[Percy B]

OK, its reached the stage where its time to ask the experts.... I'm in the midst of researching an article about who are currently the UK's strongest climbers. I need to compile a list of strong people, and I'm going mad trying to pull names from my useles memory. List criteria are below.

"To be counted as one of the UK’s strongest climbers you need to have ticked at least one, more or all of the following criteria:

A   Climbed Font 8b+ (there is no point in including route climbing in here as moves on routes are never as hard as those on boulder problems.)

B   Climbed Font 8b at home, in Font and at least one other country abroad "

So far in list A I have Malc, Johnny G, Tyler, Earl, Micky Page and possibly Liam Desroy

In list B I have no-one yet, as thats when I started to go mad. Seeing as I know how some of you love a list, I would appreciate any light anybody can throw on more names for either list. Please note that when you add a name I could do with some big numbers to back up the claim - a few swiss problems that have dodgy grades might not qualify you, although obviously confirmed Swiss dirt (Dreamtime, La Proue, Mithril, etc, etc all count cos the grades are right!)

[cofe]

So Tyler isn't in List B?

[TobyD]

Gaskins?

[Jaspersharpe]

Mike Adams should be in list A? Oh and Dan?

[Andy F]

Ste Dunning and Blackpool Sam on list A

[Plattsy]

Pearson. Is in one or both lists no?

[nodder]

Pretty sure leroy did 2 that were graded 8b+ in SA.  Names elude me possiblly Madiba?  Keith has font Gourmandise and swizz General Dissary, what about UK?

Assume the long problems in the cave count as routes? 

Hmmm good game

[Percy B]

If you're in List A, you're probably in list B anyway, but if you get into either then its all good.

Mike Adams - Tick (Brad Pitt sitter)
Ste Dunning - Which 8b+? Names please! Or should he be on list B?
Blackpool Sam - Real name (!) and numbers please
Keith - not climbed 8b in the UK? Or has he?
James P - probably gets on a list, but for what problems? Has he climbed 8b in the UK?

Nodder - assuming that long things in the cave don't count is quite right.

[cofe]

Keen Roof is 8b, no? Unless you're massive.

[nodder]

Dunning Dreamtime
Keen Roof 8b
Sam Edwards isnt it?

[benpritch]

neil dyer and pete robbins - silk cut 8b+ (parisella's)

[nodder]

neil dyer and pete robbins - silk cut 8b+ (parisella's)

Nodder - assuming that long things in the cave don't count is quite right.

[Plattsy]

Quick Google of Mr Pearson suggests the following big numbers.
Wrestling with an Alligator 8B Maltatal, AT
Keen Roof (Font 8B) at Raven Tor.
The Ganymede Takeover V13 and The Great Shark Hunt V13
Vecchio Leone V13/14

[John Gillott]

Ben Moon, Voyager SS 8b+?

[Jaspersharpe]

Dan's thing Serendipity was reckoned to be 8B+ by Mike Adams.

[nodder]

Quick Google of Mr Pearson suggests the following big numbers.
Wrestling with an Alligator 8B Maltatal, AT
Keen Roof (Font 8B) at Raven Tor.
The Ganymede Takeover V13 and The Great Shark Hunt V13
Vecchio Leone V13/14

None of which are in Font or 8b+

Percy I don't reckon you had gone mad it is just a tiny list.  Can't think of any B apart from
Tyler (Take your Pick),
Mickey (Louis Armstrong 8b uk Dagger 8b+ Swizz Kehops 8b+ Font)
Maybe Moon (Uk Hi Fidelity,ace, Voyager, Black Lung 8b Usa, Hip hop Assis Font 8b) Not sure about hip hop think i remember reading that. 
What about Ryan Pasquil (spectre usa 8b, Ace Uk 8b, needs a font one)

[iain]

Tim Clifford
Matt Birch
I've certainly read about them doing stuff abroad, not sure about in the uk.

Wasn't there a thread on here a while back with lots of font numbers for people?

and since posting is going so slowly this morning I had time to find it:
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=9659.185;wap2

[iain]

The non-wap version:
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=9659.185

maybe useful

[chris_j_s]

Stew Watson should be on list A . I think Memento has settled at 8B+ hasn't it?

[benpritch]

neil dyer and pete robbins - silk cut 8b+ (parisella's)

i'll get my coat

[uptown]

neil dyer and pete robbins - silk cut 8b+ (parisella's)

i'll get my coat

I must be wearing the same jacket as you Ben.

[Nigel]

8B+
Malc
Earl
God (skins)
Tyler
Mickey Page
Liam Desroy
Pete Robins
Neil Dyer
Sam Davenhall (Kaizen)
Dan Varian (Serendipity is 8b+ according to Mick Adams, so therefore...)
Mick Adams
Steve Dunning
Ben Moon (Voyager Sit Start)
Tim Clifford (Singularity)
Matt Birch (The Swarm)
Stew Watson (Memento)
Tom Peckitt (Bulbhaul)

No others leap to mind, but that depends what you give stuff like Close of Business (MacClure, Bransby) or Staminaband/PUTP (Smitton, Simpson).

8B in UK, Font, Elsewhere
Moon - Ace, Hip Hop Assis, Black Lung
Gaskins - pretty sure he did Enigma before break, may have done Fatman & Pierre Philosophale too? Gossip
Clifford - Cherry Falls, Hip Hop Assis, Singularity
Tyler - loads
Mickey Page - see Nodder's post

Again no others spring to mind but you never know what people have done do you? Katz could be a possible if he has done 8b in Font? There's probably quite a few folk with, as in Nodder's Pasquill example, 2 out of 3, which as we know "ain't bad"! Keith is one (needs UK 8b), Danny Cattell another (Fata Morgana Bas in Font, Louis Armstrong in UK, think he only needs Swiss 8b?!), James (needs Font 8b), Chris Davies and Nodder himself (need Font 8b). Prob several others too, including likely faces such as Malc, Jerry, etc...

[nodder]

No others leap to mind, but that depends what you give stuff like Close of Business (MacClure, Bransby) or Staminaband/PUTP (Smitton, Simpson).

If the cave doesnt count then surely neither does Staminaband/PUTP but at the end of the day dreamtime must be 20 odd moves how long is Close of business?  Gotta love the lines in the sand being drawn here.

Pretty sure Katz best efforts in Font are 8a+.   

[Nigel]

I don't have an issue with including the Cave stuff, my query over Stam/PUTP & Close of Business was whether they actually get 8b+ or 8b these days! I don't see any value in rehashing the boulder problem/route debate, its silly. No doubt we agree there.

Poor old Katz.

[shurt]

is this guy sam edwards from the uk?

didn't he do the island in font? this is according to neil h...