Leeds Mountaineering Club

The Committee

Chair

David Ponting

As chair, it's my job to ensure the smooth running of the club by organising regular committee meetings and the AGM. I also liaise with the BMC and make sure each committee member is supported in their role. Basically, I talk too much and send a lot of emails.

Mountaineering-wise, I've been active for over twenty years, including a full mixture from alpine climbing trips, to skiing in the arctic, to enjoying a casual Friday night bouldering session. After spending years in the flat fenlands of Cambridge, moving up to Leeds eight years ago - with beautiful countryside on our doorstep - has been an excellent choice and I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring said countryside and beyond with the club.

Away from the mountains, I'm a research scientist by day and a keen cyclist, runner, photographer, cook and gardener.

Treasurer

Clare Avory

As Treasurer, my role is to look after the books. This includes collecting subscriptions and keeping the BMC database up to date, paying for hut meets, merchandise and training, and ensuring everyone has paid up. I've inherited a very shiny spreadsheet from my predecessor, and look forward to developing our processes further.

I'm mainly a hill walker, scrambler and occasional walk leader, although I enjoy bouldering and sport climbing too.

Meets Secretary

Sarah Sharps

Hi I'm Sarah, I'm the Meets Secretary. My role is to organise the weekend meets ensuring the LMC is full of mini UK adventures all year round; generally camping in the summer and huts in the winter but we do mix it up sometimes with a summer hut meet! I am also responsible for the organizational side of things such as ensuring meet leaders have all the necessary information and keys.

I enjoy climbing, indoor and outdoor; I have a love-hate relationship with gritstone but I'm forced to climb on it anyway because apparently it's the done thing around here. I love bikes also, road and MTB and I love a good mountain walk, rarely straying into mountaineer territory. Generally happiest wandering in the Lake District in the summer in good company, a bag full of snacks and a mega flask of tea. I also enjoy photography, film making, graphic design and anything crafty. I'm in a rock/metal covers band too.

Membership Secretary

Sarah McCullagh

Hi, I'm Sarah, the current Membership Secretary. My role is to welcome new members into the fold, keep our membership database up to date and try to keep track of who attends which meets. I'm a below average climber who fell in love with trad and bouldering a few years ago (still trying to find the love for sport climbing), and am yet to find anything else that floats my boat quite as much as fighting my way up a gritstone crag whilst cursing my life choices. Also a fan of long days out on the hills and a staunch believer in the importance of cake.

Communications

Steph Jenkins

As Communications Secretary it's my role to keep you up to date with past and future club capers via monthly email dispatches. I also have an eye on club emails. If there's anything you'd like to hear more about or that you'd like to share with the membership please do get in touch!

A relative new recruit, I've been part of LMC since 2023. I enjoy climbing of all varieties, hill walking, trail running and snowboarding.

Social Secretary

Pete Coldham

I'm Pete, the LMC social secretary and you'll find me out trad climbing assuming it ever stops raining. Join me at the pub afterwards or at the once a month Friday sesh if you don't fancy the grit.

Climbing Coordinator

Graham Matthews

As climbing coordinator it is my job to organise all the Tuesday evening meets and also to cram a few day meets in wherever there is space in the extremely busy calendar. My main duty is to encourage people to "volunteer" as meet leaders and to put together a varied calendar for everyone to enjoy.

I have been climbing since the age of about ten and love all disciplines of climbing, especially trad. I enjoy climbing all over the UK but particularly the Peak district and Pembroke.

Walking Coordinator

Alice Jones

Hi, I'm Alice! As walking coordinator I plan the monthly walks, which can take us anywhere in the surrounding Leeds area, Yorkshire Dales or sometimes the Peaks. I love a walk with a lunch stop which has a lovely view so even if we're not ticking off the classic summits the walks will still be interesting, perhaps in an area members aren't so familiar with or on paths which are slightly less well-trodden. Given we're in Yorkshire there will always be a good amount of elevation and a pub at the end for a pint and a chat about our adventures!

If you'd like to join, please register on the web site and drop us a message on the bulletin board and we'll look out for you at the designated meeting point.

Social Media Secretary

Graham Jones

Hi, I'm Graham!

As social media secretary I look after the club Instagram and Facebook pages to promote the club, act as first point of contact for enquiries through those channels, and generally post content that makes me chuckle even if no one else does. I'm driven by likes, shares, and engagement numbers so please keep hitting that thumbs up button!

I was dragged up in the club from about the age of five owing to being the offspring of a Munro bagger, but I was formally reacquainted with the LMC around ten years ago. I just enjoy being out in the hills, easy trad climbs and occasional bolt clipping. Colour coordinated kit is a must. Bouldering is always rubbish. Occasionally I ride bikes.

Ordinary Member

Andy May

After a three year tenure as treasurer, and previously membership secretary, I've taken over as the (extra)-ordinary member. Support the rest of the committee, along with sorting some camping meets I have been a member of the LMC for over ten years. Enjoying the opportunity to climb, mountaineer and walk in the great outdoors. As a side-line, I do a little cabinet making, although my wife complains that more stuff goes in the workshop than leaves it.