sawyl | End of Summer bouldering competition: Over 30s

Spent an enjoyable afternoon watching the finals of the end of summer bouldering competition at the Quay. The last four problems, set out on an area of the main wall, were mostly volumes with a handful of tiny holds. Despite only putting up one placeholder, I'm going to break things up into categories just to make things easier to find.

The first to go after the under 16s were the over 30s, all of whom were pretty amazing. This photo gives a pretty good impression of the lower sections of the first two problems, going from left to right. The first was very blocky with pentagonal volumes for the feet at the start, while the second featured a number of domed volumes which some people made short work of using something like a crack climbing technique.

First problem

The third route started was made up of teardrop volumes with what looked like a very powerful starting move up on the first grey volume and lots of balance work in the middle while the fourth was mostly a question of working the edges of some tetrahedral volumes.

The first problem

The last move of the first problem.

Dave on the first problem

I'm pretty sure this is Dave Ferguson on the lower section of the problem. Lots of pentagons for the feet, moving up into the big blocks for the finish.

Dave on the first problem

Feet out to on to the tetrahedrons for the finishing move.

Maggie on the first problem

Maggie sending the first problem.

Hannah on the first problem

Hannah Ferguson, who won the over 30s female league sessions, on the first problem.

The second problem

Here's the lower part with the dome-shaped volumes. This section was tough, especially for those without the height to bridge some of the gaps. The grey tape indicates the limits of the volume for the problem.

Second problem

The final move on the problem up to the big red jug.

Dave on the second problem

Dave Ferguson on the lower part of the second problem.

Dave on the second problem

Bridging out.

Dave on the second problem

Sticking the final hold.

Female over 30s second problem

The female competitors had to finish the second problem on the blue hold instead of the big red hold used by the men.

The third problem

Widescreen third problem

The start of the third problem. It moves up from the grey teardrop to the to ones immediately above. Although it's not entirely clear from the photo, the problem also includes the small red foothold off to the left.