14th May- The McDonnell Family

Due to a super busy period i have been slacking on the blog entries a little. I am now left with loads of stuff to write about over that last month or so. In order to get some different clients i gave away 2 days climbing instruction as a prize for a dream auction.

The first day was with the McDonnell Family, The weather was looking on an off all week but we made the decsion to carry on and i was glad we did, Despite some Blustery conditions the 4 lads managed several routes at birchens edge from some straight forward routes to a particulatly tricky servere.

We finished the day on the Abseil at Lawencefield which was a good end to a top day out. The days climbing meant that Freddie could gain his Scout Climbing Badge and hopefully we will be able to get out again soon.

Season Warm Up

The last few weeks have been really busy with the Eaaster break bringing in some work as well as as squeezing a cheeky few days away in France, As i write this i have just finished my final Assignment for the first year of University. After fridays exam all will be done untill october allowing me to start working through the summer which is shaping up to be a good one.

Having already worked in Liverpool Chester and Stoke in the last few weeks Saturday will be good as i finially have a job in the Peak District. It should be a good one!

Below are a few photos from out recent trip to Fontainbleau in France, Having never been before, i was blown away by the shear scale of the climbing and the massive variety of problems. In the 3 days i spent climbing there we barely scrtched the surface. Will Definatly make a return Trip at the end of the season.

Summer?

Having had a busy few weeks with uni work and the odd day working on the mobile Climbing Wall, time had passed quite fast, The weekend was approaching and i knew this was my last free weekend until mid June, I knew that i had to make the most of it. Fortunatly the weather was on my side for a change and the weekend brought the hottest weather of the year so far. A balmy 20 degrees had people pulling out the shorts and getting out. Friday was spent with an afternoons bouldering at Stoney Middleton, Although i hadnt bouldered there before it was pretty obvious lots of people had as the rock was supper polished and finding good footholds was difficult to say the least, We eventually decided it was a bit hot to climb and rigged up the slackline. Saturday was spent on the Downhill bike in Wharncliffe woods, there was only Will and I who could ride so we headed up with Tom who is currently nursing a broken collerbone to get some photos. the resuting photos dont even look like Britain never miond Wharncliffe, the tracks were running super fast and the dry dusty trails brought alot of people out with their bikes. After a fairly short day we did what everyone else seemed to be doing and spent the evening in the Garden with the BBQ. On sunday Lucy and I took advantage of the good weather to go bouldering up at the rarely visited Back Tor and Dovestones Tor. the climbing was quite the opposite of Fridays with ploish or crimps to be seen, instead it was a good workout of sloper technique, Despite a severe lack of motivation we stayed up there for a few hours and topped out a few problems before enjoying the long walk down. On the way home i swung by a rather busy endcliffe park for a quick BBQ with some mates from uni, All in all a pretty good weekend, Shame i wont get the chance do it all again until September!

Light Evenings and Climbing

After quite a few weeks on the road i now have a few weeks at home to coincide with the end of uni, the last few weeks have been fun but it was good to spend a weekend at home, Although this blog has climbing in the title the truth is there has been very litttle climbing at all. Due to weather and a rather busy timetable. We have managed to get to the climbing wall a few times but nothing worth writing about! After a chilled out day on Saturday watching the football we hit horseshoe quarry on Sunday for a bit of Clipping.

We headed over to some shiny new bolts and as we had forgot the guidebook jumped on some routes. I had a bit of a shocker and ended up lowering off the route, we then did another easier route (who knows what grade it was?) and headed home for the first BBQ of the year. All in all a great weekend and a welcome change from all the travelling.

Now the clocks have gone forward, it means we can get out in the evenings. i spent last night with a few of the lads on the SheepSkull Trail up at Blackamoor, It was the first time out on my new downhill bike and the track was perfect for getting used to the new bike on, I cant wait for varsity on Wednesday now! Also with the turn of the seasons the indoor wall can finally be swapped for the bouldering mat and Burbage. Chris and I bouldered at Burbage loads last year and i can wait to get up there tonight.

Flat Out in a Field - BUCS 2011

Last weekend saw the annual BUCS Mountainbike championships go down in Moelfre, Wales. I had never ridden Moelfre before but some of the lads told me it was fast.... Great i thought, Should make a good change from the super technical terrain we have got used to in Wharncliffe. We met up Thursday night to load the van and travel across to Wales. We eventually got there to find not alot was going on so all got an early night.

