The Climbing Clubs

In a few weeks' time we will have our last Senior Climbing Club session of the academic year. We have run this term's sessions outside, despite what turned out to be a terribly wet and windy one a couple of weeks ago. It only took a few days to dry out the ropes, equipment and pupils!! We have recently climbed at Craigmore, Auchinstarry and Cambusbaron, giving the pupils a great opportunity to get a taste for climbing on different rock types at a variety of crags. The Climbing Clubs for Juniors (P6 and P7 pupils) and Senior pupils (S1 to S6) have proved popular once again and have amounted to 988 session places this academic year (654 Senior and 334 Juniors). These wouldn't be possible without the wonderful support of our fantastic team of instructors (Tim Miller, Melissa Sleigh, Iain Smith and Brian Goodman), the staff who accompany our Junior pupils (Mr Milne and Mrs David) and of course, the pupils - well done, everyone!


Here are a few photos from last week's session at Cambusbarron on a beautifully sunny evening.

Jamie starting up a challenging crack route, a two star E1 5b called the 'Doobie Brothers' which entails either hand jamming or some finesse of lay backing.

Angus warming up on a lay backing corner crack called 'Here Come the Mini-Monks'.

Mairi enjoying the warmth (in a down jacket!) and sunshine after last week's thoroughly soggy session!

Mairi's full attention is directed to her fellow climber, Angus.

Angus next tackles the steep route 'Easy Contract' at HVS 5b.

Angus showing some fine footwork.

This is Harrison's (bottom left) third-ever session of rock climbing. He has shown a really positive approach to quite technically challenging climbing crags so far. Jamie (top right) nears the top of her route.

Mairi giving Easy Contract a go...

...And manages. Well done, Mairi!