Meet The Team Meet The Team

Meet The Team

Who’s who – the BTPA board of directors

Peter Clarke (PC) BTPA President Involved in pulling since 1978

PC is currently BTPA president, and has passion and enthusiasm for the sport that is borderline addictive, having been involved since the very early years. Clarkie is also a BTPA-approved clutch inspector, a past chairman and knows a thing or two about pulling. The Buckinghamshire farmer is also the go-to man in the UK for super stock advice, and has built plenty of them in his workshop, influencing many along the way.

Joe Stevens BTPA Chairman Involved in pulling since 1995

Joe is the BTPA’s chairman, and is also the BTPA’s head track marshall. An influential member of the board, Joe works closely with the BTPA’s insurer and the ETPC’s sledge inspection team (SIT), to keep a firm grasp on all matters safety-related. He spends his days behind the wheel of his beloved eight-wheel Scania tipper, helping his daughter to build her sand and gravel transport business.

Richard Cross BTPA Vice Chairman Involved in pulling since 2017

Richard has been a familiar face with the DieselRoss pulling team for the last few years, and is one of the directors of Performance Sledging which owns the British sledge. Keen to promote all aspects of tractor pulling, Richard is also BTPA vice chairman. Away from the track, he is a director of Lincs/Yorks-based agricultural dealership Peacock and Binnington, having spent the last 30 years in the farm machinery industry.

John Eccles ETPC Representative Involved in pulling since 1990

John is an active ETPC representative which lets him keep eyes and ears on the European governing body, and how its legislation may influence British pulling. John is also a BTPA-approved clutch inspector, and competes with his pro stock tractor Simply Red. Has lots of construction industry knowledge too, as operations director with the family firm, Kiernan Construction – useful for building pulling tracks.

Geoff Ashcroft Director Involved in pulling since 1993

Geoff has been immersed in tractor pulling since the early 1990’s, after becoming involved with the Clarke Pulling Team while writing a tractor pulling book called ‘A Full Pull’. Now shares knowledge and experience with anyone who’ll listen. A freelance machinery journalist, Geoff is handy with a camera, and can write stuff too.

Mel Todd Director Involved in pulling since 2010

Mel is one of the founder members of the Cumbrian Tractor Pulling Club, and having been BTPA secretary for a number of years, is now involved at director-level. A local government officer, Mel is also actively involved in pulling, with hubby David Todd and their Case IH super farm tractor, Redemption.

Ted Nicholson Director Involved in pulling since 1998

Ted is a BTPA director, and pilot of the Rough Justice, which is currently under-going conversion to limited super stock. Had a stint with the ETPC looking at European rules and influences, and knows a thing or two about pulling. Having worked on many influential research and development projects during his time with Jaguar Land-Rover, and when away from the track, Ted currently works at an engineering test facility in the North West.

Martin Nicholson Director Involved in pulling since 1998

Martin has been involved for a number of years, and in addition to being a board member, actively competes with son Ted, as the founder member of the Rough Justice tractor pulling team, usually wielding a very large adjustable spanner. A calming influence and sometimes the voice of reason, Martin says he likes to keep an eye on everybody else. As a time-served excavator operator, he is also pretty handy at the controls of most earthmoving equipment.

Chris Wilkinson Director Involved in pulling since 2005

Chris is a BTPA board member who can also add a wealth of knowledge to decision making. Competes with the Lancashire Bomber pulling team, Chris also knows a thing or two about fuel pumps and injectors, working with his brother as diesel fuel injection specialist, SJ and CW Wilkinson.

Alex Rearie (Eck) Director Involved in pulling since 2000

In addition to being a BTPA board member, Alex is current chairman and a director of the Scottish Tractor Pullers Club. A BASIS/FACTS-qualified precision farming specialist and combine specialist for Netherton Tractors, Eck can also be found competing with his own tractor, Pist ‘n’ Broke, a John Deere pro stock.

Mark Pacey Director Involved in pulling since 1985

Mark has been involved with pulling at many levels since 1985. Having started with mini modified tractors, and dabbling with a two-wheel drive truck, he now runs the twin-engined light modified tractor called On the Limit. His experience has recently seen him become part of the ETPC’s track team, gaining further knowledge from European events. As a haulage contractor, he spends his days behind the wheel of one of the Pacey family’s artics.

Josh Whittingham ETPC Representative Involved in pulling since 2005

Agricultural contractor Josh has experience of track and event organisation, having been a director of the NWTPC. Also competes with dad Kevan with two Griffon-powered Snoopy tractors and is passionate about promoting and growing the sport. Looking to create a wider and more accessible platform for new people - and a younger audience - to get involved in the sport, Josh will get stuck into any job that will help to moving pulling forward.

Graeme Simpson Director Involved in pulling since 2004

Graeme is a representative of the Scottish Tractor Pullers Club, and is a third-generation tractor puller which has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience of the sport. Graeme competes in the limited pro stock class with the True Blue team, and the distinctive Ford 8600 tractor. He is also involved with the Performance sledge Team. Off the track, Graeme works as a mechanical engineer in the oil and gas industry.

Dan Whittingham Director Involved in pulling since 2013

Dan Whittingham can often be seen on the seat of the Aftermath Unleashed tractor, but he is also an event promoter. After being co-opted onto the BTPA board as a representative for the new UK Truck and Tractor Pull event being held at Scorton, Lancashire, Dan has become a BTPA board director. He runs an agricultural contracting business from Woodacre Park Farms, and is passionate about doing all he can to help grow our fabulous sport in the UK.

David Todd (Toddy) Director Involved in pulling since 1996

David is a representative of the Cumbrian Tractor Pulling Club, and also a representative of the farm stock committee. In addition, ‘Toddy’ is also a BTPA-approved clutch inspector. He first started in 1996 as a tow-back driver at Great Eccleston, and now competes with his Case IH super farm tractor called Redemption. Away from the track, Toddy is service manager for Cumbrian Case IH dealer CT Hayton.

Ed Beattie Director Involved in pulling since 1990

Ed can often be found on track, waving red and green flags. That’s because he’s an integral part of the BTPA track jury, and gets to attend UK pulling events with a prime viewing spot - glued to the start line. It’s up to Ed to make sure the sledge, tractors and their drivers are ready for the off. When not wearing his protective fire suit, Ed runs an ice cream parlour with his wife Sarah, producing gelato using milk from Sarah’s family farm.

Martin Ross Director Involved in pulling since 2010

Martin is also a director of the Scottish Tractor Pullers Club, and a BTPA clutch inspector. When time allows, he also competes with his Fendt super farm tractor called the Diesel Ross, on those rare occasions he gets to spend away from the family business Ross Agri Services.

Sarah Shorrock Director Involved in pulling since 2008

As a representative of the farm stock committee and a former promoter for North West events, Sarah has many years’ experience of planning and organising pulls, and is a go-to for general event advice. Sarah also helps on the track, while off-track, Sarah is kept busy as a chartered accountant and also a Gin distiller.

Charlie Moston BTPA Secretary Involved in pulling since 2005

Charlie Moston is the BTPA secretary. She grew up around general haulage and now works for a heavy haulage company. Having spectated for many years at pulling events and been involved in vintage tractors and classic lorries, Charlie now finds herself more actively involved in pulling - her husband Giles competes with G-Force, a limited pro stock tractor.

Chris Knight Director Involved in pulling since 2018

Chris has recently joined the BTPA board, to help further promote pulling. He actively competes with his light modified tractor Kitt, which he has owned since 2018. Based in Nairn near Inverness, Chris also runs his own business, Chris Knight Plant Sales.

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