The LEAD and SPEED Champs for 2023 will be held on Saturday 3rd June at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho
One of the biggest dates in Scotland's youth competition calendar is coming up...
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 partnerhsip 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 (our
FUN Comp and our
Youth Climbing Series events are more suitable). Check out our film or read on to find out more.
SYCC & SYSC information
SYCC RULES 2023 (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 2023
- BOOKING HAS NOW CLOSED
-
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
The SYCC prizes are supported by
CragSwagScottish Youth Climbing Championships 2023
When and where?
Both the SYCC and SYSC championships are on
3rd June 2023, 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.
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 2023
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 catergories which are based on your year of birth as follows:
SYSC SPEED 2023
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 catergory am I in for the SYSC?
There are five age catergories 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 status |
SYCC (Lead/Top Rope) |
SYSC (Speed) |
SYCC & SYSC Combined |
| Existing National Governing Body members (ClimbScotland Gold (youth) / Mountaineering Scotland / 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 |
* Concessions: are available to climbers whose parents or guardians are on Income Support or Family Credit. Evidence is required in support of this. Please contact the MScot office regarding this.
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.
How do I enter?
Book and pay quickly and easily online via the
Mountaineering Scotland web portal by
0900 29 May 2022, here's how:
- Existing members who are first time users of the portal will need to set up their login via the 'first time access' tab and follow on-screen instructions.
- You need to log-in via your child's membership log-in to book their place, if you do not know or remember your child's log-in details, contact us on info@mountaineering.scot to get them.
- Non-members will need to log in to the portal via the 'join us' option, enter their details and follow on-screen instructions, then go straight into the 'events & courses' tab at the top of the page. Select the relevant SYCC or SYSC event and a year’s ClimbScotland Gold Mountaineering Scotland membership will be added to your price at the checkout stage.
- New members will get their membership pack through the post in a week – find out more about what you get as an Mountaineering Scotland member.