Sports Development News
Ratho Hosts University Championships and BICC
By Kevin Howett
Saturday March 17th 2004 was a busy day at the National Rock Climbing Centre (NRCC) at Ratho. The annual inter-university indoor climbing championships, organised by The British Universities Sports Association (BUSA), were held on the boulders in the centre of the arena on the same day as the final leg of the British Indoor Climbing Championships (BICC) was being fought out on the awesome Competition Wall. Combined with spectators and regular users (the other two walls were open for business as usual) it meant there were an awful lot of climbers enjoying the UK’s best indoor climbing facility.
The BUSA competition saw 201 entrants from 63 University ‘Teams’ competing on the day. Sheffield has always thought of itself as the centre of British climbing and it does tend to dominate the competition scene, but it was good to see Scotland competing well and Glasgow particularly giving Sheffield a run for its money with these two areas dominating the results: the men’s event was won by Dave MacLeod (Glasgow) jointly with Dave Barras (Sheffield); the women’s was won by Hazel Woodland (Sheffield), and second place went to Lynne Malcolm (Glasgow). Sheffield can claim success being access to ‘the world’s best rock’ - Peak Grit, so what is Glasgow’s secret - Achinstarry?
The BICC saw Steve McLure win on the day and secure the overall championship title. Anne Arran won the women’s on the day, but Rosie Shaw won overall (see, a Sheffield connection again!). Things may have been different though, had Lucy Creamer not been injured (a west country lass living in Sheffield!). The Scots made a good show, particularly on-sight ‘Trad’ E8 guru Niall McNair coming 3rd (4th overall). Alan Cassidy from Perth came 9th and secured a good 6th overall and these results meant both have been invited to the UK team. In the juniors, tenacious Inverness ‘Boulder Brat’ Robert Mackenzie hung on longer than most his age to get a 9th place (14th overall).
So what to the future? The Winter University Student Games will be held at Innsbruck/Imst in January 2005 and will include a ‘Lead’ and ‘Ice’ ‘Speed’ climbing competition. A UK Team will be developed from University students. A selection process is currently being investigated by the BMC.
Ratho will host the UIAA World Youth Championships on 10th – 12th September 2004. One of the biggest competitions in the world will see in excess of 400 young competitors from 40+ countries visit the NRCC, with such star performers as Cedric Lechat from Switzerland competing at ‘speed’ and difficulty’. Don’t miss it.
Scottish Women's Climbing Network
The Scottish Women's Climbing Network was originally set up by The Mountaineering Council of Scotland in 1987 as an annual event in order to provide Scottish women climbers with an informal contact network. We now have two meets a year and here is the summer meet for this year:
- Milehouse, Glen Feshie - 10th/11th June '04
These meets are open to any female climbers based in Scotland keen to make contacts. For further information contact Linda Poll on 01397 712062 or Email lindaclimbing@hotmail.com. Hope to see you there, but if you missed it look out for further information in Scottish Mountaineer or the MCofS website.
MCofS REALROCK 2004
For the summer (AUGUST)
An Introduction to rock climbing outdoors
For young climbers aged 9 to 17.
These sessions are for young climbers who have experience of climbing indoors at climbing walls, either top-roped or leading, and who wish to gain some experience from other adult climbers on outside crags. They are NOT suitable for beginners.
Sessions will include climbing on a ‘top-rope’, or ‘seconding’, or to learning to place protection as a ‘lead’ climber. It is recommended that up to 3 sessions be booked in order to get the most from the event.
Venues:
Aberdeen / Inverness / Edinburgh / Glasgow / Perth
Dates: AUGUST
Evening Sessions
– Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th
- Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th
Weekend Days
– Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd
- Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th
Cost:
First Session Non Members £20 (includes 1yr MCofS Youth membership)
First Session MCofS ‘Youth Members’ £10
Each session thereafter: £10
Parents should note that those taking the sessions MCofS member volunteers and are not qualified as instructors but the MCofS, as the governing body of the sport, is happy with their abilities, and all venues and activities have been risk assessed. Parents are asked to provide their own transport to the venues and to attend the session, even if they do not climb. Some technical equipment will be available during the session, but if attendees have their own harness, rock shoes, belay device, helmet and rope, then they should bring them along.
For full parental information about the sessions, parental consent and booking forms, contact the MCofS Office or visit the website.