BMC Junior Cups, Lead and Boulder, Round 1

On Saturday 29th November I competed in the Junior Lead Cup, Round 1, at Awesome Walls, Sheffield. Having been ill with a virus the week before I had not had the best preparation for this competition, and was slightly lacking in strength. However, I climbed fairly well and in the final was in joint 2nd place. With the count-back from the qualifiers I finished in 3rd place.

The following weekend, on Sunday 7th December, I competed at the Junior Boulder Cup, Round 1, in Derby. As in the previous week I finished the final in joint second, but was separated by count-back and finished 3rd overall. I was a little disappointed with these results, but it has been a long season and I am now looking forward to a break over the winter where I can focus on my training.

Due to my results throughout the year I have been selected again for both the GB Junior Lead (elite) and Boulder Teams for 2015.

At the Boulder Cup Rob Adie, from the BMC, presented me with the Trophy for winning the Senior BLCC. It had been engraved with my name alongside some very famous previous winners, e.g. Ian Vickers, Steve McClure, Gaz Parry, Ed Hamer and Dave Barrans.

Being presented with the BLCC trophy

World Lead Cup, Kranj, Nov 2014

I competed in my first senior international during the weekend of 14/16th November 2014. It was an amazing experience and very exciting. Having made some mistakes in the qualifiers, I finished in 42nd place, and was a little disappointed in my performance. However, the next week I was ill with a virus and off school, so I don't think I was competing at my best. It was still a fantastic learning opportunity and it was awesome to see the best climbers in the world, like Adam Ondra and Jakob Schubert, competing.

With Adam Ondra

     

Siurana Oct 2014

I spent a really enjoyable week climbing in Siurana, Spain with my good friend Angus Davidson. On the first day we both climbed La Cara que no miente 8a+ which I was really psyched to get as it was a route I had tried on my last trip to Siurana three years ago :) On the second day I got Kale Borroka 8b+ which was also a really good route and my second of the grade.

The rest of the trip I spent working an 8c+ called Directa Cornualles which I got very close to but didn't manage to get. It was all down to a razor blade crimp, which by the time I had the beta, I didn't have the skin left to do it :( . I am really psyched to go back to finish the route hopefully some time in the near future.

Working Directa Cornualles

Angus and I look out across the valley

Bouldering at the Refugio!