British Bobsleigh Association
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Stephen Spence
Director (Legal Affairs) stephen.spence@bobteamGB.org
Stephen is an experienced barrister, in private practice since 1983, with a specialist practice in the fields of criminal, aviation and sports law. Originally an RAF trained pilot he has been involved in competition aerobatics and is an active skydiver.
How did you get involved in the sport?
Inside this fat middle-aged lawyer is a bit of an adrenalin junky - I was introduced to ice sports by Bruce Ropner and following some great fun sliding on the luge, skeleton and tin-tray I was lucky enough to attend the army ice camp at Lillehammer sometime back in the last century! Since then I have been able to compete in various competitions and still regularly "have a go" in the British Championships.
What is so compelling about it now for you to want to contribute on the administrative side?
Words cannot explain what an exciting sport this is and more people should be able to experience and enjoy it. There is a huge camaraderie and spirit within the BBA, where even an Olympic medal winner will take the time to give you tips and treat you as a fellow competitor. A few years ago I was asked to review the BBA's disciplinary and drugs procedures and realised that I could give something back to the sport by providing specialist legal advice - fortunately based on my sports law knowledge rather than my criminal practice! In addition as an active but none elite participant I feel that I am in a position to represent the views of some of the wider membership.
What are the real challenges facing your portfolio in the coming years?
To keep us all out of trouble!
What do you hope to achieve.
On the Board side, I would like to see the membership of the BB&SA expand with a broad base of active participants and to see GB maintain its position as a major player in ice sports. Some medals would be nice and I think that with some of our current athletes we will get them.
On the sports side I hope to continue sliding and my ambition is to enter a four-man in the British Champs together with my three children, although I'm not sure what my wife will have to say about that - the first time she ever saw me in a bob I managed to crash it!
How did you get involved in the sport?
Inside this fat middle-aged lawyer is a bit of an adrenalin junky - I was introduced to ice sports by Bruce Ropner and following some great fun sliding on the luge, skeleton and tin-tray I was lucky enough to attend the army ice camp at Lillehammer sometime back in the last century! Since then I have been able to compete in various competitions and still regularly "have a go" in the British Championships.
What is so compelling about it now for you to want to contribute on the administrative side?
Words cannot explain what an exciting sport this is and more people should be able to experience and enjoy it. There is a huge camaraderie and spirit within the BBA, where even an Olympic medal winner will take the time to give you tips and treat you as a fellow competitor. A few years ago I was asked to review the BBA's disciplinary and drugs procedures and realised that I could give something back to the sport by providing specialist legal advice - fortunately based on my sports law knowledge rather than my criminal practice! In addition as an active but none elite participant I feel that I am in a position to represent the views of some of the wider membership.
What are the real challenges facing your portfolio in the coming years?
To keep us all out of trouble!
What do you hope to achieve.
On the Board side, I would like to see the membership of the BB&SA expand with a broad base of active participants and to see GB maintain its position as a major player in ice sports. Some medals would be nice and I think that with some of our current athletes we will get them.
On the sports side I hope to continue sliding and my ambition is to enter a four-man in the British Champs together with my three children, although I'm not sure what my wife will have to say about that - the first time she ever saw me in a bob I managed to crash it!