A qualified doctor who’s worked in Cheltenham General Hospital, Dr Pritchard began his medical career in anaesthetics, where he learnt most of his injection techniques whilst working in intensive care. A sports enthusiast, having played at both professional and amateur levels in the areas of rugby and horse racing, his desire to train racehorses meant a change in direction to general practice. In preparation for this, he did much psychiatry, notably at Coney Hill Hospital. He became a partner at the Culverhay Surgery in 1991, performing most of the orthopaedic, minor surgery and gynaecology at the practice.

He retired from full time NHS work in 2016. In early 2000, he studied sports medicine at Bath University and is a Founder Member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine. His interest in sport has resulted in him working with the Exercise Physiology department at Liverpool John Moores University especially in the aspect of weight management and nutrition. Currently, he is medical advisor to the UK based riders of the New Zealand equestrian team and the “go-to doc” for the majority of National Hunt jockeys, mainly flat jockeys, as well as aged rugby players.

Having worked for a bank for 24 years, Neil O’Brien decided it was time for a change. In 1998, he founded Time To Fly! and has since become Ireland’s number one corporate conference speaker on the topic of mental fitness and wellbeing. Neil is a published author in this area and his debut book, Time To Fly!, published by Liffey Press, is available in all good bookshops and online.

Neil also coaches elite and professional sportspeople on their mental fitness and has advised Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup golfers, pro and elite athletes, Davis Cup tennis players, the GAA and the FAI. He was also the first “life coach” to be featured on Irish television and contributed regularly to such prime time programmes as Open House, The Health Show, The Health Squad, The Mentor, and The Clinic.