Lakes Bouldering Meet

Written by LakesBloc Wednesday, 14 July 2004 00:00

Despite the relatively poor weather for the time of year, the Lakes has been buzzing with first ascents and hard repeats.

First up Mark Katz got the much coverted second ascent of Steve Dunnings Bowderstone test piece Special Cases (8a+/V12) commenting it to be one of the best problems he has ever done! Staying with the Bowderstone Chris "Floppy" Davies has been getting close on the big project to the far let of Special Cases... watch this space!

The weekend of July the 10th and 11th was that of the eagerly awaited Lakes bouldering meet which was a resounding success. The Saturday saw St. Bees Head enveloped by the masses and a number of fine repeats, including Neils Kershaws excellent arete problem Yellow Desert Screaming by Jordan Buys and John Fullwood, who found some slighty more efficient beta but still felt the overall grade right at 7a/Va.

The North Wales crew thinking the weather to be poor in the North Lakes headed for Crag X in the South Lakes and this resulted in Mark Katz (fresh from his Bowderstone success) repeat John Gaskins hideous but awesome Back-Hand Roof 8a/V11, and also Chris Doyle link Hybrid Moments into the extended finish climbed earlier this month by Greg Chapman.

Sunday was split in two by a morning visit to the Stirrup Stones in Wasdale and an afternoons session on the Bowderstone. At the Stirrup Stones Jordan Buys climbed the right cave prow project on the Sheep Pen boulders giving a super looking 7a+/V7, further up the hill Tom Burns climbed the wall/prow, left of The Confabulator, to give No Sheffield Walk-In, a reachy 7a+/V7.

Finally, earlier in the week at the Sampson's Stones Eskdale, Neil Kershaw climbed the central wall project on the Asteroid boulder from standing to leave a fine new 7b/V8 - Stargazer. Neil commented that this would make an interesting and difficult proposition from sitting.