Climbing Works Bouldering League Round 1

Arghh, my arms wouldn't pull on Friday. I struggled to warm up and was slow to get on the problems. Thankfully I got going towards the end and easily did a few problems second time that I should have done first time. The problems were great.

I got home from work an hour before the comp started, having stood up for an hour on the train because it was so busy. I'm not making any excuses, but I don't think it helped... apart from working my core from trying to stop falling over when we went round corners :-)

I returned on Sunday and 'got a few more bonuses' then did some pull-up and campus work. I'm working on my one arm lock.

November Team Training

So we had a 4 day training residential. The first day was a real workout with circuit training - exercises included hands free, press-ups, pull-ups, dynos... 12 exercises in total, 3 sets. I think we all had aches to prove we had trained hard.

Then it was time for speed bouldering - 20 boulders of various difficulty. We were in pairs trying to flash the problems as quickly as possible and catch up the pair in front. Great fun.

I slept like a log and woke up achey. Maybe I should have gone for a run to flush out the toxins!
The 2nd day bought about this blog and a campus board/pull up bar workshop. I need to do more of this and get stronger...

Day 3 - Boulder Bash @ Craggy Island, Guildford. Mark Croxall set a fantastic boulders, technical. I flashed 12 of the 15 and won the female open bouldering. I was feeling really good but didn't enter the lead and speed as I'm going to compete in Brno next week and wanted to save my finger tips!

Day 4 - SIBL (Southern Indoor Bouldering League) Round 1 at Mile End, London. The Team climbed but didn't compete. The league was well attended. It was great to see so many people competing. Look out for the the further Rounds of SIBL and other climbing wall bouldering leagues. The BMC website has info on SIBL and links to climbing walls around the country.

Now it's rest/light exercise and carbs to prepare for the weekend in Brno, Czech Republic. My first international event... I can't wait.

Introduction...

I am a climber. I climb for the British Bouldering Team. Our aim is to win international bouldering competitions.

I live in Sheffield, the climbing capital of Great Britain. I am also a Civil Engineer and work full time for Scott Wilson who sponsor me through leave for training and competitions.

Reportedly I have climbed since being toddler, climbing over gates, up shelves, around door frames, and progressing to trees and larger structures. I first tried climbing formally on a man-made wall at Thriftwood Scout Campsite, Essex at the age of 10 and was hooked. Several years later I worked as a volunteer at Thriftwood maintaining the site and teaching outdoor pursuits as a Venture Scout.

I also climbed regularly at Clements Hall Sports Centre in Essex and joined the regulars on several climbing trips on ‘real rock’ to places such as Symmonds Yat, the Peak District, and our local Southern Sandstone.

I moved away from Essex to study and could not move back as there is no rock to climb. Whilst studying I discovered the delights of bouldering. I love the movement and the challenge.