The 2017 British Bouldering Championships took place at Devonshire Green, Sheffield last weekend. A huge crowd gathered to watch the UK's top bouldering stars, as well as a healthy number of online viewers via the livestream. Leah Crane and Tyler Landman became the new 2017 champions, taking over the reign of 2016 winners Shauna Coxsey and Matt Cousins.
Despite Shauna, Michaela Tracy and Tara Hayes being absent from the women's line-up due to injury, a close competition was fought between seasoned competition boulderer Leah Crane and 17 year old Hannah Slaney. Hannah qualified in first place for the semi-finals, but it was Charlotte Garden who stunned in the semis by jumping from 20th to 1st place heading into finals, after having taken some time off from competitions and travelling throughout the last couple of years.
19 year-old Molly Thompson-Smith - fresh from a 14th place in the European Lead Championships in Italy - also looked on good form after taking a year out to travel. The final saw Leah narrowly beat Hannah to first place by flashing the last problem and winning on fewer attempts. Molly took 3rd place after struggling to figure out problem 2, but easily topping the other climbs. Impressive performances from 15 year-olds Holly Toothill and Kitty Morrison showed promise for the future. This was Leah's third BBC title after winning in 2009 and 2010, before Shauna's winning streak (and Michaela's win in 2014).
Tyyyyyyllllller LANDMAN #BBCs2017 #berghausreplay pic.twitter.com/xO6HDmNHWa
— BMC Comps (@BMC_Comps) July 9, 2017
In the men's competition, reigning champion Matt Cousins had a tough field to fend off. Former BBC champion Dave Barrans qualified in first place for the final ahead of Matt and Nathan Phillips. The final left all to play for, however, with 19 year old Slovenian Anže Peharc, 18 year old Jim Pope and former BBC champion Tyler Landman also in the mix, who had flown over from New York for the event.
A range of problems - from a grovelly groove to a symmetrical volume problem with 3 possible methods - split the field well, with Tyler winning on six attempts fewer than Anže. Nathan Phillips took 3rd place ahead of Matt, topping three out of four problems. Hot conditions rendered volumes and slopers particularly greasy, with temperatures well into the 20s.
Try hard faces are coming out @jimpopeonarope #berghausreplay pic.twitter.com/8Le0wMY33H
— BMC Comps (@BMC_Comps) July 9, 2017
Women's three getting crushed by @leahclimb #berghausreplay pic.twitter.com/YU4KAadn0G
— BMC Comps (@BMC_Comps) July 9, 2017
Results
Men
1. Tyler Landman
2. Anže Peharc
3. Nathan Phillips
4. Matt Cousins
5. Dave Barrans
6. Jim Pope
Women
1. Leah Crane
2. Hannah Slaney
3. Molly Thompson-Smith
4. Holly Toothill
5. Charlotte Garden
6. Kitty Morrison
Watch the replays below:
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