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Contrary Mary* VS 4b

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[Neil Bennett reaching the crux on Contrary Mary, 3 kb]16m. Climb through a notch in the overhang then continue up the front of the buttress to a ledge. Above this the climbing is steeper, harder and bolder. © ROCKFAX
FA. late 1950s 1957

Ticklists: ROCKFAX Western Grit Grade List.

Photo: Neil Bennett reaching the crux on Contrary Mary © KevinGibbs
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PUBLIC LOGBOOKS
This climb is in 103 logbooks, and on no wishlists.

Dommydooda - 2nd O/S - 14/May/13 with Ali Corbett

Hidden - Lead O/S - 30/Apr/13

Hidden - Lead O/S - 06/Apr/13

JonnySchofield - Lead O/S - 27/Oct/12 with Hal Roberts

Hidden - TR O/S - 06/Oct/12

Hidden - 2nd - 06/Oct/12

David Kay - 2nd - 04/Sep/12 with Rachel Batt, James Hoyes

Shame it's not all like the top bit
Batt - 2nd O/S - 04/Sep/12 with David K, James Hoyes

Hoyes - Lead O/S - 04/Sep/12 with David K, Rachel B

Steve J P - 2nd - 20/May/12 with BW

Bernie Wylde - Lead - 20/May/12 with sp

Hidden - TR - 14/Apr/12

bobpilgrem - Lead O/S - 30/Mar/12 with Bob/Nic

Hidden - 2nd - 24/Mar/12

Nice overhang with bad-ass heel hook at start and bold finish :)
Ross.Cooper - Lead O/S - 15/Jan/12 with Robin Wilson

robinmuzette - 2nd - 15/Jan/12 with Ross Cooper

Hidden - 2012

Hidden - Lead O/S - 20/Nov/11

Cool overhang at the start, easy through the undergrowth and then a bold technical finish.
GC - Lead O/S - 15/Oct/11 with Peter Williams

Nigel Bond - 2nd - 24/Aug/11 with Bern Hardman

A tricky beginning wiht the overhang. then a breeze right up to the end part which was very difficult for me.
climbingsteph - 2nd dog - 31/Jul/11 with Kibblewhite

Oops. Minor whipper taken off of damp holds on the upper slab.
Different Steve - Lead dog - 16/Jul/11 with Jeremy, Eddie Webster

Hidden - Solo O/S - 12/Jul/11

jwpil - Lead O/S - 03/Jul/11 with James h

Hidden - 2nd - 29/Jun/11

peeturd - 05/Jun/11

Deano100 - 2nd - 04/Jun/11

First lead of the trip.
Bobling - Lead - 04/Jun/11 with Dean, Rob H

iwebster59017 - Lead O/S - 24/Apr/11 with kirsty Brown

Kirsty810202 - 2nd O/S - 24/Apr/11 with Ian Webster

The top section definitely makes the climb worthwhile
Marvino - Lead - 19/Apr/11

Gary A S - 2nd O/S - 17/Apr/11 with Lofty

kermit_uk - Lead O/S - 17/Apr/11

Hidden - Lead dnf - 16/Apr/11

Hidden - Lead RP - Mar/11

SteWatkins - Mar/11

Hidden - 2011

John Mckeating - 2011

jamests99 - 2011 with Jase

heathery at the bottom, commiting top out
ragabond007 - Lead - 2011

Hidden - Lead - 2011

matthias13 - 2nd - 09/Oct/10 with JamesA

Hidden - Lead dog - 09/Oct/10

thebullmaster - Lead O/S - 24/Sep/10 with Hayley

sharon lannie - 2nd - 12/Sep/10

Kev lead followed by Mark then me, nice delicate moves over the head wall.
Peeley.b - 2nd O/S - 05/Sep/10 with Kev Gibbs, Mark Readman

krikoman - 2nd - 05/Sep/10 with 1_Neily Peeley, Kev Gibbs

Hidden - Lead O/S - 16/Aug/10

dja - 2nd O/S - 16/Aug/10 with Andy Smith

Spidermunkie - 2nd O/S - 12/Jun/10

Bernie Wylde - 23/May/10

Shad - Lead - 23/May/10

Jon Dittman - 2nd - 23/May/10

dishevelled - 2nd O/S - May/10

cooper leek - 2nd O/S - 10/Oct/09 with dennis, crucko

Andy Clarke - Lead O/S - 18/Sep/09 with Ralph

Hidden - Lead O/S - 06/Sep/09

Hidden - 2nd O/S - 06/Sep/09

Russell Lovett - 2nd O/S - 23/Aug/09 with alan taylor

Heisenberg - 2nd - 12/Apr/09 with martin bennett

Peter Drake - Lead O/S - 14/Mar/09 with Ewan Russel

Ewan Russell - 2nd O/S - 14/Mar/09 with Peter Drake

Did not complete the crux due to position of pulley. I think probably 4a moves on the top slab as crux was last move
nathanroberts89 - TR - Feb/09

