In reply to snoop6060:
> I know he is world class, I know he isnt a cheat, its just that should have been mentioned.
>Grabbing a twig, tree, branch, whatever is fairly none standard and should really be mentioned when sort of claiming a world class onsight.
>Im sorry if this offends everyone, but that does sound a little bit like cheating.
You are incorrect, in a number of matters, in both of these statements.
To the best of my knowledge, Steve has not claimed ("sort of" or otherwise) a world class onsight, merely responded to a question about his holiday.
Secondly, and more importantly, where is it written that one cannot use any form of vegetation whilst climbing? It's all legitimate on a VS, branches are intrinsic to the climbing on many routes, and I've desperately grabbed all the grass I can fit in my hands when topping out at Swanage.
And lastly, how can it be cheating, to just go out climbing with your mates whilst on holiday, which is, in essence, all Steve has done. Now I don't think you intended to accuse him of being a bad person, but given the anonymity of the internet, I suggest you should phrase things with a bit more care (your last statement could easily be interpreted as pretty vindictive). I'm pretty sure I didn't report to my friends that when I did Dream of White Horses I went slightly above the usual traverse line, by mistake. Does that mean I mislead them and cheated? Obviously not. Similarly, if Steve (quite fairly) assumed that the branch was in, then why on Earth would he think to 'report' it?
PS. Please don't tell me that all my ascents at Swanage are invalid due to grass pulling, or that I'm a cheat for not having previously declared my grass-pulling activities. I'd be crushed.