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Ben Moore has been selected represent Wales at table
The November Exeat trip was blessed with a stunning weather forecast this year.
tennis. Ben will compete for the Welsh Juniors at
Our traditional winter mountaineering weekend has seen a full range of weather
Chippenham in April. Ben started playing when he was
over the years, but this time the conditions were about as good as they could be
9 years old at Rhyl Community Table Tennis Club,
for a winter ascent of Snowdon.
where he received coaching by North Wales coach
We were based in a bunkhouse in the village of Llanberis, so on the Saturday Barrie Russ. Ben competed with the Rhyl Junior
morning, we began our ascent right from the front door. The Llanberis Path is Team last year winning the premier cadet Division1
one of the longer ways to get to the summit, but has the most amenable angle of league title at Halton, defeating teams from all
ascent. We were on the move by 9am, eager to make the most of the conditions. over the north west. This year they have clinched
the under 18 junior title and are odds on to retain
We set a steady pace uphill and made sure that we took plenty of rests to pace
the cadet title, this time under the Trinity and Halton
ourselves and also to enjoy the fabulous views. The sun was shining brightly in
team banner.
our eyes to begin with as we reached the ‘Halfway Café’.
Shortly afterwards, we reached the snowline and had to put on our crampons to Individually Ben receives regular training from the
grip into the snow and ice. Walking with metal spikes on your feet takes a bit of Welsh coach Ryan Jenkins and has recently won the
getting used to, but it meant that we could continue confidently towards the Cadet Under 15 open tournament, and finished
summit while others who were less well equipped had to turn back or were runner up in the under18 category at Halton
reduced to crawling on all fours on the slippery terrain! Martin and this weekend he travelled down to
Ian Cardiff where he finished cadet runner
Up at the summit – the highest point in Wales – the views were simply breath-
up in the premier Welsh championships,
taking and there was not a cloud to be seen or a breath of wind. We all felt very
losing in the final to the number 1
lucky to have been up there in such rare conditions.
seed, his strong showing was enough,
After a leisurely lunch, soaking up the vista, we began our descent. Tiredness however to clinch his first full Welsh Focus: Ben Moore
began to creep in and everyone had to dig deep to find the energy to make it cap. Ben was picked to represent
back to the bunkhouse under their own steam. It had been a long day and the Wales in the Euro minis tournament
short hours of daylight meant that we needed to use our head torches to guide last year but had to drop out due to
us down the last part of the path. appendicitis so a welcome second
opportunity. Watch this space!

Back at the hut, everyone showered and
crashed out by the fire, while the cooking
team rustled up a huge pasta meal and
even an apple crumble. For once on
such expeditions, everyone was early
to bed and sound asleep in no time!

Winter Mountaineering
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Snowdonia

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