Saturday 5th August saw a dazzling array of climbing talent scaling the often huge and sometimes ornate and historically prestigious buildings in the 2nd Manchester Bruntwood Aerial assault.
There was a carnival atmosphere in Manchester as teams in the Aerial assault took part, firstly, in a dyno competition in Piccadilly gardens and then zip-wired across Piccadilly to begin their 2 to 3 hour race around the centre of Manchester and the redeveloped docklands area of Salford. With maps in hand, and mostly on foot but at one point on dinky chopper bikes to get to Salford and back, they navigated their way around astonished crowds to find stations where top ropes had been set up and a team of volunteers clocked them in and top-roped them up the designated route.
Some of the climbs were relatively straightforward, such as the front of the Printworks, the Royal exchange, or the circular Central Library. Others, not so well known, had been skilfully selected by route-setter Steve McClure to challenge the resolve and abilities of the very best among the assembled climbers.
And what an array of talent. Last year’s winner, Nic Sellars and Sam Whittaker made up the Hard Grit team. Red Chilli were represented by Ben Heason and Miles Gibson. The Planetfear team consisted of Shane Ohly and Simon Richardson. Neil Bentley and Roy Mosley called their team Foundry/Crag X. The awesome Brute Power team was Rich Simpson and James Pearson. The BMC team was BMC Vice-President Rab Carrington (of Rab gear fame) and Nick Colton. The British bouldering champion Audrey Seguy and, illustrator of the BMC posters such as “Check or Deck” and others, Ray Eckermann made up the Castle Climbing Centre team. Andi Turner and Neil “editor” Pearson – who, incidentally, cycled from Buxton to Manchester, did the event and then cycled back again, respect! – made up the Climb Magazine team.
So who won? In 3rd place were the Sheffield Raiders, Neil Mawson and Jon Fulwood. 2nd place went to the popular local team the Manchester Climbing Centre represented by Dave Barrans and Simon Hudson. While the overall winners, as it tuned out, were the aptly named British Champions Gaz Parry and Andy Earl.
The organisers, volunteers and all those involved are to be congratulated in putting on such an awesome, yet at the same time such an obviously fun, event in the centre of a major city on one of the busiest days for shoppers.
« Back