Nick Colton reports back on this year’s BMC Youth Climbing Series.

For a great many young climbers the highlight of their year is the annual BMC Regional Youth Climbing Series (BRYCS). Organised by the BMC, sponsored once again by Perkins Slade this was another friendly, successful, and above all fun season.

And fun has to be the key word, since the youngest competitors are aged just 7-9, they won’t tolerate anything else. There are six categories in all, with the other age groups being 10-12 and 13-15, and each one split into boys and girls.

BRYCS starts with three rounds held in ten regional areas throughout mainland Britain and culminates in a National Final where the top three from each area in each category compete against their peers from all the other areas. The maths are simple, if daunting: ten areas multiplied by six categories multiplied by three gives a potential for 180 finalists. That’s one huge event and it just wouldn’t be possible without the unstinting support and goodwill of a vast number of people and organisations along the way; the climbing walls and their staff; the massive number of volunteers from the Area Youth Coordinators to all those who belay, judge, chaperone, record results, run endless errands at short notice, and so on; and last, but by no means least, the parents who willingly transport their children around the country. A big thank you to anyone who was involved this year.

This year’s final was held at Awesome Walls in Liverpool on 1st July. The place was packed with competitors and supporters such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and the like, who spilled out into the sunshine to eat their sandwiches and relax while the competition continued unabated and frenetically inside for much of the day. This year an added complication was England’s world cup quarterfinal against Portugal on the same day - by popular demand a screen was rigged up to the side of the main events.

When all the results were in, prizes, including a team trophy, were presented by Jemma Powell and Martin Watson. Jemma and Martin are both excellent young role models being both great climbers and junior members of the British Climbing Team. It rounded off a fabulous day and then, surprise, surprise, everyone started talking about their BRYCS preparations for next year. Yep, it really is that good.

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