PHOTOS: BLCC's – Results – [UPDATED]

Luke Tilley, Kitty Wallace, Jonathan Field, Natalie Berry and Ed HamerUKC News, Oct 2010© Lukasz Warzecha – LWimages.co.uk

Natalie Berry competing at the BLCC 2010UKC News, Oct 2010© Lukasz Warzecha – LWimages.co.ukEdinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena (Ratho) has just hosted the British Lead Climbing Championships on the 9th and 10th of October.Senior Results:Senior FemaleNatalie BerryKitty Wallace Michaela TracySenior MaleEdward HamerLuke TilleyDave BarransWhilst the senior category is quite simple, there are now several junior and youth categories. Rob Adie explained the age ranges in a BMC news item back in May:”New for this year we will be using IFSC youth age categories with the addition of a Youth C category. So the ages for the youth categories are as follows:-Youth C ? must be born between 1997 and 1998 Youth B ? must be born between 1996 and 1995 Youth A ? must be born between 1994 and 1993 Juniors ? must be born between 1992 and 1991 Senior entrants must be born between 1992 and 1966. Veterans must be born in 1965 or earlier.If you are born in 1992 or 1991 you have the choice of competing in either the Senior or Junior categories of the event or both if you want.”

Ed Hamer competing at the BLCC 2010UKC News, Oct 2010© Lukasz Warzecha – LWimages.co.uk

And several of the juniors did compete in both – with impressive results.Interestingly, both Natalie Berry and Kitty Wallace (1st in their junior and youth categories) also came first and second in the senior competition, as did Edward Hamer and Luke Tilley.

Jonathan Field competing at the BLCC 2010UKC News, Oct 2010© Lukasz Warzecha – LWimages.co.uk

Junior Results:Junior FemaleNatalie BerryJunior MaleEdward HamerRobert MackenzieChristopher GeeYouth Results:Female AKitty WallaceAlice WaterhouseRhoslyn FrugtnietFemale BRachel CarrSarah PashleyEleanor HopkinsFemale CMolly Thompson-SmithTara HayesCarmel MoranMale ALuke TilleyJoshua FarrellJonathan FieldMale BJonny WhiteSam BranniganJoe SwalesMale CAngus DavidsonWilliam BosiBilly RidalVeteran Results:MaleEddie CooperRobert DurranMike SmithYou can see a full table of results from all categories on the BMC WebsiteKitty Wallace and Natalie Berry at the BLCC 2010UKC News, Oct 2010© Matt Pycroft – LWimages.co.ukExtra Report by Avril Gall:British Lead Climbing Championships ? EICA: Ratho 9/10 October Newly introduced IFSC categories for the Junior event saw 70 competitors turn out for the 2010 British Lead Climbing Championships Junior competition at EICA: Ratho on Saturday 9th October. While Natalie Berry is used to being in a league of her own, this time it was literal as well as figurative as she was the only 18/19 girl competing. This didn't stop her from giving it her all with 2 tops on her qualifying routes and time beating her on her final climb. Although there were four competitors in the Junior Boys Ed Hamer never looked in trouble on his way to the title ahead of Robert Mackenzie and Christopher Gee. Kitty Wallace, fresh from her EYS win in Bulgaria the weekend before, scored the perfect 1 in the Youth A girls with three great tops including an unconventional, but effective finish to her final route. Luke Tilley in the boys couldn't quite get the triumvirate, but again was streets ahead of the rest of his group. In Youth B Rachel Carr had the crowd cheering with an impressive leap onto the grey 'elephant trunk' volume on the final route that saw her take the title. The move had the route setters shaking their heads as it 'just wasn't how it was meant to be done'. The Youth B boys saw the biggest upset of the day with winner Jonny White being the only GB team member on the podium. Sam Brannigan and Joe Swales put in impressive climbs to take their 2nd and 3rd places. Youth C girls group was once again dominated by Tara Hayes and Molly Thompson-Smith and this time it was Molly who came out on top. While in the boys Angus Davidson was chased all the way by fellow Scot William Bosi who finished ahead of Billy Ridal. The next competition for many of these young climbers is the Youth Open/GB Team selection event at Liverpool's Awesome Walls at the end of November and judging by this weekend's performances it is going to be an exciting competition. Sunday was the Senior event which has, in the past, included anyone over the age of 16, but his year was extended to incorporate the Youth A (16/17) and Junior (18/19) categories. This saw several climbers who had taken part in Saturday's competition turning out again on the Sunday to test themselves against older climbers and members of the Senior GB team. They stepped up and took the top 4 spots. It was great to see many of the previous day's routes being used again (some untouched, some tweaked) especially the finals route where the first part had formed the Youth C and Veterans final the day before. The route snaked up the right hand side of the Hanger Wall then all the way along the front with some 360s thrown in for good measure. Natalie Berry was chased the whole way by Kitty Wallace but retained her title on count back, while Ed Hamer put on a brilliant final performance to pip Luke Tilley by a touch. Dave Barrans, fresh from picking up a Bouldering win the day before, had to settle for third, while Jonny Field put in a powerful climb to take 4th place. In all the BLCC was a great event that has left us some amazing routes at EICA: Ratho courtesy of Neil McGeachy and friends (including a super-final route that wasn't tested). And the small number of male (and lack of any female) competitors in the Veterans (45+) class has thrown down the gauntlet for next year's competition. The category was won by Ireland's Eddie Cooper with Scotland's Robert Durran taking 2nd place in his first ever competition. Mike Mowbray continued his run of previous years by ably supporting the rest of the field (i.e. finishing last). But given the talent on display at our many walls throughout the year the field could be bigger. Any takers? Why should the kids have all the fun? 

Senior and Junior winner Natalie Berry at the BLCC 2010UKC News, Oct 2010© Matt Pycroft – LWimages.co.uk

The British Team are supported by theBMC, The EpicentreandMountain Hardwear Thanks go to Lukasz Warzecha – LWimages.co.uk and Matt Pycroft for the photographs. Diesen Artikel inkl. Bilder auf UKClimbing.com anschauen

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