This year's Inter Services Climbing Competition was held at the Quay Climbing Centre in Exeter and was organised by the Royal Navy Royal Marines Mountaineering Club (RNRMMC).

The categories up for grabs were the Women's, Under 25's and the Men's. Once the qualifying climbs were squared away there were six competitors in each category remaining. The Royal Navy secured places in all categories with two climbers in the Men's. Historically strong in the Women's and Men's categories, and with talk of GB Climbing Team members in the U25's category, this appeared to be a predictable outcome.

With demanding climbs facing the competitors, one wrong move and it's all over; no second chance with gravity not missing a trick! The women climbed first with impressive performances all round but there can only be one winner, however it didn't come from this climb with both leading climbers scoring the exact same points. A Super Final would be the decider.

Next up, the U25s stormed up a difficult climb with young MA Matt Rust (43 Cdo) coming 5th.

The Women finalists then returned for the Super Final. Strong performances from both ended in a victory for Surg (D) Lt Cdr Lucy Matthews (QA Portsmouth).

Finally the Men's, climbing a line that looked barely climbable to the spectators. Cpl Andy Hunter (43 Cdo) was first up for the Royal Navy, putting everything last effort in to his ascent. But, at the 6th clip with slack rope in hand, poised to clip the carabiner took a massive fall and ended up meeting his belayer (to her surprise) just metres from the floor.

The penultimate climber of the competition, Surg Lt Steve Glennie (HMS Drake), took to the wall. Climbing strong, in his own individual style, he was quickly above his fellow competitors. True courage continued to flow until sadly he was off, but he'd done enough and the Royal Navy walked away with two of the three category trophies!

An inspirational day made possible by the sponsors (DMM, Entreprises and Charko), The Quay Climbing Centre and the competitors (and their line managers).