In reply to UKC News:
An impressive achievement on several counts. The fact that it was by a climber who wasn't even born at the time of the first ascent, yet is only the ninth, also speaks to how impressive that first ascent was.
On a side note, I would be interested to know if there have been any repeats of West Indian Face. I have a slight personal interest in that my rope was used on the first ascent of this route, towed up by Mr Dawes while I watched admiringly from below (Johnny was rumoured to own only a large bunch of RPs, borrowing the rest of his gear from belay bunnies, partners and, in my case, complete bystanders). His ascent particularly impressed me because it seemed to be made very much on the spur of the moment, after he had made an abseil inspection of the cleaning (and painting) work carried out by John Redhead, yet he climbed it without hesitation and with perfect calm (apart from the odd imprecation directed at the aforesaid painter).
