Ben, Rich and Friends
Richard Harpham | Richard has canoed and kayaked all of his life having joined local club Viking Kayak Club from a young age. Over the years he has completed lots of long distance multi day canoe trips including the Wye, The Caledonian Canal and trips like Bedford to Kings Lynn, all of which were 100 miles. Richard used to manage a local windsurfing and water sports store and studied in Plymouth where he also completed RYA courses and trained as a commercial diver.
Richard is also the founder of the Big 5 Kayak Challenge and has completed almost 5,000 miles of expeditions in 2 years. This has included sea kayaking the English Channel twice, Lands End to the Isles of Scilly and Around the Isle of Wight. | 
Roger Palin | Roger has been involved in outdoor pursuits for most of his life. At 16 he joined the Royal Marines, which was an incredible journey in itself but took him cross country skiing in Norway, Helicopter abseiling through the jungle canopies and advanced navigating through barren deserts.
He managed an outdoor centre, in Kinlochleven, nestled between Glencoe and Glen Nevis. A amazing place to live and where he climbed, paddled, skied and mountain biked to his heart content.
His passions and dedication allowed him to achieve Level 4 Coach in Canoe and Kayak. Gain the Mountain Instructors Certificate (MIC). He became the first person to achieve BASI Telemark ISIA and Alpine ISIA. And he holds MIAS Level 4 Tutor and TCL in Mountain Biking.
Coming his skills and knowledge he has travelled to and worked in over 60 countries. Is an associate instructor at Glenmore Lodge, has been a member of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team. Contributed to the Scottish White Water Guide, Has led expeditions on foot, skis, bikes and canoe in arduous conditions such as and including high winds, floods, -50 to +55, altitude, arctic, desert and jungle.
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He has also paddled the length of the River Thames during the blizzards in 33 hours and kayaked around Hoy and the Orkney Isles and Scotland to Ireland unsupported. Last year his team completed 1000 miles from Vancouver to Alaska, 700 miles canoeing the Yukon River and London to Marrakech, 2363 miles by kayak and Bike.
He is also a qualified BCU coach Level 2 (Trainee) and coaches polo and the academy at Viking Kayak Club. Richard is sponsored by Prijon Sea Kayaks, Aquabound Paddles, Bending Branches Paddles and Esquif Canoes for his expeditions.
Ben is a world class river paddler and has travelled and worked around the globe. Zambia, Uganda, France, Italy, Austria are just a few of his recent destinations, clocking up many months of river time. Ben has grown up on the water and comes from a kayaking dynasty with his father Rob having won the DW (Devises to Westminster) race on several occasions and his cousin James Reeves is a current world kayaking champion. Besides being a dab hand at freestyle and white water paddling Ben has also completed many expeditions across Canada, Scotland and Norway in canoes. He loves being at one with nature and away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Ben studied Outdoor Education at Shuttleworth College near Bedford and has worked as a snowboard guide in the French Alps. Ben is Level3 BCU accredited coach and holds is a 5 star kayak leader. He is also a Swiftwater Flood Rescue technician LVL3.
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