Friday Brought with it fair weather and the first day of practise for the DH riders. All being super keen to get riding we signed on walked the track and jumped on the uplift tractor. After a few minutes we set off down the track. I was running behind Tom (Pro) Richards who managed a whole 30m before stacking it over the bars in spectacular fashion resulting in A broken Collerbone. Eventually the medics turned up and got him off the hill, Weekend Over. I was gutted for Tom as he has been riding super quick since getting his new bike and was looking good for a good result.

I was left with two bikes on the hill so i rode his down before hitching a lift up to fetch my own bike down. Once i got to the bottom i headed over to the medics tent to check up on Tom. It was pretty clear he needed to go to hospital and that even if by some miricle we got through quickly he would not be best in a tent on the side of a welsh hill. In the end i drove him back to AandE in Sheffield before heading back to wales that evening ready for the race on Saturday.

On saturday Morning iwe broke out the team race kit kindly privded by JeJames and i managed to get two practice runs in before the uplift closed ready for the race. As i was unseeded i was one of the first down. i had to make up 84 places to qualify for a second run as only the top 200 riders got a second run, i clocked a 3.12.1 this eventually put me in 220th Just 1.3s off the cut off time for the top 200 riders. All in all i am pretty pleased with my result as i had very little practise.

The other lads had a bit of a mixed time with Marcel crashing badly and not making the start of the race. Will had a good run a squeezed into the top 200 along with Tom, Jammer, Whitehead and Johnny. our top seeded rider Sam had a massive off and didnt finish along with james who didnt make the top 200.

In the second runs Will Tom and Whitehead Crashed, While Jammer lost his chain and ended up of the pace. the rest of the race was kept entertaining as the rain came down for the last 20 riders and the track required a completley ifferent approach. Saturday night was spent relaxing and drinking a few beers before we all got bored and went to bed! Sunday saw the XC riders do there racing whilst being heckled by 300 Downhillers on the tightest and steepest section of the course. I'm sure it would of made a pretty intimadating atmosphere for all of the riders.

All in all a good weekend and Im sure Hallam Cycling will have even bigger presence at BUCS next year, I know I'l Be there!

The First Day on the Mobile Wall 2011

After a break of almost 6 months Wednesday saw the first day of working on the Mobile Climbing Wall with Ryan. We were providing the wall as a have a go session at a primary school which meant little of the coaching side and more of getting as many people as possible to have a go. this meant the day was pretty hectic but working with kids is great as they have so much energy and enthuisasm something which is sometimes lacking in the adult groups that i take.

I have a few days off now before hitting Wales with Hallam Cycling for the BUCS Mountain Bike Championships.

Bicycles, Assignments and a Night in Hull

Having had a quiet period in uni the work has picked up again leaving little or no time to get out climbing or riding, its unfortunate that the increase in workload has come with the nice weather but in a month i will have all the time in the world so a few weeks hard work is not much of a worry,

However one cant work all the time so on wednesday i went up to Wharncliffe with the lads for a few hours to hit some downhill trails again, it was the first time out on the bike in ages and felt rusty to say the least, Having just built up the new hardtail Ryan and i went out for a bit of an XC ride on friday taking advantage of the good weather and finally getting out again.

After working pretty hard Friday evening and Saturday i met up with Lucy and we headed across to Hull for Jess's 21st Birthday, no one told me i was cooking tea though! After a pretty good pizza (if i say so myself) we headed out into Hull to celebrate, I think a good night was had by all!

I have now got a busy week coming up with plenty of work and the first day of the year working on the Mobile wall (Just hope the weather holds) as well as the BUCS Mountain Bike Champs next weekend in Moelfre, Wales. Sheffield Hallam have a strong contingent of riders going so im sure it will be a good weekends racing.

GNAS Archery

Last weekend saw myself and Ryan head up to Clitheroe to get Qualified as Archery Instructors ready for the summer when we will be running sessions across the country in tandem with the Mobile climbing wall and as standalone sessions. check out www.aim-hire.co.uk and/or www.climb-hire.co.uk for more details.

