[Percy B]

Finally its happened again! A Brit has won a round of a World Cup competition on home turf. Not since Jerry Moffatt (42  :shock:  on Friday - Happy Birthday Jerry!) won at Leeds in 1989 has a Brit stood on the top step of a winners podium on home soil, but Mark Croxall did the deed this weekend in front of a massive crowd at the NEC in one of the most exciting finals I can remember! I know a lot of you guys rant on about how plastic isn't real climbing, and you're right in a funny sorta way, but fuck me, the Croxall climbed like he was on fire. Rarely have I seen somebody so determined dispatch like Mark did today! And he kicked a load of waddage into touch too - Christian Core (World Champion), Dani Du Lac (European Champion and World Cup Champion), Jerome Meyer, etc, etc........

HOORAY FOR THE CROXALL!

[squeek]

Good effort that man.

[Sloper]

but what's he ever done on shale?

[r-man]

Well done that man. What a fantastic competition. Brilliant entertainment and some truly awe-inspiring climbing. Top moments:

1. Mark Croxall's cross-through on a mono, to a crowd-facing Mission impossible style finish

2. Daniel Dulac improvising something funky to make the upside down move into the overhanging offwidth look stylish.

3.Gaz Parry flashing the same problem with proper effort.

Pretty exciting as well to see people fight the clock and the pump to battle to the top just before their time ran out. Great format for a comp I thought. And all credit to the route-setters for some really imaginative routes.

 :

I reckon the footage of this would make a great little movie. I did see people filiming it. Anyone know if that was just for the big screen at the comp, or will it be appearing somewhere else?

[Pantontino]

Generally I can't stand comps, and even I got excited. Fair play to Mark Croxall, an amazing climbing performance.

Following on from the Welsh rugby win, not a bad weekend at all (apart from the fact I was stuck in side the NEC for 4 days whilst you lot were no doubt out enjoying the first days of summer).

Graham Lynch (he of BMC Access and Conservation notoriety) was shooting a film of the comp, including all the behind the scenes set up and preparation. I'm sure it will emerge soon as an edited film.

[Petey]

Great Effort on the Croxall - it must have been the spot on midlands today on TV last wednesday that did it!!  :D