The Scottish Youth Climbing Championships are ClimbScotland’s National Level event for 10 to 19 year olds to test their skills in both top rope/lead climbing (SYCC) and speed climbing (SYSC) at UK and Ireland standard.

The competition is an ‘open’ event and is a round of the 4 Nation National Series in partnership with BMC and Mountaineering Ireland. This is a great way to experience high standard competition and meet young climbers from across the UK and Ireland, but please be aware this is not suitable as a first competition (see our FUN Comp and our Youth Climbing Series events for entry level competitors).

The SYCC prizes are supported by CragSwag.

BOOKINGS

This year’s event will take place on 1 June 2024 at EICA Ratho.

Booking opens soon

Information for competitors

When and where?

Both the SYCC and SYSC championships are on 1 June 2024, giving young climbers the chance to try both competitions. Discounted prices are available for booking onto both competitions. The championships will be held at EICA: Ratho near Edinburgh. These championships are sometimes taken into consideration for selection to the GB National Development Squad.

Spectators are welcome at the competition to help cheer on all the competitors.

Rules and event information

SYCC rules 2024 (GB comp rules includes speed)

Rules addendum

  • RULE 7.10 CHANGE: As we are running the speed at the same time as the roped event we have had to reduce the time gap between the end of qualifying and the end of isolation to 1hr
  • RULE 10.4: As this is the Scottish Championship we will also recognise the highest placed scottish competitor as the ‘Scottish Champion’
  • RULE 10.14 CHANGE: Observation – due to resource limitations we are no longer able to offer video demonstrations on-line and there is not enough time in the schedule to offer live demos
  • SPEED: We reserve the right to combine categories if there are too few entrants to make a viable competition

SYCC & SYSC Schedule 2024

  • Policy on Transsexual People Participating In Domestic Competitive Climbing
  • ClimbScotland Competitions On-line Results Service and starting lists (check your scores here)
  • Competitor Start Lists – available here on Friday and will be emailed to competitors

How does it work?

Both the SYCC and SYSC will include age categories from 10 to 18 years old. Like the ClimbScotland Youth Climbing Series, the younger category (D) top-rope their routes, whilst the rest lead their routes. By the end of the day we will have podium winners for the comp in the series and Scottish Champions in each of the different categories. They are open competitions and anyone of eligible age can enter, regardless of country of residence.

SYCC roped format and categories

The SYCC comprises a qualifier round and a final. The qualifier will consist of two routes for each category, with competitors having one attempt at each route. There is no isolation in the qualifier, which means competitors will be able to watch each other climb. The top climbers from the qualifier in each age category will go to a final in isolation. A super final and duel will be used if required.

What category am I in for the SYCC?

There are five (5) age categories which are based on your year of birth as follows: 

SYSC speed format and categories

The SYSC comprises a qualifier round in one stage and a final of between one and three elimination stages. Competitors will have two attempts in the qualifier round to record a time. The fastest times go through to the subsequent head-to-head stages.

What category am I in for the SYSC?

There are five age categories which are based on your year of birth. The younger age category (Youth D) competes on a mini-speed wall, designed specifically with younger (smaller) climbers in mind. The mini speed wall is brilliant, fun, and fast! The older age categories (Youth C, B, A and Junior) compete on the IFSC 15m speed wall.

  • Junior – Born between 2004 and 2005 – IFSC 15m speed wall
  • Youth A – Born between 2006 and 2007 – IFSC 15m speed wall
  • Youth B – Born between 2008 and 2009 – IFSC 15m speed wall
  • Youth C – Born between 2010 and 2011 – IFSC 15m Speed Wall
  • Youth D – Born between 2012 and 2013 – Mini speed wall

NB: The Jury President reserves the right to combine categories if there are not enough competitors in any single category.

How much does it cost?

Membership statusSYCC (Lead/Top Rope)SYSC (Speed)SYCC & SYSC Combined
Existing National Governing Body members (ClimbScotland Gold (youth) / Mountaineering Scotland (youth) / BMC / MI)£40£20£50
Existing National Governing Body members (Concessions*)£30£15£37.50
Non-members of an NGB (NB: you – the competitor – must join ClimbScotland before you can enter – follow the instructions when making your booking)£40£20£50
Non-members (concession* )£30£15£37.50

* Concession – available to climbers whose parents or carers are in receipt of Income Support or Family Tax Credits. Evidence is required in support of this. Please contact the Mountaineering Scotland office regarding this.

How do I enter?

Book and pay quickly and easily online via the Mountaineering Scotland web portal by TBC, here’s how:

Volunteers needed!

Adult volunteers are vital to ensure the youth competitions happen, we are looking for people to help out in the following roles (parents can register as a volunteer when booking places for competitors):

  • Category Judge
  • Top-rope Belayer
  • Lead belayer
  • Marshall

Find out more about the roles of competition volunteers on our Volunteer page.

Upcoming Competitions

April 2024
June 2024
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
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