On November 16th climbers from nine universities across the South West of the UK met up in Flashpoint, Cardiff, all to compete in the first round out of three in the South West University Climbing Competition (SWUCCs).
108 climbers competed in the competition, which was held by Cardiff University’s Mountaineering Club (CUMC). In the first stage, competitors had to try and send (complete a route) twenty-five different climbing problems, to achieve the best score in one of two categories: males and females. The six climbers with the highest score from each qualified for the finals. Thirty-nine women competed in the female category: Leigh Shave (UWE, 170 points), Chloe Johnson (Portsmouth, 157 points), and Isabelle Purath (Exeter, 155 points) initially achieving the highest scores in the qualifications round. As for the men: Adam Frank (UWE, 205 points), Finely Stokes (Exeter, 204 points), Felix Vaudin (Exeter, 203), and Jamie Sherratt (Southhampton, 203 points) got the highest mark from the qualification blocks round. At 7:30pm, lights were turned off in the gym, with spotlights shining only on the finals blocks, which were set especially for the occasion.
The top six from each category then battled it out for the top three positions with prizes from Boulder flash, up and under and crag swag to be won. To gain points, members from each category had three different routes, which they had to try and climb in just four minutes. After a close, tense competition, it was Finely Stokes from Exeter and Chloe Johnson from Portsmouth who took the win.
Although no members of our club have made it to the final podium, we are super proud to have had Franka from Cardiff University qualify for the finals, of all of our CUMC members who together achieved enough points to place Cardiff second in the current league table, and of all of our members who participated and challenged themselves in this epic first round.