[BenF]

"Sam from Blackpool" who's "getting close to Kaizen" I read somewhere...

 
Fantastic, that description pretty much epitomises the idea of "not famous".  I mean we don't even know his name he's that famous.

[Jim]

I nominate UKB's very own strong girl for having the whole of the peak wired.

[dave]

Jim (or is it Dave?) its supposed to be "Great but not famous", not "Famous but not great". 

[BenF]

If we're not just talking about bouldering, how about Mike Owen?  Ex strongest man in St Helens and now resident in some huge overhanging cave in the South of France.  Bit of a Malham legend in the late eighties and early nineties.

[andy_e]

Mike Owen

And good at football too...

[Serpico]

Mike Owen

And good at football too...

[andy_e]

 

[Norton Sharley]

There I was the other day thinking of great but not famous climbers who I've known over the years and into my head popped the name of Trevor Suddaby.  And what do you know, he goes and posts on ukb!  Remarkable.

I have to say I thought of a lot of other people before I got to Trev like 

[fatdoc]

Al Murray

[BenF]

Great photo Serpico.  That looks like the late lamented Merlin in the background?  Oh yeah and Elaine's legs?

[Pantontino]

Geoff Hibbert is no slouch.

And finally a mate of mine...

Martin Dale -  a legend from Fleetwood.

Geoff is hilarious, so psyched and so noisy/expressive on the lead. He really fucking goes for it!

Martin is a star - taught me a lot when I was a youth. Great record collection too.

Did anybody mention Andy Mitchell - a real route chomping machine.

And how about Danny Cattell - although I suspect he is just about to become very famous.

[clm]

i had heard rumours of your blackpool connection.

[Pantontino]

I lived there for a couple of years in the mid 80s. Spent a lot of time climbing in the Lancashire quarries and up in the Lakes.

[Serpico]

Great photo Serpico.  That looks like the late lamented Merlin in the background?  Oh yeah and Elaine's legs?

The photo is lifted from nice-climb.com so I'm not sure how old it is. It could be the new-ish dog Scamp.

[BenF]

The photo is lifted from nice-climb.com so I'm not sure how old it is. It could be the new-ish dog Scamp.

Yeah, could be.  The head of Mike looks a little older and wiser than when Merlin was around.

[Andy F]

If we're not just talking about bouldering, how about Mike Owen?  Ex strongest man in St Helens and now resident in some huge overhanging cave in the South of France.  Bit of a Malham legend in the late eighties and early nineties.

Good call Ben, there can't be many 50 year old Brits climbing 8b+. Mike has been cranking it out for years, bold E7 onsights as well.

[BenF]

there can't be many 50 year old Brits climbing 8b+.

Just in case he's reading this...  by my calculations, he's not fifty until next summer.  Unless I'm getting confused with when he had his surprise fortieth party (but I'm sure I'm not).

[Moo]

Dan Crammond strong lad on the Newcastle scene a few years ago haven't heard much of him lately though

[Andy B]

Dan Crammond strong lad on the Newcastle scene a few years ago haven't heard much of him lately though

My Newcastle "great but not famous" vote would go to Karl Telfer.

Hard routes on rock and ice for a very long time, and still going strong.

[Paul B]

Thats a good one Andy

[Dolly]

I'd third that.
Knows every hold on every route/problem and is still as strong as an ox.
Great bloke as well

[Moo]

yeah good choice nice bloke and he's done shit loads

[Idol eyes]

Cliff Phillips,,,Where are you!

[Andy F]

there can't be many 50 year old Brits climbing 8b+.

Just in case he's reading this...  by my calculations, he's not fifty until next summer.  Unless I'm getting confused with when he had his surprise fortieth party (but I'm sure I'm not).

It was just a rough guess at Mike's age, so a year out ain't bad. Still a wad though.

[whispering nic]

Martin Dale -  a legend from Fleetwood.

We used to call him 'The Matador' - summat to do with his lycra, his locks, (shaved legs?) and the way he styled across the West View wall. I don't think he ever new.

We bumped into him on North Stack Wall once and on topping out I gesticulated to a mate who had just done a route around Britomartis by pointing down to Martin and making like a bull. Said mate didn't have a clue what I was on up to until he came across and The Matador topped out at which point we burst into a fit of schoolboy giggles under his withering gaze... Situational humour maybe

I beleive this was the same day Andy F resolved to send The Cad and we bravely abbed in only to realise we didn't bring any ropes....