Sheffield-based Basque climber Eder Lomba has repeated Steve McClure's Batman (9a) at Malham Cove. This was his second 9a after a recent ascent of Rainshadow (9a), also at Malham.

Steve climbed Batman in 2013 whilst working on his main objective, which later turned out to be Rainman (9b) (9b). The route starts up Bat Route (8c) and then heads into a section of 8c+, before rejoining Bat Route on the headwall. 

Eder first tried Batman before last year's lockdown, but subsequently decided to attempt Rainshadow. His sessions throughout the year on Rainshadow were cut short by lockdown, nesting birds, and seepage. Eder told us:

'I spent a few months in Greece and when I returned we were under lockdown again, but once it was lifted I was very keen to go back to Malham and so far this season I managed to climb some of the classics such as Bat Route (8c) (8c), Cry Freedom (8c) (8b+), Raining Bats and Dogs (8c) (8c), Victor Hugo (8b) (8b), and Rainshadow (9a) (9a).'

Eder puts his fairly comprehensive ticking of Malham's hard classics down to not working full-time and this allowed him, after just ten sessions, to tick Batman. At the time of his ascent in 2013, Steve graded the route 9a/+ and saw it as a progression towards Rainman. Eder is hoping to replicate Steve's success and finish the route this year.

Watch uncut footage of Eder on Rainshadow courtesy of Marsha Balaeva/MonoCulture Films.