PARACLIMB FESTIVAL: SCOTLAND'S INCLUSIVE CLIMBING COMPETITION & BRITISH SERIES

The 2022 Paraclimb Festival will take place on Sunday 5th June 2022 at EICA: Ratho near Edinburgh

The event is being held on the Sunday after the Scottish Youth Climbing Championships, alongside the sucessful adult lead and speed competition that we first ran in 2019. This means that the paraclimb routes will be spread across the Ratho walls, giving some great new challenges. The Paraclimb Festival will host two different events as follows:

• British Paraclimbing Series 2022
• ClimbScotland FUN ParaClimb Competition 2022

NOTE: You must book your place for all of the options below in advance (information about how to book on is found lower down the page). BOOKING IS NOW CLOSED

British Paraclimbing Series & ClimbScotland FUN Paracomp information

• UPDATE:
  British Para Series R1 Merged Categories
• British Paraclimbing Series 2022 Round 1 RULES
  (GB Comp Rules)
• British Paraclimbing Schedule 2022
• ClimbScotland FUN Para Competition 2022 Rules
• UPDATE:
  CS FUN Para Comp Mergeed Categories
• ClimbScotland FUN Para Competition Schedule 2022
• Policy on Transsexual People Participating In Domestic Competitive Climbing
• ClimbScotland Competitions On-line Results Service (check your scores here)

British Paraclimbing Series

This is round 1 round of the 2022 Paraclimbing Series. This is a national series event aimed at those with experience of para comps and is not suitable for novice para climbers. The competition follows the International Federation format and includes only roped climbing on two routes in a Qualifying Round and a Final from isolation.

Categories:

Categories for the competition are in line with the International categories as defined by the IFSC in 2021. Competitors are responsible for selecting the category in which they wish to compete. There are separate male and female categories and climbers will compete within the gender category which they identify with.

• B1, B2, B3
• AL1, AL2, AU1, AU2
• RP1, RP2, RP3
• For those competitors outside of these categories, there will be a single 'Open' category.

Please note the following change to the rules: A minimum of 4 competitors are required in each category, so if there are not enough competitors in a category we may combine them following the system used in past IFSC Paraclimbing competitions (see below). We will let competitors know of any combined categories upon registration on the day of the competition.




For information about the other rounds in England and Wales and to make bookings go to the BMC Paraclimbing page.

Eligibility:

All competitors must be members of Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland, BMC or Mountaineering Ireland to take part in the British Series. Competitors must be 16 years and older to compete (based on the year of birth).

ClimbScotland FUN ParaClimb Competition

The FUN ParaClimb Competition is our All-Abilities competition and includes both routes and boulder problems specifically designed for paraclimbers, by paraclimbers. Although this is titled as a competition, there is no requirement for you to actually submit your score-cards at the end - you can simply have a go and see how you do. The routes AND the boulders are all top-roped. We also offer a FUN ParaSpeed competition with a single speed category available if you fancy having a go. ParaClimbers are responsible for deciding if they wish to try the speed. Be aware that the route itself is about F6b+ and it runs with fast auto-belays. You can drop-in during the qualification period and have a go and if you want to record a time then you have two timed attempts as a qualifier. The top 8 (max) para-climbers from the qualifier will go to a final

A Quick Guide to the ClimbScotland FUN Paraclimb Competition

• All categories are operated as open events available to all
• There are no specific age categories but the minimum age for competing is 12 (in the year of the competition)
• Competitors may provide their own climbing equipment (rock shoes, harness, chalk bag and helmet) but harnesses and helmets (persoanl choice) are available free of charge
• The event comprises a single competition with no qualifying round
• Registration starts at TBC, the competition starts at TBC
• Competitors can watch each other climb
• There will be three boulder problems on which competitors will have three attempts
• There will be three routes on which competitors will have one attempt
• All routes will be top-roped
• Top-ropes on boulders will be availabe on request
• Competitors will be given a score card for the boulder problems & routes in their category at registration
• Score cards must be handed to the designated judges of each route & boulder problem, who will then sign off the score achieved
• The highest (furthest) hold used or held will determine the points awarded
• Scores for all routes & problems are totalled to give an overall score

Climbing Categories

These are the same as for the British and IFSC events as above. If you are not sure which category you should be competing in, please get in touch. You may also wish to ask your doctor or physio to give advice in this respect. we may combine categories if numbers are lower than 4.

• B1, B2, B3
• AL1, AL2, AU1, AU2
• RP1, RP2, RP3
• For those competitors outside of these categories, there will be a single 'Open' category.

Eligibility:

You do not have to be a member of any organisation to take part in the FUN event but you do need to book a place and pay an entry fee.

General Information for both events:

Support

Competitors are responsible for bringing their own carer and support workers appropriate to the competitor's disability, to assist them to participate in the event. ClimbScotland is not responsible for providing support workers appropriate to each competitor’s disability, but the staff and volunteers involved in the competition will do their best to help and support competitors to compete as best they can.

How much does it cost?

Entry fees for Mountaineering Scotland, BMC and Mountaineering Ireland Members is the same.

• British Paraclimbing Series Round 1: £35
• ClimbScotland FUN ParaClimb Competition: £15
• Speed: Free to those competing in the above events

How do I enter?

Book and pay quickly and easily online via the Mountaineering Scotland web portal by Midnight 29 May 2022, here's how:

• Existing Mountaineering Scotland 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.
• If you are booking on behalf of your child, you will need their 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-Mountaineeirng Scotland members will need to log-in to the portal via the 'join us' option, enter their details and follow on-screen instructions. Those entering the British Series who are not BMC or MI members will need to join Mountaineering Scotland. Non members entering the FUN competition do not need to join. Go straight into the 'events & courses' tab at the top of the page. Select the relevant Para event and procede to the checkout stage.
• New members will get their membership pack through the post in a week.

Volunteers needed!

Volunteers are vital to ensure the competitions happen, we are looking for people to help out in the following roles:

• Category Judge
• Top-rope Belayer
• Marshall

Find out more about the roles of competition volunteers on our Volunteer page. Please contact us if you can help by contacting us at info@climbscotland.net

Other paraclimbing opportunities in Scotland

• If you are keen to get climbing on a regular basis, then make sure to check out the Scottish Paraclimbing Club based at EICA. They will have a stall set up at the Paraclimb Festival in the arena and members of the club will be competing too. You can also find the club on facebook and Instagram.
• The Glasgow Gorillas have a Paraclimbing section
• The Peak in Stirling Sports Village offer paraclimbing sessions