Page 25 - 2009 AMA Winter

lenge for the main event and the elite final involved 2 walls, a 2 metre gap, a very well disguised rest for shorties, some down climbing through the roof and a 6 metre run out to finish! SSgt Jon Leighton tamed the beast best and took the men’s title, LCpl Ollie Noakes won the junior title and Pte Cristal Crooks retained her women’s crown. SEME won a very closely fought battle with Tps Hereford in the team event with the result being decided on the final speed relay.
The Inter Services were also at a new venue and a strong team of 26 Army climbers enjoyed the delights of the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho. This is the largest climbing wall in Europe, an awesome venue and well worth a visit just to look at the place, let alone climb there! The international competition wall was our host and at 12m high and 12m overhanging the routes proved to be a real challenge. 15 of the 25 qualifiers for the afternoon finals were from the Army and the girls were the first to demonstrate their skills. Cristal Crooks gave a perfect demonstration and became the Inter Services Champion and the girls walked away with the Women's Team trophy. In the Junior category it was Ollie Noakes who finished the route but the RAF who just snatched the team event. The Men's
Mike Smith high on the veteran's route 1 in the BLCC contemplating the final moves and the run out
Open category became a battle of who had the biggest guns and proved a real spectacle for the audience. Maj Mike Smith, out of retirement yet again, sur- prised everyone including himself by com- ing 3rd only just behind the Army Champion, Jon Leighton. Surg Lt Steve Glennie RN successfully defended his title as the Men's Champion. The Army walked away with the Men's team title again. 4 out of 6 isn’t a bad medal haul!
Highlight of the year came in July when a Combined Services climbing team partici- pated in the British Lead Climbing Championships and Mike Smith became the British Veteran Climbing Champion for 2009!
Army Team members have been compet- ing abroad again at the end of this year in Belgium, France and at the European Military Champs in Switzerland. Reports of these events will be in the next journal.
What lies ahead? Well, the first Tri-Service Bouldering League is already underway over this winter and a full spectrum of com- petitions is already firming up for 2010. The highlight will be the European Military Climbing Champs being hosted by the AMA in October 2010 in Ratho.
Our thanks must go to the sponsors, Cotswold, Entreprise, DMM, Climb Safe and the Orange House, for their continued support, the coaches for their advice and to the climbing walls for hosting us during the year.
If you fancy having a go then come along to an event and challenge yourself – the worst you can do is fall off!
Maj Pete Skinsley
AMA Vice Chairman (Sport Climbing) 07742 194128 amavicechairsport@armymail.mod.uk
Outline calendar for 2010
Tri-Service Bouldering League – 13 Jan & 13 Feb
Army Bouldering Champs – 13 Feb (JSMTC(I))
Bouldermania – Mar (Belgium)
1, 2, 4 & 5 Div Champs – Mar & Apr (dates and locs TBC)
Army Climbing Champs – May (Cardiff)
Inter Services and European Military Climbing Champs – Oct (EICA Ratho)
Full details will be published on the AMA website and Facebook.
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