Page 6 - 2001/02 AMA Winter

■Services Sports Climbing Championships
' Mike Smith and Mick Cook,
used for the open category and a single heat for the Under 25s. To encourage a more friendly and social atmosphere for the competi­ tion, there was no isolation enforced for these heats and so to ensure fair play to the earlier competitors, the routes were demonstrated by British Climbing Champion Chris Cubitt and route-setter Kev
Hill As a mark of respect after the tragic events that had taken place in the USA the day before, a minute's silence was observed before the climbing started. The heats were then all run simultane­ ously and so with a potential for up to three climbers on the wall at any one time, there was no shortage of activity to entertain the spectators and to test the lyrical skills of event commentator Scott Derben.
The Army Team
O n Wednesday 12”' September 2001, climbers and spectators from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force gathered at “The Foundry" Climbing Centre in Sheffield for the 2” Inter-Services Sports Climbing Championships. Organised
jointly by the three Service mountaineering clubs, the event was sponsored by Cotswold Essential Outdoor, Edelweiss Ropes, High Places and HB Climbing Equipment.
With two free climbing categories in the competition (Open & Under 25s) “dual dissimilar" (actually mirror image) heats were
Route inspection prior to the final.
Whilst the results of the heats were being worked out, we were all given an amazing climbing display by 14-year-old Hazel Duff from the British Climbing Team. The top eight competitors from the Under 25s and the top sixteen from the Open category were then selected for the final where once again we were all treated to some very powerful and in some cases technical climbing demonstrations. In the Open category final, the results were a lot closer than last year’s event, this included a climb-off between the Army's W01 Mike Smith and Capt Graham Carter who had both climbed to an equal 3,dplace. Capt Carter eventually stole third place by the narrowest of margins.
Graham Carter flexing his muscles.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER
Cdr Steve Jackson handing over the trophy.