We Girls Live For Thrills

Aug 24 2008

Why Three Plucky Women Chose A Life Of Adventure

MOUNTAINEER PHILIPPA ARDING

PHILIPPA, 47, is a mountain leader on expeditions to Everest and the Alps.

But her closest brush with death was when she was trapped under a silage bale on her farm.

The job: I am an international mountain leader, team-building trainer and deer farmer.

How I did it: I got a job at a Cape Wrath adventure school run by John Ridgeway who rowed the Atlantic with Chay Blythe.

I became an assistant instructor taking groups up mountains, kayaking and teaching them navigation and survival skills. I went freelance and travelled the world. I climbed the north face of Piz Badile in the Alps, one of the classic north face climbs. I made it to the base camp of Everest while my husband Tony did an ascent.

He made it to the summit and rescued two people who got in trouble. Climbing has definitely involved overcoming my fears. You have to build a lot of trust up in the people you are climbing with. Ironically, the closest I have come to death was when a silage bale weighing three quarters of a tonne rolled on me, trapping my legs.

I was passing out intermittently and was getting close to hypothermia.

Despite being stuck for five hours, I never gave up hope.

In the end, Nick found me. I spent six months in hospital relearning how to walk and started climbing again earlier this year.

Five-year plan: I give motivational talks through speakers' bureau Speech-Mark. My aim is to get up mountains and do more coaching.

Perks: Seeing real change in people at the end of a course.

Tips: Show enthusiasm and you will work your way up.

Visit www.speech-mark.com

HEAD KEEPER ALISON MacLEAN

ALISON looks after some of the world's fiercest man-eaters at Edinburgh Zoo.

The 43-year-old, of Glasgow, was sold on her job after getting a tour from keepers at Glasgow Zoo.

The job: I am head keeper of carnivores, responsible for the welfare of animals from jaguars and tigers to wolverines and polar bears.

How I did it: I was working at Glasgow Zoo when they closed the carnivore section. I was made redundant on the Friday and started at Edinburgh on the Monday.

With the carnivores, we use scents and smells of predators to keep them mentally alert. They see their enclosure as their territory and will defend it. I have had a few cuts and scratches but nothing major.

I love all the animals but I have some favourites. We have Sasha, an Amur Tiger from Russia. Because of human encroachment there are just 250 left in the world.

Perks: Walking into the tiger house and having a tiger make a greeting call to you every morning.

Five-year plan: I always want to be hands-on with the animals.

Tips: It is not a glamorous job. I am up at 5.30 every morning and work Christmas and New Year.

POWERBOAT RACER SHELLEY JORY

SHELLEY survived a spectacular crash then went on to win the British Powerboat Championship.

The 38-year-old, of Southampton, races at 120mph in the Formula One of powerboating.

The job: I race a 38ft Mercury Powered Skater Powerboat in the P1 championship for Lucas Oil and run a bridal business.

How I did it: In 1995, my boyfriend at the time built his own powerboat and started racing. I became his team manager and joined him as his navigator. I loved it and soon wanted to drive my own boat.

I started out in 90hp, 1.3-litre boats and worked my way up the classes.

In 2003, I became the first woman to win the three-hour endurance event at Windermere and finished second in the Honda Formula 1 championship. The next year, I formed the first all-girl team with Scot Libby Keir.

We won the Largs GP and were third in the championships that year.

I nearly killed myself in a huge accident at Cowes in 2003 when we hit a bow wave. The boat did a forward somersault. I was trapped under water for three minutes but we train for that kind of thing and I had an air cylinder to prevent me drowning.

I came up with a smile on my face but burst into tears when I saw the state of the boat.

It wasn't all bad because I landed right in front of marine electronics firm Raymarine and they have been my sponsors for the last five years.

Perks: I run a bridal business during the week so letting loose at 120mph at weekends is a tremendous kick.

Five-year plan: To get an all-girl team in P1 and win the world championships.

Tips: Being a girl in a male-dominated sport means you have to be twice as competitive.