Meet the Team

Suzanne Carter

Executive Team Lead

Event PR / Admin

Role: Suzanne is currently part of a 3-person Executive Leadership Team responsible for leading the committee in all aspects of planning and execution of the Fellsman and Fellsman Dart.

This year, the specific focus of her role is event PR and Administration

About Me: Suzanne first got involved in the Fellsman at the age of 15 as a Venture Scout. Her unit ran the Redshaw checkpoint and she went along to
see what it was all about. She can honestly say she’s never been as cold in her life and distinctly remember being wrapped up like a cocoon in her sleeping bag! She was smitten despite that though and has been back virtually every year since in one way or another, either as a volunteer, member of the committee or as an entrant.
Suzanne joined the committee after sending the then Event Organiser, Tim Powell, a list of points for the committee to consider after having volunteered on the event. She was encouraged to join Keighley Scout Service Team and the Fellsman committee in order to be able to action some of her suggestions. As with many things, once you get involved, it’s hard to step away and, over 25 years on, Suzanne is still involved with the committee.
Suzanne’s daughter Erin was born just 6 days before the 2010 Fellsman, of which she was the Event Organiser. Erin is very much a Fellsman baby having attended more events that she’s had birthdays; her birthday celebrations often have to take place after the event, but she doesn’t mind as the Fellsman has always been such a big part of her life.
Suzanne was the first female Event Organiser in its history and safely led the event through the weather-induced safety emergency in 2012. Her most memorable Fellsman moment was crossing the finish line as a successful entrant (and the only female committee member to do so to date) alongside her husband, Jonathan who is also a long-standing committee member. Seeing the event as both a committee member and entrant gives her a unique perspective on all things Fellsman and only served to compound her love for the event: the wild but stunning environment it traverses, the camaraderie of everyone involved and the challenge of navigating around the route make this a truly special weekend-long picnic!

Previous Roles: Suzanne has extensive experience of all aspects of the event, including as an
entrant herself. She has previously been the Event Organiser on 5 occasions, an Assistant
Checkpoint Officer, Radio Operator, Shop Lead, Assistant / Headquarters Controller, Emergency
Response crew, PR officer, Kit Check Officer and Checkpoint team member.

Jonathan Olsson

Executive Team Lead

Event Logistic & Infrastructure Lead

Event Admin / Website

Role: Jonny is currently part of a 3-person Executive Leadership Team responsible for leading the committee in all aspects of planning and execution of the Fellsman and Fellsman Dart.

This year, the specific focus of his role is event logistics before, during & after the weekend, particularly around QM stores including radios and keeping the website up to date.

About Me: Jonny has been involved with the Fellsman since he was 16, when he joined the team as a hilltop checkpoint volunteer up on a very bleak Hells Gap with Keighley Explorers (the name really does say it all — there’s nowhere to shelter up there!).

At 18, after moving into Cobbydale Scout Network, Jonny took on the role of a “pink shirt” at Threshfield. In those early years, he did all the little but vital jobs that often go unseen — locking gates, rolling bacon, and moving paperwork from the radio table to the corresponding checkpoint peg. This was well before computer systems took over much of the admin work.

Jonny’s involvement grew when he joined Keighley Scout Service Team, later stepping up to the Committee as an Assistant Checkpoint Officer. From there, he helped to develop and manage the deployment of the entrant buses, a role that gradually expanded to include working with the CAM team. As Radio Organiser and Transport Manager a new role was created, Communications and Logistics Systems team, overseeing both radio traffic and transport movements from a central location. This role was later shared with James managing the event from Threshfield to ensure the whole event was covered.

In 2023, Jonny stepped away from the full-time CAM role to become Event Organiser, guiding the event through a period of change, including the landmark 60th edition and the introduction of the Dart.

Outside of The Fellsman, Jonny is a passionate Scouter. He has been a Scout Leader at three different groups within Keighley District, with a proven track record of building up troop numbers. His current Scouting roles include Unit Manager for Keighley Scout Service Network and Assistant Section Volunteer at Oakworth Scout Group.

Previous Roles: Event Organiser, Checkpoint Assistant, Transport Manager, Communication Officer, Communication/ Logistics Officer

Phil Shuttleworth

Checkpoint Organiser

(Volunteer Team Lead)

Role: Phil is currently part of a 4-person team responsible in all aspects of planning and execution of the checkpoints for the Fellsman and Fellsman Dart .

This year, the specific focus of his role is checkpoint staffing and equipment.

About Me: Phil surveys dams for a living, but his passion for the outdoors extends far beyond work. As an enthusiastic trail runner and regular parkrun participant, he also supports local Scout groups, often up in classic Fellsman country putting his hill walking permit to good use.

