Last week saw a record number of young climbers from around the world take part in the IFSC World Youth Championships in Arco, Italy. For the first time ever, bouldering was included as a third discipline alongside Lead and Speed. 29 British juniors were competing, with Tara Hayes becoming the highest placed Brit with a 10th position in the boulder event. Alex Waterhouse competed across all three disciplines to achieve a very commendable 6th place in the overall rankings.
© Nick Pope
William Bosi was the highest placed of the Lead team with a 13th place, and older brother Alex took 24th in the Speed event.
In a highly competitive field, some of the world's best sport climbers and a few young climbers already making a name for themselves in the senior circuit took away Gold medals. Renowned for her hard sport ascents up to 9a, 14 year-old Ashima Shiraishi of the USA took double Gold in both the Lead and Boulder Youth B female events.
© Nick Pope
Having recently transitioned to a couple of senior circuit lead events and winning two Silver medals, Slovenia's 16 year-old Janja Garnbret was one to watch - also doing the double and winning both the Lead and Boulder competition in the female Youth A category.
Korea's Chon Jongwon - fresh from his win of the senior IFSC Boulder World Cup - took Gold in the Male Juniors event, after an exciting battle with Nathaniel Coleman of the USA, another young climber who made the podium on the senior IFSC Boulder circuit this season.
© Nick Pope
GB Lead Team Results:
Male Junior - Alex Waterhouse 20th, Connor Bryne 28th
Female Junior - Molly Thompson Smith 19th
Male Youth A - William Bosi 13th, Jim Pope 15th, Angus Davidson 37th, Peter Dawson 44th
Female Youth A - Rebecca Kinghorn 24th, Hannah Slaney 31st
Male Youth B - Kieran Forrest 41st, Alex Norton 47th, Sam Oakes 50th
Female Youth B - Kitty Morrison 29th, Issy Adams 38th, Pippa Watkin 52nd
GB Speed Team Results:
Male Junior - Alexander Bosi 24th, Alex Waterhouse 30th
© Nick Pope
GB Bouldering Team Results:
Male Junior - Hamish Pokotar 20th, Billy Ridal 27th, Alex Waterhouse 33rd
Female Junior - Tara Hayes 10th, Molly Thompson Smith 34th
Male Youth A - Aidan Roberts 13th, Luke Murphy 50th, Ed Mabon 69th
Female Youth A - Hannah Slaney 29th, Silvia Barrett 35th, Alexia Basch 41st
Male Youth B - Nathan Whaley 25th, Max Milne 26th, Jack Ramsden 47th
Female Youth B - Eugenie Lee 20th
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