The weekend saw us go into more detail than we will ever need about the ins and outs of archery. and made a change to get away and meet some new people and learn some new skills. however driving home on Monday we both agreed that we would be taking a break from Archery for a few days as the course was intense to say the least. Unfortunatly it was so intense we didnt even have time to take any photos!

A Weekend Off

After a rather busy few weeks it was good to get down to my dads and take a weekend off climbing, riding and work, i chose a good weekend with the weather being less than desirable. We spent the weekend watching the FA cup, walking the dog and fixing up some old bikes.

I am pleased to see my summer filling up with bookings and looking forward to finishing uni and starting work again. If the weather cheers up i will hopefully be able to get out on the crag this week and if it doesnt il be in the climbing works or out on my bike.

Scotland Take 2

After weeks of waiting it was finally time to get back up to Scotland and out onto the hill. Once again we headed up to the Caingorms and after a night in the AstraCamper and some quick shopping we hit Sneachda for a quick route before dark.

As it was Tingles first ever winter climb we chose The Runnel, a straightforward Grade 2. Which could be done in 2 pitches. This provided me with the opertunity to lead my first winter pitch as well as getting back into the swing of winter climbing. After John had led the last pitch we desended back to the Ski centre with some other climbers who we stumbled upon in the white out at the top, satisfyied with a good afternoon and looking forward to a curry and the Hostel,

Saturday came and with it brought fine weather. this was our first day with the charismatic Smiler Cuthbertson who Tingle had met when they worked on the ropes together, Smiler is a big inspiration to all being 62 and Still climbing at the level demanded of the British Mountain Guide, We met smiler and headed back up to Sneachda to do do another longer Grade 2. Earlier in the day there had been quite a large avalanche in the far corner of the Coire and 2 people had to be airlifted out. We ended up on Spiral Gully and topped out to almost no wind and clear views.

After major snowfall over the evening and the avalanches the previous day Smiler deemed it to dangerous to get on any routes as the North facing slopes were most prone to avalanching so we changed plans and set out climb the Fiaciall Ridge in wild conditions, the ridge was quite straight forward with some steep sections, but due to the conditions it was also quite busy

We made it back to the car and said our goodbyes to Smiler before hitting the chippy and the road back to Sheffield.

Posh Meals and Horizontal Rain

The good weather turned during the week and we were faced with the prospect of a miserable weekend. The end of the week saw torrential rain and gale force winds... not really climbing weather. Saturday was spent at Hillsborough for the football. We were lucky enough to win some tickets to the hospitality and enjoyed a Champagne reception and 3 course meal prior to the game. Unfortunatly as far as a Wednesday fan is concerned the game was garbage and we were fortunate to slavage a point against 9 man MK Dons. With a new manage in this week in Gary Megson lets hope results will turn round.

Sunday was spent at Descend Hamsterly near Darlington, it was the first time i have ridden these tracks and after an early start we arrived to high winds and torrential rain. The uplifts made the weather bearable as we didnt have to push up but it took all our motivation to get back out on the bikes after dinner. the tracks at hamsterly are pretty good with a flat out top section and more technical and steep bottom sections including a pretty interesting rock garden which caused a few issues!

I will be spending the early part of this week doing uni work before heading up to Scotland Winter Climbing next weekend,

The Beginning....

Ok this is more for personal reference than of public interest, but i know a few people have blogs and i thought I'd jump on the bandwagon.

It starts with having been on Curbar edge today bouldering with Tingle. As is always the case when we climb it began with a breakfast. The pool cafe in Hathersage. We eventually made it onto the rock at nearly midday. We took it fairly easy ticking off quite a few easy problems and trying one Peak 'classic,' Trackside. Its quite a good problem and seems soft for the grade. Although i didn't quite manage to top out I'm sure it will go another day. All in all conditions are perfect on the grit at the moment and i also managed to get in another good session on Friday to Burbage south to make the most of a day off.

Saturday was spent riding some downhill in Wharncliffe. There were just the four of us and we spent the day sessioning the rock garden on Nemba and riding a few other tracks. Another chilled out day and we made it back into Sheffield for dark.

This weeks starting to look busy already with uni work and an Uplift day at Hamsterly Forest. No doubt if the weather stays as good as it has been I'll be getting out onto the grit as well.

Right I'm off to book some holidays for the summer.....