Page 58 - 2018 AMA Summer

SPORTCLIMBING
THE ARMED FORCES
BOULDERING LEAGUE
2017/18
By Kenny Geoghegan
Following the close of the 2017 lead season, and the Army domination the Inter-Service climbing champion-
ships, psyche was high for the upcoming bouldering season. As usual the league did not disappoint.
This year the league would start with a week-long festival of climbing. This saw climbers from all over the country descend on North Wales for climbing of all disciplines, however the main event was the first round of the bouldering league which would take place at the Indy climbing wall. Army climbers turned out in good numbers and for two of the newest members of the Army climbing team, this would signal the beginning of their dominance. Spr Andrew Mawhinney scoring 247 out of a possible 250 points – something that would become a strong habit – and Captain Amy Johnstone asserting her dominance over the female category.
The league would run over Six months. Six rounds set at different centres across the country. Following a strong start at the Indy wall, rounds would follow at The Climbing Works in Sheffield, the Depot in Nottingham, Bloc in Bristol, Rockstar in Swindon and another, final round at the Indy wall in North Wales. This final round would decide the positioning of the bouldering league and also double up as the Army bouldering championships in a standalone competition.
Spr Andrew Mawhinney showed that his display of strength in the initial round of the league was no mere fluke as he wrapped up the Army championships and the Bouldering League titles in his category (Under 25) as well as claiming the title of overall winner with an impressive 741 out of 750 based on his three best scores across the league.
Capt Amy Johnstone followed suite and wrapped up the Army championships
Maj Snow in the AFBL
in the Female division in style as well as the overall female title in the Bouldering League with a strong score of 561.
WO2 Matt Burson, in his last competition before leaving the service, took first place in the Masters Division in the Army cham- pionships and the Bouldering League.
The Open male category provided some close competition and strong perfor- mances from RAF climbers Flt Lt Dan Heath and SAC James George pushed the final league positions all the way to the final round of the league. In the end LCpl Miles hill took first place in the open division, followed closely by Maj Patrick Snow in second place.
In the end, 12 of the 15 final podium positions across the entire services were occupied by Army climbers and this cemented another strong, dominant year by members of the Army climbing team.
The AFBL is sponsored by DMM and Entre-prises. A massive thankyou to both for the support. Without them the league, and the awesome prizes, would not be possible!
AFBL Final Results
Competition Rank Name
Unit Service Score
1 RSME Army 741 3 R WELSH Army 704 DA Shriv Army 693
3 R WELSH Army 704 DA Shriv Army 693 RAF Waddington RAF 680
AMD Army 561 MOD A Army 449 32 Sig Regt Army 442
1 RSME Army 741 1 RGR Army 651 1 RSME Army 536
LEAT Army 641 RAF Cotswold RAF 624 RAF Aldergrove RAF 571
Overall
1 Spr
2 LCpl
3 Maj
Male Senior
2 LCpl
3 Maj
4 Flt Lt
Female
14 Capt
24 Cpl
25 LCpl
Male Junior
1 Spr 6 Rfn 17 Spr Male Masters
7 WO2
8 Sgt
13 Cpl
Mawhinney Hill
Snow
Hill Snow Heath
Johnstone Cooper Wilson
Mawhinney Limbu Johnson
Burson Easton Jones
58 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER
Amy in the AFBL final