As one of the key organisers, Jamie wanted to recreate the feel-good factor that was synonymous with those weekends….and the 34-mile Spire Ultra race was launched in 2017.
Since then the race calendar has grown (7 trail races planned in 2025) and the breadth of services has increased to include mountain experiences, guided walks and runs, navigation training, wild camping, and even glamping! Additionally, both Jamie and Clare help other organisations deliver Duke of Edinburgh expedition training across England and Wales.
Our ethos is based on the principle of enjoying our outdoor environment whilst caring for it as best we can. To that extent, our activities and events are planned to have a minimal ecological footprint and demonstrate what can be done to safeguard nature in future
First Light Adventure is managed by Jamie, a Mountain Leader with over 30 years experience of trekking and mountaineering and over 80 ultra-trail race finishes. An “outdoorsy” person all his life, thanks mainly to being brought up in a small farming hamlet, Jamie progressed to the more adventurous side via Raleigh International – attending expeditions and delivering training, through to developing Groundwork Trust’s youth re-engagement programs and more recently with the Prince’s Trust. Using his experiences from the ultra running scene, Jamie and his wife Clare developed the Spire Ultra which saw its debut in 2017 and proved the catalyst for launching the business.
Jamie is a qualified Mountain Leader and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Assessor. He is also a member of the Mountain Training Association and the British Mountaineering Council.
Jamie is managed by Clare, a qualified mountain leader with 25 years of trekking and mountaineering experience and a much better runner than Jamie. (In 25 years of trying, Jamie has only beaten her once!) Clare uses her project management professionalism to ensure that things run smoothly and efficiently. Clare is often the first person people see at race registration as well as the first person back at the finish diligently recording race times. Clare is equally passionate about the environment, community matters and opportunities for young people. An assessor for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Clare is also a member of the Mountain Training Association and the British Mountaineering Council. She is also a qualified Sports Therapist and member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists.