First Sport and Outdoor Leaders Forum (SOLF) of 2024 at Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University

The first SOLF event of 2024 took place on 7th March at Leeds Becket University, Carnegie School of Sport and Weetwood Hall.

Jonathan Midwood represented RIA, and his write-up from the event was as follows:

“I was pleased to join Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and fellow Sport and Outdoor Leadership Forum members on the first SOLF event of 2024, held at Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University (Headingley Campus).

During the visit, we were given a tour of the world-class Centre for Human Performance, a spectacular multi-million-pound site, with state-of-the-art testing facilities. SOLF attendees had the chance to visit facilities including Environmental Chambers, Biomechanics Laboratory, performance / Data Analysis Suites and the indoor running track. The track itself is spectacular as it is on the top of the building and gives a fantastic view of the campus.

The testing facilities were also awesome, and the Biomechanics Laboratory was particularly impressive with force plate testing, 360-degree infrared slow-motion capture of body movement and a treadmill that could capture the most minute variations in someone’s running gait.

One of the most memorable elements of the tour was being placed in a room with 44 degrees temperature and 80 percent humidity only to then be transferred to a second room at minus 10 degrees Celsius. A little like being transferred from Greece to North Yorkshire in the blink of an eye.

The day then moved onto a 3-course dinner held at Weetwood Hall and 3 fantastic talks from Richard Downey – The Brownlee Foundation, Dave Bunting MBE – Everest Expedition Leader and High Altitude Mountaineer and Tom Bosworth MBE – Double Olympic Race Walker, 3 x World Record holder.

The stories and the amazing work of all 3 speakers as well as their plans for the future, topped off what was a very informative, inspiring and fun-packed day.” 

A huge thank you to the guests and speakers:
Professor John O’Hara, Carnegie School of Sport
Dr Barney Wainwright, Carnegie School of Sport
Richard Downey, The Brownlee Foundation
Dave Bunting MBE
Tom Bosworth MBE

Sport and Outdoor Leaders Forum (SOLF) is a joint venture between the OlA and RIA who continue to run the forums for members after Tim Drake stepped back as the operational founder of the ‘Think Tank’ and donated it to the Sports and Outdoor industries.

Click here for further details about the re-launched Sport and Outdoor Leaders Forum (SOLF) and how to join.