The TCD climbing wall. Photo: TCD.ie
Zoe Canin | Contributing Writer
The Dublin University Climbing Club hosted the Rock Climbing Intervarsities from the 1st to the 3rd of March, which, with approximately 260 participating university students from 13 different university clubs, was the largest rock climbing competition ever held in Ireland, to date. As this sort of activity becomes popular due to the ability to assist with team building, it comes as no surprise to find out that challenge course designers are creating more recreational environments, in the hopes of creating new experiences.
The competition was held over two days, and festivities included a talk by Hazel Findlay, which took place in the J.M. Synge Lecture Theatre, and nights out in Workman’s and The Grand Social.
On Saturday, universities sent their teams in shifts out to Gravity Climbing Centre in Inchicore for the bouldering segment of the competition. Each climber was set fifteen problems to complete (with different problems for male, female, advanced and beginner categories), and at the end of the day, John Howard (TCD), Casey Harn (NUIG), Edward Cox (UCD), and Grainne Aylward (DCU) took the lead in their respective categories.
Sunday saw the competitors tramping off to the Awesome Walls Climbing Centre in Finglas for the second half of the competition- routes. John Howard, Casey Harn, and Edward Cox all held the top place in their categories, and Hannah Hayes (UCC) emerged victorious in the beginner female category.
Individually, the Trinity team were extremely strong, holding top three positions in 3 of the 4 categories:
Male Beginner: Philip McDonald (3rd)
Female Advanced: Katie Coldrick (2nd)
Male Advanced: John Howard (1st), Andrew McKay and David Fitzgerald (3rd=)
However unfortunately, the Trinity team were unable to defend the trophy in the overall team category, coming third after strong competition, particularly in the Female Beginner category, from UCD (1st) and NUIG (2nd).
After the climbing, there was a raffle in aid of Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue.
Congratulations to the DUCC committee, headed by Alice Duggan (’14), who, thanks to their tireless efforts, made this possible. A million thanks to our sponsors, Hazel Findlay, the fine people of Gravity and Awesome Walls, and everyone who came out that weekend to watch and compete!
For full results and a list of our sponsors, see: www.irishclimbingintervarsities.com