With years of Fellsman experience, both as an entrant and a volunteer, Phil has seen the event from every angle, including manning Great Whernside checkpoint  on the infamous 50th event. He is a two-time Fellsman finisher in 1997 and 1998, he knows exactly what entrants are up against.

This year brings an extra spark of excitement as he watches his eldest daughter take on the Dart for the first time.

Previous Roles: Entrant, Checkpoint Officer

Oli Stow

Checkpoint Organiser

(Volunteer Team Lead)

Role: Oli is currently part of a 4 person team responsible in all aspects of planning and execution of the checkpoints for the Fellsman and Fellsman Dart .

This year, the specific focus of his role is checkpoint staffing and equipment.

About Me: Oli’s journey with the Fellsman began 35 years ago, when he first volunteered with the Cobbydale Venture Scouts, helping to staff the Capplestone Gate hilltop checkpoint and later the roadside checkpoint at Park Rash.

After a short break from Scouting, he joined KSSN and the Fellsman Committee, where he has since become a vital part of the event’s organisation. Oli plays a key role in coordinating the network of checkpoints that keep the Fellsman running smoothly — ensuring every location is well-staffed, well-supplied, and ready to welcome both elite runners and weary walkers.

During a brief break from checkpoint duties, Oli also stepped into the Threshfield Kitchen, supporting the catering team as Assistant Catering Team Lead. There, he helped provide much-needed meals and morale to participants and volunteers alike.

Previous Roles: Checkpoint Staff, Checkpoint Organiser, Assistant Catering Lead

Jonathan Carter

Entrant Kit / Equipment Lead

Role: Jonathan is the Kit Check Officer for the 2026 event. Being an active ultra-runner, Jonathan is a bit of a gear geek and keeps himself up to date with all the latest equipment so this role is ideally suited to him. You can’t beat a good kit faff!

About Me: Jonathan first got involved in the Fellsman at the age of 11 starting as a cub on the car park gates at Threshfield. It was so exciting letting the sweep teams into the car park but he remembers looking at the entrants in wonder, thinking ‘How on earth did those people run 60 miles?!?’. Since then, he has been involved for most of the events in various roles. His favourite experience was as a 5-time finisher. He has completed in sub-19 hours and has also been the final finisher to cross the finish line! Every finish is special and a great achievement. One of his favourite memories is running to Threshfield with his wife Sue on her first finish to try to get under 24 hours. The Fellsman has been part of Jonathan’s life for so long and his daughter was only 6 days
old on her first Fellsman. A year without a Fellsman doesn’t seem quite right….

Previous Roles: Jonathan has previously been the Event Organiser on 3 occasions, Checkpoint Officer, PR officer, Kit Check officer, Communications Officer, Radio Operator, Checkpoint staff member, Sweep team, Emergency Response crew, Scout Runner and entrant.
Jonathan has extensive experience of all aspects of the event having been actively involved in its organisation for over 25 years.

Shona Brunskill

Catering Lead

(Checkpoints)

Role: Shona has the mamouth task of sorting out the “Ultimate Dales Picnic’ and involves liasing with CP teams, finalising / quantifying / ordering, and collecting / distribution of all food to checkpoints (including Ingleton breakfasts / teashop) on the weekend, and dealing with all food leftovers at the end of the event.

Shona works with the Catering Lead (HQ) for all things shopping, logistics etc.

About Me: Shona’s (sometimes refered to as Shn) first Fellsman was at Capplestone Gate with Ventures at 16, and she’s fairly sure it’s Screwy’s fault… for 11 years after that she was a radio op, at Cam/out and about, and then Threshfield Control, before finally joining the committee as Assistant Caterer 25 years ago. Unusually for the Fellsman committee, she hasn’t really moved since. You’ll always find her in the kitchen at parties…

Shona’s love of random mass catering formed as an official hobby when in her second (?) year the WRVS were unavailable (after many years running Threshfield), she realised she could run the kitchen herself, roping in various friends to help. She eventually took charge of the checkpoint ordering too and revamping the menu. For several years it was a family affair with her Dad driving the food van, whilst her mother spent hours baking her famous Fellsman flapjack and making fresh soup concentrate for the checkpoints. We all miss that Flapjack…

With Sarah joining the committee in 2026, Shona is being released back into the “Fellsman wild” (aka Ingleton start and the Food Delivery Van!).

