CLIMBING NEWS: BMC Leading ladder final results
BMC Leading ladder final results · Apr 7, 06:54 PM by Neil Bentley
All had to lead 5 routes each in thier respective categories of Improver (6a,6a+,6b,6b+6c) , Recreational (6b+,6c,7a,7b,7c), and Elite (7a,7b,7c,8a,8b). With as many attempts as they wanted as long as it was always ground up with no practice of the bit above where they fell off. This meant lots of climbing for all concerned. There were 9 routes on the Foundry ‘Five ten’ Main wall and another 6 in the less steeply angled Furnace. All competitors got to climb on both walls up the steepest bits!
Rob Napier and Dan Walker set the routes which were checked out by Steve Mcclure to make for an excellent selection with lots of volumes and tufas to add to the interest.
The 3 categories were split into male/female over 16 and male/female under 16. Meaning their would be 4 winners in each category. Prizes were also given to 2nd and 3rd. CragX Climbing shop sponsored the event with lots of great kit for the Improver and Recreational categories plus money(!) for the Elite climbers from the BMC.
Particularly strong performances by Tara Hayes and Sarah Pashley in the under 16’s improvers who had to go to a superfinal in front of all the other competitors and parents! As it happened they both battled their way up the 7a+ to the same hold and a draw was declared!
In the Elite under 16’s Jonathan Stocking pulled out all the stops on the 8b to get a couple of metres off the top, being ejected off the final tufa. Very impressive stuff as the next best effort on this route was Adrian Baxter who won the mens elite with a great effort but not beating Jonathans high point.
Well done to all the competitors and a big thanks to all the volunteer helpers (mostly parents of the climbers!), Rob Adie and Rab Carrington from the BMC and of course The Foundry Staff.
Winners
Elite
m – Adrian Baxter
f – Beth Monks
u16m – Jonathan Stocking
u16f – Shauna Coxsey
Recreational
m – Craig Bailey, Paul Walters, Dale Comely (1st =)
f – Joanna Goorney
u16m – Sean Hopkins
u16f – Jaime Davidson
Improver
m – Mike Bean
f – Donna Carless
u16m – Sam Brannigan
u16f – Sarah Pashley, Tara Hayes (1st=)
Full results and images on www.cragxclimbing.com and images at www.foundryclimbing.blogspot.com and
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