UKC

On Saturday 7th March The Climbing Works welcomed 350 competitors from all over the UK, Europe and the World as they came to compete at The Climbing Works International Festival. This much-anticipated event drew a mixture of competitors - from seasoned world-class boulderers to relative newcomers to the sport. Shauna Coxsey held onto her CWIF crown for her 4th year in a row and Germany's Alex Megos took the men's title after a clean sweep in the finals.

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=69568

In reply to UKC News:

Thanks to the Climbing Works for hosting this great event once again! Ace weekend!

In reply to UKC News:

A great comp again this year. Percy's comment about the slab in the final was something like you don't need to be the strongest climber but the best climber to do this problem. Shortly after Megos flashed it and this was the problem that really sorted the outcome for the whole event. Dave Barrans was the only other competitor to even get up it and thus came second.

The women's was a bit disappointing because there were no other absolute top women boulderers. Shauna was the obvious favourite and cruised the problems making most of them look like warm ups: she was clearly in a different league to the other competitors. If there'd just been one other of the regular World Cup finalists it would have made the outcome less predictable.

The video commentary is not particularly great. For knowledgeable climbers (ie. most of the audience) it comes across as predictable, even clichéd and he doesn't say much you don't already know. I'm sure its a really hard job to do for a sport you know little about. However Daniel Finn did a fine job, by far the best commentator I've heard for climbing comps. He seemed to have a good knowledge of climbing and the competitors and a genuine passion for the sport. Too bad the IFSC let him go.