UKC

Beastmaker International Footless Festival: 2016 Report

© Rob Greenwood

Last year we totally surprised ourselves - we ran a footless comp and somehow it worked. It actually worked so well that we felt like we had to run another one this year. The Climbing Works were keen to host it and a whole load of amazing hold companies got on board to provide a great mix of interesting and unique holds. After a bit of planning, carving wooden holds, building bizarre obstacles, setting bizzare boulder problems and generally messing about we were ready to go.

The huge field attracted huge crowds, with all the proceeds going towards CAC  © Rob Greenwood
The huge field attracted huge crowds, with all the proceeds going towards CAC
© Rob Greenwood

75 'climbers' and about 300 spectators piled into The Works to pull, push, dangle, drink and heckle. The atmosphere was great, and gave us faith that the climbing world definitely still has a sense of humour.

photo
Fridge Challenge: does what it says on the tin
© Rob Greenwood

After two and a half hours of footless antics covering the whole spectrum of climbing manoeuvres (from dragging yourself up a slab to leaping wildly between jugs) and forearm wrecking dead hangs, the climbers were done. We set the comp a little harder this year and were amazed just how strong everybody is!

DJ Gus Hudgins de-lousing The Climbing Works’ very own gorilla - Sam Whittaker  © Rob Greenwood
DJ Gus Hudgins de-lousing The Climbing Works’ very own gorilla - Sam Whittaker
© Rob Greenwood

However, we weren't done yet! Just to make sure tendonitis was fully set in, it was time for the pièce de resistance. The cherry on the cake. The evening's climax. It was time for the Spitroast Deadhang Final. This head-to-head-dead-hang challenge was a little safer than last year's Deadhang Death Match, and a little more refined, but equally as hilarious. Especially when the baying mob of spectators were armed with stress-ball-projectiles and invited to launch them at the precariously pendulous competitors.

Physiotherapist, chiropractors and osteopaths will be kept in business for some time as a result of the BIFF  © Rob Greenwood
Physiotherapist, chiropractors and osteopaths will be kept in business for some time as a result of the BIFF
© Rob Greenwood

After the pandemonium subsided we were left with our winners. Molly Thompson-Smith took the women's title, while Jim Pope took the men's. It's great to see the youth looking so strong and come to think of it, everybody else.

However, in addition to the overall winners, a huge pat on the back goes to:

Pete Whittaker and Tom Randal - the minions. Totally amazing to see how strong they were while dressed in 8ft balloons

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The moment it all got a bit silly...
© Rob Greenwood

Janja Garnbret for the strongest display of crimp strength you could ever see

Matt Cousins for his exemplary deadhanging skills

Louis Parkinson for smashing the hardest boulder problem in fine style

Emma Flaherty/Banks for gaining the most bonus point stickers with her incessant sweet-talking of the judges.

Emma Flaherty and Jo Allen, preparing for the final...  © Rob Greenwood
Emma Flaherty and Jo Allen, preparing for the final...
© Rob Greenwood

Finally a massive thanks has to go to all those who helped and supported us with setting up, running and dealing with the aftermath of the event. Especially the companies who provided us with all of the excellent holds: Atomik, Core, Enigma Volumes, Flathold, Teknik, Wataaah and 360 holds.

Also those who helped out with goodies for the crowd/donations to CAC: Red Bull, 5.10, Organic, Friction Labs and Wild Country.

And the Climbing Works for being so supportive of our whimsical plans for elbow annihilation...

The whole point of the event was to raise money for Climbers Against Cancer. This side of things was a huge success, we raised nearly £2000! Thanks everyone for helping.

Keep your eyes peeled for a video of the comp. See you all next year!

Results

The top 8 from the qualifiers went through to the Spitroast Deadhang Final. This was a knock out comp, with a head to head dangle off to decide the winners. The results of the final are as follows:

Women

1st Molly Thompson-Smith

2nd Janja Garnbret

3rd Jen Wood

Men

1st Jim Pope

2nd Nathan Phillips

3rd Matt Cousins

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10 Feb, 2016
Any video this year?
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