SYBC 2013 at TCA Glasgow

On Saturday 4th May I competed at the Scottish Youth Boulder Championship at T.C.A, Glasgow. This is the first year that this competition has been a part (Round 2) of the British Bouldering Championship, so it was very busy with climbers from all over the UK and Ireland competing. The GB Boulder Team were competing and keen to do well and prove themselves.

I was competing in Youth B boys. We had 15 problems to complete in the Qualifier and I was happy to flash all of them. I was not alone in achieving this, however, and of the 6 climbers that qualified through to the Final, four of us were tied for first place. The route setters were busy tweaking some of the final problems to ensure they would separate us.

We went into isolation at the back of the wall, and as the Final problems had been hidden all day behind curtains I was psyched to see them. We had 3 problems to climb in the final (and 4 minutes to climb each one) and I studied them carefully when we came out for our 4 minutes of observation time. I thought they all looked climbable.

Final Problem 1

I was 4th out to climb each time. The first problem I was pleased to climb on my first attempt. Our second problem was a balance-y climb on a slab and, unfortunately, my foot slipped twice. I topped it on my third attempt but I was really cross with myself for making a silly mistake. On the third problem I was determined not to make any mistakes and so was pleased to onsight this one.

Final Problem 2 

At the top of Final Problem 3 

After we had all climbed, and the results were posted, I was delighted to have finished 1st. It was a very close competition and problem attempts (5 as opposed to 8) were all that separated Pete Dawson and I.

Youth B Boys podium
Pete Dawson, me, James Mabon

I was pleased to have retained my Scottish Champion title and received a cool trophy designed by Malcolm Smith.  

Thanks to MCofS and TCA for organising this comp - it was really well run especially as there was a large amount of climbers attending.