In reply to UKC News: I'm confused:
In the news article the following statement made:
The only international comp standard wall in the UK is Ratho, near Edinburgh.
A quick look at the IFSC 2010 rule book reveals the following:
Page 15 4.1.2
"Lead competitions shall take place on purpose-designed, artificial climbing walls having a minimum height of 12 metres, which shall permit routes to be constructed with a minimum length of 15 metres and a minimum width of 3 metres for each route".
There are numerous walls in N England that meet these requirements therefore making the statement above apparently false.
In the article the question is posed:
Is it time for a competition training wall in Northern England?
I appreciate that the walls typically used in competitions will be steeper and longer than the IFSC minimum requirements but surely the likes of Sunderland and Leeds are suitable for training assuming routes of a sufficiently high standard are set?
Or is the main overhang at Leeds just not steep enough? The barrel at Sunderland just not long enough?
The comments above about these venues being unsuitable for hosting comps are irrelevant as the article is making the case for a training facility.
Mark