The Autumn has been a busy time for Monsterclimbs, I can’t believe how the time has flown by.
I have run several National Governing Body Award Courses – 
- a CWA Training Course with a full complement of 6 excellent candidates who kept me on my toes with questions and challenging ideas, and enjoyed watching them learn new skills and gain confidence and experience.
- a CWLA Assessment with 4 experienced and confident candidates who demonstrated confidence and professionalism in their delivery – all achieving their Award. Marcus Dix was exceptional in his group management, getting down to the level of his mini clients.
- a CWA Assessment with 3 candidates with a variety of experience and skills. Two candidate passed with one deferment due mainly to limited assist experience within the remit of the award.
Climbing Wall Solutions had a busy summer building several walls in schools throughout the country. The Site Specific Training at Aldridge School in Birmingham with 6 PE teachers was an amazing day. The staff had never climbed before but were the most attentive and conscientious learners and amazing fun too. They were incredibly focused throughout the day and so keen to be the best instructors possible.
I returned to Alderley Edge School for Girls Climbing Wall and Clifton High School to Assess the staff on their ability to run and manage climbing sessions. Only 2 of the 6 staff felt ready to complete the assessment at AESG and it was obvious they had both worked extremely hard since their training in July to ensure they were both safe and competent in their delivery. Karen Bryan was exceptional in that she went from complete novice to a confident instructor in such a short space of time but with incredible effort. All 5 members achieved their Site Specific Award at Clifton High School.
An introduction to sport climbing in Portland was an amazing day with Kim and Salil Sabir and Bea who basked in the Indian Summer weather – funny as they had travelled all the way from India to be there. They learnt how to climb and belay, quickly developing the skills to enjoy many routes on Cheyne Weares and Blacknor South.
I managed a few cheeky personal climbing days at Symonds Yat with Mike Brookes and Sara Guttierez-ojanguren which kept my trad leading head in gear, leading a few E1’s and E2’s much to their delight.
Working for Hartpury College included hill walking in the Brecon Beacons, gorge walking in South Wales and rope management days at Upton Warren.
The best was saved til last as I spent 10 days climbing in Kalymnos with Mick Green. The weather was perfect, never too hot, sometimes a bit windy but never too cold. We climbed at Cave Main Wall, Skalia Pillar, Kastri, Palioisos – Red Wall, Prophetis Andreas, Symplegades, Arhi 
and Arginonta – Infrared Wall. Routes of the trip – Lymoto and Big Mercy 6b – exquisite steep rock, Side Cut 6a+, Scorpion and Ma Tente Daye 6c, the amazing 30m 6c corner Y a autre chose Roger, Komak 6a+, Masouri 40m 6b and Black Ghecko 6b+ on black tufa and finally Anna Maria 30m 6c which was immaculate, steep and just kept on coming.
Kalymnos is an amazing setting to learn to sport lead climb. If you wish to have a holiday adventure of a lifetime contact monsterclimbs.
