[Nibile]

at kalimnos, on "rock and blues", bolted and freed by dede dulac in 2004.
i think it's fun to mention that he set off with also a spare biner to be left in case he couldn't get to the chain...
he's 51 by the way.

[mrjonathanr]

He's been at or near the top level since the 80s though hasn't he? Impressive climber.

[Kingy]

Yes he used to climb a bit with Ron Fawcett in the early 80's - I saw a picture of Big Ron climbing in Italy with Manolo in an old mag. Ron was wearing his trademark knee high woolly hiking socks and using 2 crabs clipped together as quickdraws!

[Monolith]

When I was knee high to a grass hopper, I wrote a letter to Outside in Hathersage asking if they might be able to donate some climbing posters to me. Some kind soul sent a huge package of them and I remember one of them was a Camp poster with all of their sponsored climbers on including Manolo who has to have the most ripped back of all time. Complete bestia.

[Percy B]

He is a wad. Forgive the namedropping but I climbed with him a bit a few years back whilst I was setting problems for the world cup bouldering comp in Fiera di Primiera. I was testing and tweaking my problems with my sidekick (Alberto 'the doctor' Gnerro - muskateer lookalike and ladeez man) when Manolo popped up and asked if he could have a go on the problems with me. Obviously I let him have a bit of a do - he was shite......

However, he was climbing barefoot due to the fact that he had just mountain-biked down from his little house which was a very long way up a very big mountain in the Dolomites, and hadn't thought to bring his climbing boots! Even though he isn't much of a bouldering specialist, but he still dispatched most of the womens boulders without too much trouble. I ain't seen many hotshots piss up a comp style 7b+ barefoot without chalk in the blazing sun (Bransby being the exception the proves a number of different rules). A nice friendly chap, and old enough to be me dad. After a bit he said thanks then cycled back up his mountain. Nutter!

[Nibile]

he is a wad indeed. many years ago he came to siena, my hometown, guest of the local alpine club. they had prepared a special boar based dinner, a siena delicatessen, obviously not knowing that he was a veggie. the following day he went to the local crag and unsuccessfully tried to repeat one of my routes.
and that's entertainment folks!

[St Hubbins]

Manolo??? I know that name from somewhere....
Is he related to Barry?


"8b+ baby because i love you so...."