In reply to BolderLicious:
How do we feel about Dave Birkett being in this list? I grew up in the lakes, and was starting out in the early 90's when there were local names that were doing high numbers on the high mountain crags, and getting not much credit, nor seeking it. Dave Birkett, John Burrell, Stu Wood, Paul Cornforth et al....
To my knowledge, Dave has never taken full sponsorship, has always had full time employment, yet manages to turn out climbs that are of quality (From being an observer, not trying them, obviously!)each and every time.
Combine this with the fact he has done quality boulder problems, sport routes and even winter climbs that are some of the hardest in the UK
Surely Dave has to be up there for inspirational, a regular guy who loves the Mountains, who climbs for the sake of it, not the Sponsorship....