Page 24 - 2009 AMA Winter

Steve Glennie and Hannah Beresford (Army Cadet) on the men's and ladies route 2 on the main wall in the BLCC - still a long way to go before the roof!
ARMY SPORT CLIMBING 2009
Sport climbing across the Army goes The first BA(G) Climbing Champs for 3 Abbott and Sarah Harrop took the titles
from strength to strength and has
grown again in 2009. What follows is a quick blast through the events of the year followed by a look forward to 2010, which promises to be even bigger and better.
The now traditional trek to Anglesey in February for the Army Bouldering Champs was made with the UK in the grip of a bliz- zard. Not withstanding these challenges 67 hardy soles made it to JSMTC(I) to pit themselves against a series of interesting challenges, including a trapeze swing! OCdt Ollie Lewis took the male title and Capt Kitty Court took the women’s in a very close fought battle with OCdt Sarah Harrop.
An Army team was selected from this event to represent Britain at Bouldermania the Belgian Army’s bouldering championships in March and they pulled a blinder during the competition. They walked away with second place in the international team comp behind the Belgians and beating the Dutch, with Capt Mark Stevenson coming 3rd and Ollie Lewis 4th in the individual event. Sadly poor weather put pay to any further climbing in Belgium so they pro- ceeded to Font for a highly productive and finger shredding week on the boulders.
March and April saw the Divisional climbing championships across UK and Germany.
years was run by Lt Jen Hollins and SSgt Burney Burnett in Ahlen. Sgt Matt Burson and Jen Hollins walked away as the cham- pions with 16 Sig Regt taking the team tro- phy. The 4 Div Champs returned to Craggy Island in Guildford. Capt George Best took the men's title and Capt Judith Gallagher retained her women's crown. SEME Bordon took the team title. The 2 Div Champs were held again in Newton Aycliffe and run by Sgt Ben Abbott. OCdts Matt
and NUOTC romped away with the team trophy.
The Army Climbing Champs switched to a new venue this year and we were very well hosted by the staff of Boulders in Cardiff in late May. The format remained the same and 75 competitors enjoyed 2 days of top roping, leading, bouldering and speed climbing. The route setters devised what can only be described as the perfect chal-
22 ARMY MOUNTAINEER
Cristal Crooks high on the BLCC ladies route