On Saturday Rock Over Climbing hosted the 3^rd round of the Great Rock Over Winter League (GROWL), with over 100 people competing, and over 120 through our doors just joining in with the day’s festivities!

The GROWL is a great event, open to any age and any ability, and our competitors list was a great display of that! Competitors ranged from age 4, to over 60, from British elite, to complete novices, and everywhere in between.

42 Problems were set by Jamie Cassidy, Simon Chevis, and Tom Lloyd, with difficulty ranging from V0- to V8+ - easily enough of each grade to satisfy any ability!

The speed climb-off was a great spectacle, and had Rock Over’s own Brett Chapman (just) making it in! Michael Hopkins easily campused half the route, finishing in 1^st place in the 11-15 Males, and ROC Academy climber Ellissa Bryant narrowly missed the last hold, but easily gained 1^st position. In the adults we saw top coach, and top climber, Jordan Buys finish the route with ease, and well within the time required to take first place, Craig Bailey (who is currently 1^st on overall points)hot on his heels. Top female coach, and climber Naomi Buys just missed out on 1^st place, dropping the route a few holds from the top, and an on-form Charlotte Garden cruised the route to the top, taking 1^st place, and leaving us in no doubt as to who will be taking home the league prize!

And it wasn’t just in the Adult Open and 11-15 categories that people were battling it out, as we saw a great field of Vets and Beginners, some scoring very high!

After the main competition, the party continued with the Dry Tooling league, which this time included a one-handed dyno to a tyre! The field was, again, strong, and every problem was completed except the last move on one boulder traverse. Free inductions to Dry Tooling were being provided by Tom S, and all ages participated, from 5-10 Female winner, Pippa Watkin, to Vets competitor Jill Harris.

Rock Over Climbing is now fully licensed to sell/serve alcoholic drinks on the premises, and Tom and Leann cooked a huge batch of meat, and veg, chilli, so we ensured everyone was well fed and watered with giant jacked potatoes, and large bottles of Ale!

All in all, it was a great event, with a fantastic turnout and a large range of climbers, and here at Rock Over Climbing we’re all looking forward to the next (and last this season) one! – Saturday 11^th February.

Full results can be found here

Tom L