Page 55 - 2018 AMA Winter

July – December 2018. In July some of the Army team switched fire and competed at the British Bouldering Championships, which was televised live by the BBC. Sapper Andrew Mawhinney performed extremely well, reaching the semi-finals and knocking out several members of the GB team in doing so. He has subse- quently been selected to represent the Irish national team in international competition, joining WO2 Will Woodhead who is a long- standing member of the GB ice climbing team. September to December saw the return of the bouldering season and the first 4 rounds of the UK Armed Forces Bouldering League (AFBL) 2018/19.
A LOOK FORWARD TO 2019
By the time this journal lands on your doormats, the 4th round of the AFBL will have taken place on 5 December in Boulder UK, Preston. Round 5 will be held in Milton Keynes in January, and Round 6 will be, as usual, in Indy in February. More details can be found in 2018DIN10- 035. In a break from tradition we will be running a standalone competition the day after round 6, which will be run as an inter-services bouldering competition in IFSC format. This will be the inaugural bouldering competition between the services and will serve as a useful trial for the 2020 Olympic year, in which we will be hosting an Olympic format event (speed, lead and bouldering).
2019 will also see the return of the Army (South) event in Bristol, a new Army (North) event in Scotland, and the Army Festival of Climbing in May 2019. The festival promises to be a great week of climbing, regardless of whether your interest is
in the Army Lead Climbing Champion- ships, rock climbing in N Wales, walking in Snowdonia, or more focussed on beer and lectures in the Swallow Falls hotel! The dates are in the Forecast of Events; put it in your diary and watch out for the DIN. For anyone reading who fancies themselves as a contender for the Army crown ... get training: the competition has never been fiercer!
A FINAL NOTE
The Army climbing scene is a busy and inclusive one. The vast majority of events are open to all standards of climber and it is one of the joys of competition climbing (bouldering in particular) that relative novices can and do compete alongside international athletes. I have been encouraged by the really strong attendance at our events and I think this grassroots participation is one of
the key reasons why the Army team has performed so well over the past few years. To maintain this momentum I would urge serving members of the AMA to encourage climbers within their Units to get stuck in to the events. If you have any questions about them then I am always happy to field queries.
I would also like to highlight the support provided to these events by our sponsors. The events would not be possible without the financial support of Towergate Insurance (through Team Army) and Deloitte. Similarly, the trophies and prizes are central to the theatre of the com- petitions and are mostly provided by DMM, Entre-prises, Orange House and Cotswold. Thanks to all our sponsors.
I hope to see you at the competitions!
ARMY SPORT CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019
Qualifying rounds 13 & 14 May - Indy
Finals 15 May - The Beacon Climbing Centre
Part of the Army festival of climbing, DIN to follow.
For further information please contact Michelle Hordern: michelle.hordern100@mod.gov.uk
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