The BMC Leading Ladder Competition Series is back at Dynamic Rock from the 14th November
For those of you that competed last year, the format will be familiar: 10 routes with 2 weeks to try and complete them all. For those that haven't heard about the Leading Ladder, let me explain...
The BMC Leading Ladder is a series of competitions that run throughout the winter season. It has actually already started, but don't panic, between October and the end of March 2010 there are 35 rounds being hosted at 24 walls across the UK, so more than enough opportunity to take part!
It is an open competition series where each host wall sets 10 competition routes ranging from 5+ to 8a, then over a 2 week period you can come in and for no extra cost (well, £1 for a score card!) you can try the competition routes. The rules of play are that you attempt every route ground up and get maximum points if you manage to flash it. If, unfortunatley, you don't get it on your first attempt then you come down and try again. To score, each attempt must be ground up and you only score when you have completed the route clean. You can have as many attempts of each route as you need over the 2 weeks but obviously, the less attempts it takes, the higher your score. You get 20 points for a flash, 15 points for getting it on your second attempt, 11 for your third attempt and so on, with 1 point if after 6 goes you finally get it!
There are three categories, each split into male and female and under 16s and over 16s. The three ability categories are - Improver, Recreational, and Elite.
• The Improver category is aimed at climbers whose on-sight limit is F6B/6B+.
• The Recreational category is aimed at climbers whose on-sight limit is F7A/7B.
• The Elite category is aimed at climbers whose on-sight limit is F7C/8A.
You choose which category you want to compete in, based on the above, and then your points will be entered into that category in the scoring system.
After each round the host wall sends the scorecards to the BMC who keep a national leaderboard and after the final round the highest three scores for each individual are totted up and all competitors will be ranked. Those with the highest scores in each category will then be invited to attend the National Final to be held on the 24th April.
To be eligible for the national final you must have competed in 3 rounds or more, but that's easy! Dynamic Rock is hosting 2 seperate rounds - 14/11/09 - 29/11/09 and again 16/01/2010 - 1/01/2010, and Boulders over in Cardiff have rounds 12/12/09 - 3/1/10 and 13/03/10 - 28/03/10 or if you are out and about this winter why not use it as an excuse to check out some of the other walls around the UK!?
Last year lots of people enjoyed trying the routes and we had great success with 8 of the UK finalist being from South Wales and 3 podium finishes!
So keep your eyes open for the competition routes coming soon and have a go - you never know you could end up at the Grand Final of a National Climbing Competition. I did last year and it was fab!
Donna
For a full list of dates, venues and rules see thebmc.co.uk - competitions
