If you're looking for a way of keeping fit and improving your grade over the winter months, but don't fancy elitist bouldering competitions, what options are open to you?

The BMC leading ladder is an excellent option, based on an inclusive model that allows participants of all abilities to get the most out of the same competition. Harrogate Climbing Centre will host a round of the BMC Ladder in January of 2011, but for all you boulderers out there, they have formulated a winter bouldering league based on the same inclusive principles.

Starting in October, the HCC winter bouldering league will challenge participants with 45 problems per month set by leading British competition climber, Dave Barrans. On the first Friday of each month, a new set of problems will be opened to the public for a whole month. Entry to the league is free and score sheets can be obtained from reception staff at the centre. The league is based on an honesty-marking system, with points being scored depending on the number of attempts taken to complete each problem, just get a fellow climber to sign-off each successful ascent.

Each round of the winter bouldering league will be made up of forty-five problems, with grades spread between VB and world-cup standard. The £2000 prize fund will not only be used to reward the winners of each category (male and female, both adult and under 16 categories) but to mark the best improvement throughout the event as well as many spot prizes for exceptional rounds, on-sights, stylish ascents etc! There will be round every month from October until the end of March 2011.

For more information on the HCC winter bouldering league, visit the Harrogate Climbing Centre website.