Scottish Kids in Ceuse

I have just returned from a 2 week trip with MCofS Scotland South kids to the sport climbing paradise of Ceuse in the South of France. Jonny Stocking, Paul Williamson, Jonathan Field, Ross Kirkland and slightly older ex BRYCS kid Robbie Phillips all came along to sample perfect varied limestone on one of the best sport climbing crags in the world. Considering this was almost all of the kids first big sport climbing trip abroad, they all performed exceptionally well and achieved some excellent ticks to boot! More importantly though a great time was had by all, lots of new friends were made and everybody managed to improve their chess playing skills on the long drawn out rest days...... Special mention has to be made to Ross Kirkland- who went from having never really played chess to being untouchable at it by the end of the trip!!!!


The main emphasis of the trip was for the kids to concentrate in getting as much on sight mileage and quick redpoint ascents as they could. Thus giving them the chance to get comfortable with climbing on real rock, establish what grade they are comfortable at ticking quickly and also learn all of the rope work skills required for sport climbing outside. The first few days were spent getting used to the never ending treck up the side of a mountain to get to the crag and climbing loads of lower grade mileage. This allowed everyone to get a feel for the climbing style and put them in good stead for attempting harder routes later in the trip. I truly can not believe how talented this group of lads are. It has taken me years of climbing and training to get to the grade these kids were cranking on their first real climbing holiday. The fact that they were able to transfer their indoor climbing ability so quickly to climbing on real rock is testament to how talented these lads are. It truly is going to be and exciting era for Scottish climbing over the next few years if this generation of kids keep up their training and appetite for getting out on real rock. Bellow is brief tick list of a few of the impressive ticks achieved by the lads in Ceuse;

Tick List for Trip;

Jonny Field
Super Mickey f7b (redpoint 2nd go)
Bibendium f7b+ (redpoint)

Ross Kirkland
Super Mickey f7b (flash)
Au Sud De Nulle Part f7b+ (onsight)

Paul Williamson
Corps Entrager f7b+ (repoint)
Vagabond f7c (redpoint 2nd go)
Blochage Violant f7b+ (redpoint)
Au Sud De Nulle Part f7b+ (onsight)

Jonny Stocking
La Collanetts f7c+ (redpoint 2nd go)
Berlin f7c (redpoint)
Makach Walou f7c+ (flash)
La Couler De Vent f8a (redpoint)

Roby Phillips
Mirage f7c+ (redpoint)
Vagabong f7c (onsight)
Tenere f7c+ (redpoint 2nd go)
Rosanna f8a (redpoint 2nd go)

A great time was had by all and everybody returned full of motivation to get out climbing in the UK for the remainder of the season. Watch this space for photos of the trip!