Events

Malta's First Bouldering Competition (with Results)

Posted by simonalden on

Download the official results from the bouldering competition

Eman Scicluna on "Falls to Climb V2"
Eman Scicluna on "Falls to Climb V2"

The Malta Climbing Club organised Malta’s first ever bouldering competition which was held at the small seacliff valley of Wied Hasan in the south of the Island on the 26th February 2011.

This was the first time that such a competition was held in Malta however from the positive feedback received from the climbing community, it was clear that it was the right time to introduce such an event on the local calendar as levels of enthusiasm and anticipation were extremely high beforehand.

The competition was open to climbers of all abilities and nationalities, including beginners who were invited to take part and test themselves against the varied natural boulder problems found in this valley.  The winners of each of the 4 categories (Men’s A and B, Women’s A and B categories) received attractive prizes which were kindly sponsored by local climbing and outdoor equipment distributors.

Building on this success it is expected that this competition will become a yearly event with the aim of eventually establishing it on the international bouldering competition calendar.

Climbers from England, Spain, Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium and Turkey took part, in addition to Maltese climbers.

Yeray Gonzalez (ESP) finishing "The Leopard V2"
Yeray Gonzalez (ESP) finishing "The Leopard V2"

Perhaps the highlight of the competition for many participants was the opportunity to meet up with Gozo-born British climbing legend Stevie Haston who flew to Malta especially to attend the event.  Mr. Haston’s participation was kindly sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Malta Climbing Club.  Mr. Haston gladly accepted the chance to return to his country of birth as his mother is in fact Gozitan and he spent his childhood growing up in Gozo, scrambling around the fields, cliffs and rocky shores.  He has returned to Gozo many times over the years, setting up new traditional and sports routes of varying difficulty, up to the 8th grade.

Stevie Haston (UK) on "Dragonflight V3"
Stevie Haston (UK) on "Dragonflight V3"

Haston also gave a slide presentation to local climbers during which he gave the audience an insight to his exploits on rock, ice and snow in the Himalaya, Europe and the USA.

Martin Micallef (winner Men's Cat. B) on "Pointbreak V2"
Martin Micallef (winner Men's Cat. B) on "Pointbreak V2"

The MCC is the largest climbing club in Malta and Gozo with over 90 members, both Maltese and foreign.  It brings together all who are interested in the climbing scene in the Maltese Islands, whether Maltese or foreign.  It caters for all branches of climbing, whether bouldering, traditional leading, sport climbing, alpinism or mountaineering.

 

The MCC is actively promoting the sport locally by taking beginners out to safely experience climbing for themselves at some of the beautiful climbing locations we have along our coast and inland ridges.  The MCC also has the use of an indoor climbing wall where beginners can learn climbing techniques and where experts can also train to improve fitness and technique.

This competition is the first such event – other similar climbing events are already being planned with a focus on international participation.

Check out some of the media coverage!:

The MCC organizing committee would like to thank the following sponsors of this event:

Registered with the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport

 

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