Meet The Team
Mark Brocklehurst
‘Project Leader’ / Ex-Navy Thrillseeker
MD of Sharples Group Mark is no stranger to deep waters thanks to his background in the Royal Navy. As Director on the Board for Bolton Lads and Girls Club, and a sports enthusiast, thrillseeker Mark hatched a plan to co-incide with his 50th birthday that would see him complete 5 charitable events during the year. True to his word, he completed a triathlon, Lakeland challenges (bike ride & fell run) and a bike ride from John O’ Groats to Lands End in just 7 days. His achievements saw him raise £35,000 for Bolton Lads and Girls Club which enabled the club to create a space for the kids to play games and sports.
Although rewarding, Mark’s taste for excitement left him hungry for a bigger challenge. After completing the Iron Man Triathlon in 2012, he decided a trans-Atlantic mission may be his next quest. Having been approached by Nick to take on the Talisker Whiskey Challenge, the next feat was finding a crew that shared his love of adventure, as well as his passion for supporting the club in raising the funds that would make the initiative a great success.
Matt Tomkin
‘Rower’ / Sports Enthusiast & Telecoms Guru
MD of Comms-Consult and gym-goer Matt is Captain of Bolton Hockey Clubs 2nd Team, and when he's not providing top telecoms solutions, also sits on the comittee for the club. Not shy of a sporting challenge or two, Matt has previously completed the Great North Run, The Manchester 10k and has signed up for a number of triathlons for this year.
Matt has taken on the Atlantic Challenge to feed his taste for adventure, but admits that the one thing he'll miss most will be Haloumi cheese! Better get his palette refined for foods of the powdered variety!
Nick Griffiths
‘Rower' / Fundraising Fanatic & Challenge Instigator
Ex-forces (and conveniently!) ex Royal Marine, Nick is a member of the Executive Committee at Bolton Rugby Club, and has been playing rugby there for the past 17 years.
When he’s away from his day job as Facilities Manager for Bupa, Nick spends his time raising valuable funds for a number of charities. Under his impressive fundraising belt, he holds the achievements of 3 London Marathons, various Half Marathons, the UK Iron Man Triathlon, and raised substantial funds for Dreams, the Rainbow Centre, Teenage Cancer Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust.
Having dreamt of completing the Atlantic challenge for ten years, Nick finally took the plunge and (with a bit of smooth talking) got Mark onboard, to turn the dream quickly into a reality.
Nick predicts the things he’ll miss most, to be his wife Janine and teenage daughters Amy and Hannah (who we imagine will be left with the duty of walking family dogs, Harry and Max!)
Finn Christo
‘Rower' Fundraiser'
Content Manager of Appliances Online, Finn is also a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach. Having previously raised money for UNICEF, Save The Children and most recently running 10k barefoot for sport relief, Finn has also set up Dads and Lads Sport Group as well as training support for social groups in areas of social and economical deprivation. Having spent almost 6 years living out of a backpack and travelling the East, Finn is no stranger to putting himself through hell for a bit of fun but wonders how he'll do without Starbucks for 7 weeks on the high seas.
Vincent James Kelly
