

Meet The Team
Who’s who – the BTPA board of directors

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 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.

Ted is BTPA vice-chairman, and pilot of the Rough Justice pro stock tractor. 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.

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.

Mel is the BTPA’s secretary, and is one of the founder members of the Cumbrian Tractor Pulling Club. As an integral part of the back-office processes that make the BTPA run smoothly, Mel has a knack of sorting, organising and cajoling others into action. As a local government officer, she’s also brilliant with paperwork too.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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, the owner of the new British sledge. Keen to promote all aspects of tractor pulling, Richard has been co-opted onto the BTPA board to assist with presentations and promotion. Away from the track, Richard is a director of Lincs/Yorks-based agricultural dealership Peacock and Binnington, having spent the last 30 years in the farm machinery industry.

Dan Whittingham can often be seen on the seat of the Aftermath Unleashed tractor, but he is also an event promoter and has been co-opted onto the BTPA board as a representative for the new UK Truck and Tractor Pull event being held at Scorton, Lancashire. Dan, who runs an agricultural contracting business from Woodacre Park Farms, said he is very excited about getting a new event off the ground for UK pulling, and wants to do all he can to help grow our fabulous sport in the UK.
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