A Visit to Berrymede Junior School

Trying out the green route

Last Friday, I visited Berrymede Junior School to talk to them about climbing, myself and also test their new traverse walls. It was my first visit to a school so I was pretty nervous... but the kids were great and incredibly psyched which settled my stomach!

We started off with an assembly where Mr Cotton, their fantastic PE teacher, introduced me to the children and we had a question and answer session. The children had prepared impressive and interesting questions which was great to hear. Assembly finished with a video of me climbing 2 years ago.

More green action 

Getting burnt off at backwards climbing!! 

After the assembly, I went outside with Mr Cotton to check out their traverse walls... I knew that they had been set by some westway staff members so I knew they'd be good! I wasn't surprised - they were good. The green route (the hardest) had me pulling and I was surprised to find out the large number of the kids that could do it! After demoing the greens on both of their traverse walls it was break time and time for all the excited kids to show me their favourite climb. I showed them my shoes and chalk bag... they really really liked the chalk! Next, I was lucky enough to help Mr Cotton teach his PE lesson before lunch. We climbed, obviously,  and it was great to see all the kids on their different routes and their determination to finish them. Unfortunately the rain cut short our sesh so we had to go inside. We played some brain games where you'd have to switch fingers and thumbs you held up at the same time... I was awful! Definitely something to work on! I stayed for a lovely school lunch - something I haven't had for a long time and miss - and spoke to some of the students.



Overall it was a great day and I'd like to thank Berrymede for having me! I hope the kids choose to keep climbing :)

Playing the brain games!

Myself and the climbing team

Break time psyche

Helping out in PE 

Thanks to Steve Cotton for all of the brilliant photos :)

 And lastly thanks to my amazing sponsors:

Lyon Outdoor
Berghaus
The BMC
The Westway
Natoora
NuLine
Michael and Lauren Clancy

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014

I apologise. I have been absolutely awful with writing blogs recently. My excuse is that school has kind of taken over my life at the moment... I spent most of my holidays trying to get to grips with electrolysis and other useless things I have to know for school. To be honest, I actually enjoyed some of it! 

But anyways, instead of boring you all with lots of words I thought I'd try something new and sum up my 2013 with pictures and captions. Just warning you, my year was a busy one so there are LOTS of pics. So here goes...

An old photo used for the Olympic bid.

Myself, Fran and Shanua helping out at a BMC press event.

CWIF 2013

Enjoying the beauty of the Roaches whilst filming a piece for the BMC on the Olympics.

Bridge of Love on a school trip to Paris... my year wasn't all climbing believe it or not!

EYC Edinburgh and Work experience trip to Boston doing physio therapy with Amy.

Myself and Alex chilling in Imst before the Euro Champs.

Throwing some funky shapes on Route 1 Imst EYCH.

JBBCs Glasgow

More filming for the BBC with Rob and reporter Sara Orchard.

Winning Round 3 of the JBBCs.

Team GB after touching down in Victoria, Canada.

Had to add a cheeky selfie in here somewhere... Featuring Canadian totem pole...

Concentrating on R2 WYCH

First time EVER the WHOLE team made semis at a WYCH!!!

Semis route WYCH.

Climbing in the Finals of the WYCH! 3rd year in a row! :D

It's always great to catch up with friends from other countries. (Hannah Schubert from Austria above).

Making friends with the Austrians/Germans at the WYCH. 

Beautiful view from our hotel room in Canada.

Overall ranking of 3rd in the World/Europe

Myself and Will Bosi with our ranking medals in Norway.

Blokfest Finals.

Hanging out with future wad Rebecca Kinghorn at the BLCCs.

Senior BLCCs finals

Senior Female BLCC Podium.

Kranj Semi Fi

My first Senior World Cup in Kranj

Imaginary seat... Youth Open

Winter Youth Open Lead R2 

Winter Youth Open Podiums (left bouldering, right leading)

Don't forget to smile!

Photos by Peter and Hannah Wuensche, Sandy Carr and Mattheus Barefoot, Nick Pope, Alex Messenger, Violeta Berel, Lukas Warzecha.

Have a great 2014... its gonna be a good one!!