Page 54 - 2018 AMA Winter

SPORTCLIMBING
SPORT CLIMBING
AN UPDATE
2018 has been another busy and successful year for Army competition climbing with a wide variety of events organised, some significant team successes for the Army, and national recognition for two of the Army climbers
A LOOK BACK AT 2018
January – March 2018. The annual battle rhythm has remained steady in 2018, with the bouldering season culminating at Indy in February with the final round of the UK Armed Forces Bouldering League (AFBL), which doubled as the Army Bouldering competition. Over a hundred competitors had great fun attempting the problems on offer, with varied levels of success! Of particular note, Sapper Andrew Mahwhinney scored outstandingly across the 6 rounds of the league. He flashed numerous V8/Font7b blocs, setting a ludicrously high-performance benchmark, which he nonetheless proceeded to surpass in every subsequent competition. Selected on the basis of their individual performances in the league, the UK
Armed Forces team then travelled to Belgium, to compete in a European military bouldering competition (Boulder- mania), and to Sheffield to compete in an international civilian competition (Climbing Works International Festival - CWIF). The Army was well represented in the UKAF team, which took a podium spot in Boul- dermania. Thanks must go to the Army team manager, Sgt Kenny Geoghegan, for organising many of the bouldering events on behalf of all 3 single Services.
April – July 2018. In April, with the bouldering season behind us, focus switched to lead climbing. SSgt Andy Stewart organised and led the Army (South) lead competition in RedPoint Bristol which was, as ever, a success.
Organised by Capt Stacy Oliver, the Army Lead Climbing Championships returned to Boulders (Cardiff) in May, with the Army team selected based on performance at that competition. This year it was the turn of the Army to organise the Inter-Services and I ran the event at the Summit Centre near Merthyr Tydfil – formerly known as the Welsh National Indoor Climbing Centre. Sadly I was unable to both run it and compete, but that did mean that I was spared the unrelentingly savage overhang that greeted the finalists! The Army were extremely successful, winning all 3 of the team events: Women; Senior Men (>25); and Junior Men (<25). This is the 2nd year running that the Army has swept the board despite a strong showing from the RAF.
54 / ARMY MOUNTAINEER