Sidmouth shop owner backs Bear Grylls challenge

Sidmouth teenager wins signed book by North West Passage challenger Bear Grylls

A SIDMOUTH shop owner sponsored Bear Grylls and his team – including Sidmouth explorer Dave Pearce – for their recent navigation of Canada’s notorious North West Passage.

Sue Bray, who runs Shiver water sports shop in Fore Street, provided �100 worth of dry bags for the six-strong team challenge – the first ever navigation of the Passage by a Rigid Inflatable Boat – which took two weeks to complete through some of the most extreme, hazardous and difficult water in the world.

The team set a new world record for the first ever navigation of the North West Passage by a RIB. They completed the 1,700 nautical mile journey last September.

“Bear Grylls asked for sponsorship because Dave told him about my new shop and he thought it would be good for me and them,” said Sue, who didn’t give any monetary sponsorship for the venture.

The dry bags she provided helped keep the team’s kit watertight while in the boat.

During the challenge, Sue held a competition for customers to win a signed copy of Bear Grylls’ book Born Survivor.

This was won by teenager Molly Spalding from Sidmouth, whose parents entered her for the draw.

Sue said: “We had a lot of entries and Molly was really pleased to win, it was such a nice surprise for her.”

*You can read about the navigation online at The NorthWest Passage | Future Capital Partners and Bear Grylls - Northwest Passage.