http://www.thebmc.co.uk/Feature.aspx?id=2076The BMC Leading Ladder is back for 2011/12! Taking part in this fun competition is an excellent way to improve your climbing and a great way to get fit - and stay fit - over the winter months.
What is it?
The BMC Leading Ladder is a fun lead climbing competition that starts 1 October 2011 and runs at 29 UK walls, with 12 rounds right through until the end of March. Each round of the BMC Leading Ladder runs for a 16 day period. That means that you can travel around the country and take part in leading competitions right throughout the winter - and all at your own pace.
Format
Three Leading Ladder rounds will be run at any one time giving plenty of opportunities to compete at different venues right throughout the winter.
Dates & Venues
here and copied on next post
Dates & venues for the 2011/2012 season here
Categories
Each round will have 10 routes ranging from F5+ to F8a, with the following three categories - A, B and C.
• Category A is for climbers who lead indoor routes in the grade range F5+ to 6b.
• Category B is for climbers who lead indoor routes in the grade range F6b+ to 7a.
• Category C is for climbers who lead indoor routes in the grade range F7b to 8a.
You choose which category you want to compete in and then your points will be entered into that category in the scoring system.
Each of the three categories will then be split into male and female, and under 16's and 16's and over. Ages will be those on 31st December 2011, and climbers must be no younger than 11 years old. If you would like to find out about other climbing competitions for young people, please click
here.
N.B. British Climbing Team members must enter Category C.
Grades
Each competition shall consist of 10 routes graded F5+, F6A, F6A+, F6b, F6b+, F6c, F7a, F7b, F7c and F8a.
How will it work?
The BMC Leading Ladder competition routes are clearly marked and anyone using the wall may climb them. But if you want to take part in the BMC Leading Ladder competition, and have your score recorded, then you need to buy a scorecard for £1 from the host venue. Don't try any of the routes before buying a scorecard - that's cheating!
Scoring
The BMC Leading Ladder is a fun competition relying on the honesty and integrity of those taking part and those belaying to ensure fair play. Climbers start at the bottom of a route and see if they can climb to the top. Clipping the lower-off from a hold on the route signifies a successful ascent. If a climber is successful, their belayer marks their scorecard. If not an X is marked on the card. Higher scores are awarded for fewer goes and, of course, a flash ascent receives the highest score.
Succeeding on a route on the first attempt (a flashed ascent, or flash for short) gains 20 points. Getting it second go gains 15 points, third go 11 points, 4th go 8 points, 5th go 6 points, 6th go 5 points, and any subsequent attempts, however many, gain one point. Competitors may attempt the routes as often as they like during the period when the competition is running at a particular venue. The maximum score possible, and therefore the perfect score, at any venue is 200 points - that's 10 climbs multiplied by 20 points.
Can I practise the moves before trying the routes?
Nope. With the maximum score for the on-sight climbers can't practice or inspect the routes first. Nor are they allowed to weight the rope, use out of bounds holds or features, use the top edge or side edges of the wall, or grab the lower-off. All quick-draws are to be clipped while climbing - the first one may be pre-clipped for safety purposes.
Belayers
Competitors choose their own belayer(s). Climbers and belayers need to be aware that they will be required to meet a wall's usual entry conditions. To find out what these are, especially if you are under 18, please contact the wall direct prior to your visit.
Results 2011/2012
At the end of each round walls return the scorecards for the round held at their venue to the BMC. The results will be published here on the BMC website.
A full set of results from last season (2010/2011) can be seen by clicking
here.
A video overview of the 2010 Leading Ladder Final can be seen below.
Full rules
A copy of the full rules is available
here.