Nowadays, Shona puts her hobby to good use by going on Group Summer Camp with a local Scout Group and cooking under canvas for a week, ‘to keep her skills current…’ – sometimes they let her go on weekend camps with actual kitchens too… 😉

Shona has been a member of KSSN since she was 18. She spent 4 years as District Explorer Scout Commissioner, and a couple more years as an Explorer Leader. Mostly her involvement outside of the Fellsman involves stopping traffic…

Previous Roles: Checkpoint/Cam/Threshfield control radio ops. Assistant Catering Officer. Catering Manager. Entries Secretary. Email admin / online / general admin. Shop. First Aid co-ordinator. Assistant / Event Organiser.

Alex Thewlis

Event Controller

(Cam Houses)

Role: Alex spends his weekend up on the hill in all weathers between Snaizeholme and Doddfell (although these days he has the luxury of a motorhome and warm mobile office), don’t forget to wave as you pass! This unique location is the event control, as is the only place that can speak to all checkpoints. His role with his team is to monitor all entrants progress around the event and keeping all volunteer teams updated of the progress.

About Me: Alex has been involved in the Fellsman every year since the late 1970s. Over the decades, he has undertaken a wide variety of roles — both organisational and operational — and has even completed the event twice as a walker.

Today, Alex leads the team responsible for coordinating event communications and administration, based at Cam, ensuring the smooth running of one of the Fellsman’s most vital operations.

Previous Roles: His experience includes being a Radio Operator, Checkpoint Officer, Equipment Check Officer, HQ Controller and ten years as Safety Officer.

Julie Olsson

Event HQ / Final Check Lead

Shop Manager

Role: Jules heads up the team that welcomes you to the event on Friday evening making sure you are all registered and have a bus tickets as well as meeting all entrants back into final check after completing their own event. Prior to the event, Jules manages online shop orders making sure they are processed and dispatched in a timely manner.

About Me: Jules was first introduced to the Fellsman after meeting Jonny in a bar in 2013 — a meeting that eventually led to marriage and a shared love of the event. With a background in administration, she now plays a key role in coordinating the shop prior to the event and is based at Threshfield throughout the event weekend. Her team manages registration on the Friday night and completes the final checks as everyone returns. Jules is always looking forward to welcoming participants and supporters alike!

Previous Roles: Food Van Delivery Co- Driver, Registration Team member, Final Check team lead

Phill Hands

Event Logistic & Infrastructure Assistant

Role: Phil is one of the logistics and infrastructure team members who transforms the high school in the event HQ. Phil is responsible for event logistics before, during & after the weekend, from collecting all the vehicles and getting everything from various Scout store locations to the event.

About Me: Phil is a mechanic by trade, known for his practical skills and calm, can-do attitude. He first became involved in the event after being called in to repair the generators used at several of the checkpoints. Proving himself to be an all-round useful guy, he was soon coaxed into joining the event team fully—this time as the replacement driver for the back-of-the-event van, quite literally bringing up the rear. In this role, Phil ensures that all equipment is collected from each checkpoint and safely returned to Threshfield, quietly keeping the operation running smoothly behind the scenes.

Over time, he’s even brought both of his sons into the fold: after doing stints as radio operators and final check crew, they now serve alongside him on the driving team. Since working on the Fellsman, Phil has also joined scouting for the first time as a member of KSSN and is looking forward to contributing further as a committee member. Outside of scouting, he is an active member of KRUFC and is currently serving as a linesman for the first team during the current season.

Previous Roles: Back of event driver, Set up Crew

Bob Whitehead

Health and Safety Advisor /

Medical Team Lead

Role: Bob oversees all aspects of Health & Safety on the event, writing and adhering to risk assessments, organisation, deployment and management of all first aid team around the event.  Bob jointly coordinates emergency response requirements on the weekend itself alongside the appointed Team Leader ‘on call’.

About Me: Bob has been involved with the Fellsman since 2017. Although a relative newcomer compared to many long-standing volunteers, he brings a wealth of experience in first aid and health and safety provision across a wide range of events.

Bob’s professional background lies in the emergency services, where he served as an operational firefighter for over 27 years. During that time, he worked as an instructor in various operational disciplines and as a watch-based Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). After leaving the fire service, he retrained and spent time working as an EMT with the ambulance service.

For around 25 years, Bob has also been a first aid instructor, covering both workplace and outdoor/sports first aid, and has contributed to the development of nationally accredited first aid training across different sectors. Since 2019, he has worked as a fire, health, and safety specialist, supporting several thousand colleagues nationwide.

Outside of work, Bob has always had a passion for sport and fitness. He has completed several off-road marathons and spent many years playing rugby.

Previous Roles:

First Aider at Yarnbury Checkpoint,

Event First Aid Coordinator,

Event Admin

Role: KSSN member, responsible for entries and email communications and production of the Handbook and monitoring SiEntries

Role currently shared with : Suzanne Carter , Jonny Olsson