UKC

Franco Cookson has re-climbed Black Knight at the popular Sphinx buttress at Wainstones, North Yorkshire - the first ascent since the removal of the pegs, weighing in at E7 6c. The hairline crack was originally climbed as an artificial aid route in the 1960s and was free climbed in 1986 by Steve Brown at E5 6c. Following his ascent, all pegs were removed and the line became a more serious prospect.

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In reply to UKC News:

Yikes...

In reply to UKC News:

Cracking effort Franco, especially for hanging in there after you took a couple of goes getting the right foot up. Impressive work!

In reply to UKC News:

Lovely bit of rock, fond memories.

Who removed the peg?

In reply to UKC News:

When the belayer is stood there top off you know it's not grit connies!

Where about's was the old peg?

In reply to UKC News:

Nice one Franco, nice wee vid (and climb

In reply to UKC News:

Good effort, but where's the Ron Hills?

In reply to UKC News:

The noise after the rock over pretty much sums up how sketchy it was!

In reply to UKC News:

Is it Knight or Night (down as the latter in the logbooks)? 'Black Night' would seem to well describe the likely consequence of a fall...

In reply to Michael Gordon:

Believe it was Black Knight - i'd assume the Deep Purple track?
Great route. Ignored for years.

In reply to Dave Warburton:

But the Deep Purple track is definitely 'Black Night'!

In reply to Michael Gordon:

It's always been Black Knight in the guides. Which of course doesn't preclude a long-standing typo carried over from one edition to the next.

In reply to Michael Gordon:

Ha. Oops, think I confused myself with Neon Knights

In reply to Dave Warburton:

and well done on your second ascent

In reply to Simon Caldwell:


OK thanks

In reply to fire_munki:


I like his honesty about the wisdom of the ascent.