Progress in competition climbing

The BMC and Mountaineering Scotland jointly manage all the GB Teams/Squads through GB Climbing. This includes the Senior Teams and Junior Squad. The ClimbScotland team has a management role in the Scottish and GB youth climbing squads which compete in national and international climbing competitions. Find out more about our Youth Development Squad below and how selection works. As well as other opportunities available to progress in competition climbing.

The Scottish Youth Squad

The ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad

Qualifying for the ClimbScotland Youth Development Squad is done through the Youth Climbing Series (YCS) competitions. The top ranked climbers in each category of the YCS qualify to be members of the Squad. The number of qualifiers in each category depends on the number of competitors in that category. See Youth Climbing Series for full information. They remain squad members from the end of the Scottish Rounds to the following year's end of rounds. In addition, Scottish climbers who are members of the GB Youth Development Squad (Categories A, B and C) who are selected each year, are eligible to be members of Scottish Youth Squad and participate in coaching academies if they wish.

The following 63 climbers make up the 2021-2022 squad:
Those attending the YCS Finals (held in Southhampton in 2021) are highlighted in red and these are the YCS Team members.

Scottish YCS Team

The Scottish YCS Team competes against 10 other teams from accross the UK and Ireland. They are part of the Scottish Squad that were the top three finishers in each category in the Scottish YCS. There are 30 places available on this team. The team then compete at the Grand Final of the YCS.

The benefits of being a squad member

• Climbing Walls Support Programme: reduced entry to most of the main indoor climbing walls across Scotland
• ClimbScotland coaching academies: which include competition-prep, specialist coaches, training advice and REALrock events
• Squad / Team kit
• Squad / Team Membership Cards

Climbing Walls Support Programme

We are grateful for the support of the following climbing walls for 2021-2022:

• Alien Rock and Alien Bloc, Edinburgh
• Avertical World, Dundee
• Bouldover Climbing Centre, Annan, Dumfrieshire
• Eden Rock, Edinburgh
• EICA: Ratho
• Glasgow Climbing Centre
• Glenmore Lodge, Nr Aviemore
• HangOn Climbing, Hamilton
• Perth College Climbing Wall
• Picaquoy Leisure Centre, Orkney
• The Climbing Academy, Glasgow
• The Ice Factor, Kinlochleven
• Transition Extreme, Aberdeen

The Speed Development Squad

The Speed Development Squad is based at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena which has the only IFSC standard Speed Climbing Wall in the UK. Why not come along and see what time you can set on the 15-metre high speed wall? Or try to improve that time through the coaching and support offered through the squad.

The Speed Development Squad is ran independently by volunteers.
Click here for more info on the Speed Development Squad and how to get involved.

The GB National Development Squad

The GB National Development Squad (GBNDS) provides the pool of climbers from which GB Climbing selects athletes to compete at international youth competitions. Only athletes in Junior, Youth A and Youth B, can compete at this level, but Youth C athletes are part of the GBNDS as a stepping-stone into international compeytition. For the first time (for 2022) Youth D athletes have been selected as part of the GB Climbing performance pathway and will be offered some regional coaching events. Selection of the GBNDS is based on the previous years competition successes. A series of training weekends are organised including a 'Squad Camp'. All squad members are offered a chance to compete in an international event. Scottish climbers selected to the GBNDS must be Mountaineering Scotland members and are given additional BMC memberhsip for the duration they are in the GBNDS.

Find out all about GB Climbing and keep track of how well the teams are doing

The GB Paraclimbing Team

The BMC Paraclimbing Selection Event is for those competing in recognised IFSC categories and is for those hoping to compete internationally. Click here for more info on the GB Paraclimbing Team

Click here for the GB Paraclimbing Team page.

The GB Ice Climbing Team

GB Ice Climbing is part of GB Climbing. The international events are organised by the UIAA and the Ice Climbing Competitionm season runs through the winter. Currently (2022) UIAA European competitions are open to anyone who wishes to take part. there is no requirement to be a member of a National squad or team. Attendance at UIAA World Championship events however requires competitors to be selected by the national federation. There are limits on the number of competitors that each federation can send to an event. GB Climbing has selection criteria for the GB Ice Team and a process for selection which looks at previous competition sucesses and a base-line of physical and ice competition technical abilities. Domestic events such as The British Tooling Series can be used as part of that selection process. However, selection will also be made via an open invite to a selection panel.

There is only one Climbing Club specialising in ice/dry-tooling in the UK (2022). The Scottish Tooling Club is based out of Glasgow Climbing Centre and hold training and introductory events at various walls across Scotland.

Anyone interested in GB Climbing contact kevin Howett kev@mountaineering.scot, Mountaineering Scotland Sports Development Officer.