climbing, family and sleeping, though not necessarily in that order.
Dave Harriss (Coasteering)
Dave has been running Hotrock Coasteering in Newquay for 9 years and this experience as well as his work as a lifeguard trainer led him to start the British Coasteering Federation in 2009. Dave and the BCF continue to push for the highest safety standards in our sport and provide training to all our coasteering instructors in the form of the SLSGB Coasteer Guide Lifesaving Award and the BCF Coasteer Guide Award.
Freelance Instructors
Cornish Rock Tors occasionally employs freelance instructors for the summer, all these instructors hold the relevant national governing body awards for the activities they teach and have also undergone thorough in-house training. Cornish Rock Tors Ltd. has a comprehensive child protection policy based on guidelines provided by Sport England and is available on request.