Quickdraws

Thanks to Wild Country for providing me with some shiny new Quickdraws and other gear, it is much appreciated.

I can't wait to use them at Malham at half-term! 

SYCC 2012; Kenton Cool; and my brother, Alexander.

Sometimes its hard to juggle homework and training and writing my blog! So apologies for this combined entry.

Last weekend I competed in the Scottish Youth Climbing Championship. The competition was for lead climbing and/ or speed climbing. I decided to enter both. In my category Youth B boys I was competing against Angus Davidson, fellow GB Team member, and Dominic Burns and Jamie Rankin from Ireland. All three are really strong climbers so I knew it would be a tough competition - we all topped our two qualifier routes and were through to the final. Our final route was a tough green 8a. I was last out from isolation to climb. I knew I would have to get high on the route and also do it quickly as time was being used to separate climbers who were tied. I climbed this route well (and tried not to rest too much) and was pleased to top out. Once I was lowered down I heard that I was the only one to top the route and so I was Scottish Champion! Neil McGeachy one of the route setters was surprised I had managed the last move as they had deliberately set it using a horrible foot-hold as a hand-hold, in order to throw off climbers!

2nd Qualifier

High up on 2nd Qualifier

Youth B Boys podium

Next was the speed finals. Through out the day you were able to post your two qualifying times - I had managed to set a PB of 15.47s - which was the second fastest time for my age category. I was up against Jamie Rankin in the semi-final. I was pleased to come through this round safely and be into the Finals. This time I was up against Dominic Burns and I knew this race would be very close. This race was very tight and a slip at the top meant I finished in 2nd place. However, I was really pleased to post another PB of 14.1 seconds.

Boys 12-15 years Speed Podium

My brother Alexander won his category for speed and also posted a PB time of 13.037 seconds during the competition. Well done Alexander!

Alexander trying to be as tall as Calum!

On Thursday 20th September, Alexander, my Dad and I attended the Sherpa Adventure Gear Lecture Tour with Kenton Cool and Neil Gresham. It was a really interesting evening and I especially enjoyed hearing about Kenton's summit of Everest. Here I am with Kenton after the lecture.

with Kenton Cool 

Finally, congratulations to my brother Alexander who has met the BMC Speed time requirements for his age group and is to compete at the European Championship in Gemozac, France in November. Well Done!

WYC Singapore 2012 - 29th Aug - 1st Sep 2012

After a 13 hour flight from London the GB team arrived in Singapore on Sunday afternoon. It was very hot and muggy. The next day we visited a local climbing wall  for a gentle training session. On the Tuesday we had a rest day and visited China Town and then had the Opening Ceremony at night, at the wall which had been built on Sentosa beach.

Dominic Burns, Ireland, and I at the Opening Ceremony

On the Wednesday we climbed our first qualifier. It was a very hard route with lots of slopers. I climbed well but made a mistake with my foot work going into a volume. I finished this route in 19th place.

First Qualifier

The second qualifier was climbed on the Thursday. It was a harder route than the first qualifier and my foot slipped off just before the half-way point, luckily I managed to recover and make the next few moves. I didn't know if it was a good enough climb to make the semi-finals (top 26) - I just had to wait and see. There was very heavy rain soon after and the competition had to be stopped. After a long rain delay climbing resumed and eventually it became clear that I would make the semis in 20th place. Dominic Burns from Ireland had also reached the semis (in 21st) so we went together to get something to eat at a restaurant on the beach.

2nd Qualifier

The Semi-final and Finals were held on the Friday. However, we woke to very heavy monsoon rain and we didn't know if the competition could continue. Luckily the rain eventually stopped and climbing could start in the afternoon. We went into isolation, behind the wall, on the beach!

The rain!

The Semi-final was a very tricky and dynamic climb. There was a crux move to a volume which I managed to do although I wrong handed myself and, therefore, fell a few moves on. However, as the semi continued it was exciting to see that only 5 people managed that move and climbed past me. I was really pleased to qualifiy in 6th place for the Final.

Semi-Final route

The Final was climbed late at night in the dark. It was a very long and pumpy route testing endurance. I was pleased to climb this well and finished in 4th place! I was delighted to be 4th in the world in my first year of International climbing.

On the Final route

Cool photo of 2nd Qualifier