Danhan - 2009

Col Kingshott - Lead - 2009

Hidden - 2009

good moves at the top, poor gear, but apparently i missed a good cam placement, which would have protected the crux
Pilch - Lead - 11/Oct/08 with Graham

James's Lead
DanT - 2nd O/S - 26/Apr/08 with Helen Lambert, James Moore

daveagriff - Lead - 2008

EAYL - Lead - 26/Sep/07 with LMB

gravity - TR - 08/Sep/07 with Caroline

mic_b - Lead O/S - 14/Jul/07 with Fruitcake 72

davek - Lead O/S - 02/May/07 with Larson

No way is that final slab 4b! More like 5a & no gear
KeithW - 2nd O/S - 24/Jun/06 with Corky

Dodged the top slab by moving round to left arete then back right
Marvino - Lead dnf - 25/Apr/06 with Darren

John Lisle - 2006

wadey1973 - Lead - 09/Oct/05 with Gordon Hutchinson

Chesh - Lead - Jun/04 with Phil B

donkster - Lead O/S - 2004 with trigg

Toreador - Lead O/S - 18/Oct/03 with Carmen

Alaric - Lead O/S - 05/Apr/03 with Neil, Karen B, Bruce M

Hidden - Lead - 2003

mark s - Solo - 2003

D Berry - Lead rpt - 21/Jul/02 with Claire Berry

platt2000 - 2002

Hedley - 2nd O/S - 26/Aug/01 with Steve Runnacles

rocktigger - Lead O/S - 2001 with Jon n Clare

D Berry - Lead O/S - 27/Aug/00 with Claire Berry

tlr - 2nd - 2000

Started as a solo, but the top section seems much harder than 4b, and so I tied in, just to be on the safe side :-)
Nick Smith - UKC - 2nd - Aug/98

Hidden - TR - 1998

Hidden - Lead O/S - 1997

brady - Lead - 1996 with John Cameron

worth a star at least
Scott McRae - Lead β - 15/May/93 with Steve Jones

Delicate and exciting finish indeed!
Scott McRae - Lead O/S - Jun/92 with Steve Jones

Hidden - Lead - 15/Sep/90

Roget - Solo O/S - 07/Aug/90

andrew300169 - 1990

Iain Thow - Lead - 14/Oct/87 with Simon Lee

tapley - Solo - 18/Sep/87

RichardMc - 2nd - 05/Sep/76 with Tony Williams

Rog Wilko - Lead - May/71 with Debbie Wilkinson

oldmanofmow - 1956

Voting
Total votes cast 32
hard HVS0 of 11
HVS0 of 11
easy HVS0 of 11
hard VS0 of 11
VS11 of 11
easy VS0 of 11
hard HS0 of 11
HS0 of 11
easy HS0 of 11
hard 4c0 of 11
4c0 of 11
easy 4c0 of 11
hard 4b3 of 11
4b8 of 11
easy 4b0 of 11
hard 4a0 of 11
4a0 of 11
easy 4a0 of 11
3 Stars0 of 10
2 Stars1 of 10
1 Star8 of 10
0 Stars1 of 10
Bag of .....0 of 10
Please Login as Existing User to rate this climb.
Style of ascent

Soloed4 of 103 (3.9%)
Lead49 of 103 (47.6%)
Followed32 of 103 (31.1%)
Toproped5 of 103 (4.9%)
Unknown13 of 103 (12.6%)

'Climbed'52 of 103 (50.5%)
clean O/S43 of 103 (41.7%)
clean β1 of 103 (1.0%)
clean rpt1 of 103 (1.0%)
clean RP1 of 103 (1.0%)
dogged3 of 103 (2.9%)
dnf2 of 103 (1.9%)