Try your hand at a national competition series...
The ClimbScotland 2023 Youth Climbing Series (YCS) is the national youth competition bringing together young climbers from all over Scotland to compete to select the Scottish YCS Team as well as select a Scottish youth development squad.
A UK and Ireland Series
The YCS is the main competitive event in Scotland for young climbers. It is a great way to meet other young climbers as different climbing walls host the event each year. The Scottish YCS is part of a wider series across the UK and Ireland. Each country organises its own series to select teams which then come together in a grand final. England has 7 'Regional Teams', whilst Wales, Ireland and Scotland each have a single Team. These teams come together for the final to find the best young climbers in the UK and Ireland in each category but also to find the strongest Team.
If you are relatively new to climbing (or a complete beginner) or have never done a competition before and feel this may be too difficult but would like to see what competitions are like, you may prefer to compete at our entry-level events where the standard is more appropriate. Check out the
ClimbScotland Fun Roped Competition where you can chose to lead or top-rope and our
ClimbScotland FUN Boulder Competition which is NEW this year through July and August.
However, if you want to have a go at the YCS, simply compete in your local round: especially useful for first-timers or if you want to try the next step up from the FUN Roped or FUN Bouldering competitions.
- NOTE: Those competing in categories, A, B and C must be competently and regularly lead climbing indoors already.
- Round 1: 16.09.23 Block 10, Dundee
- Round 2: 30.09.23 Transition Extreme, Aberdeen
- Round 3: 21.10.23 The Ledge, Inverness
- Round 4: 04.11.23 Above Adventure, Kilmarnock
BOOKINGS: Book individual rounds or all four rounds together. Deadline for booking all rounds is Sunday 20 August
The Grand Final will take place on 25-26 November - venue tbc
How the YCS competition will work in Scotland for 2023
There are four (4) rounds in total with two (2) roped and two (2) boulder. Climbers in each category must have competed in a minimum of three (3) rounds and their best three (3) results out of a possible four (4) rounds are taken into account in order to gain their final ranking. If any rounds have to be cancelled, then all the remaining round's scores will count. There will be no minimum number of rounds for their results to be ranked. We will select the top three (3) performers in each eligible category to make up the Scottish YCS Team who will compete in the Grand Final alongside the teams from England, Wales and Ireland in November. The Selection of the Scottish YCS Team will be the competitors in each category of Youth D, C, B and A. NOTE: Youth E are not eligible to attend the YCS Grand Final.
EVENT INFORMATION FOR COMPETITORS
We will send up-to-date information to competitors prior to each round by email, but also post it here:
Selection for the 2024 Scotland Development Squad:
The YCS forms part of the pathway for climbers to be invited to the
Scotland Development Squad. These climbers will be supported through the following year with a series of coaching and competition preparation academies.
When are the competitions?
The competitions are held between September and November. The venues change from year to year. The dates and venues for 2023 are below.
Competition Bookings Information is available lower on this page
Registrations and start times may have to be staggared. Details will follow once bookings close.
The Grand Final Registration Schedule will be posted on the BMC website
What catergory am I in?
There are five youth catergories which are based on your year of birth:
- Youth E & D - Top Roping NOTE: Youth E can attend the rounds but not the Grand Final
- Youth C, B & A - Leading
What are the timings for the day?
- Registration will open at 8:30am
- The competitions will start at 9:00am (*This time may change but will be no earlier)
- Bouldering Rounds will close at 1:00pm
- Roped Rounds will close at 5:00pm
Please note: Due to the nature of the competition format, the differing size and fire regulations of the host venues we may have to stagger start times for different age categories. More information will be available at the time. Even then, this may have to be changed at short notice.
Please be aware that this also means it may not be possible to accommodate all spectators (including parents and family members) at some venues. As a result we ask that only one adult parent / guardian accompanies each climber to each event. Two parents or guardians may attend if one volunteers at the event.How much does it cost?
All competitors are required to be a ClimbScotland or Mountaineering Scotland member in order to compete in our Youth Climbing Series. If you are not already a member, please
register here before attempting to book on to the Competition.
The cost per round for the ClimbScotland Youth Climbing Series is as follows:
- Individual rounds: £30
- Booking all 4 Rounds at once: £120
- Grand Final: £TBC
Concessions: are applicable to climbers whose parents or guardians are on Income Support or Family Credit. Evidence must be provided in support of this. Please make your booking through the office on 01738 493 942.
How to enter the Youth Climbing Series
Get your membership and book an event easily online via the
Mountaineering Scotland web portal, here's how:
NON-MEMBERS
- Non-members will need to join before booking onto an event: Log in to the portal via the 'join us' option, enter your details and follow on-screen instructions to become a member. Parents: remember it is the young competitor who is a member, unless you are taking Family membership.
- New members will get their membership pack through the post in a week – find out what you get as a Mountaineering Scotland member.
- To book a place on the competitions you can then go into the 'events & courses' tab in the portal, select the relevant YCS round and make an event booking.
EXISTING MEMBERS
- 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 to get them.
AFTER BOOKING
- After booking an event you will receive a confirmation email.
- Please note the closing date for booking is all four (4) Rounds will close at midnight on the Sunday 20 August. If you have problems booking, phone the office (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm) on 01738 493 942.
BECOME A COMPETITION VOLUNTEER
Volunteers: Adult volunteers are vital to ensure the youth competitions happen. You can register for the following roles:
- Category Judge (we try to double-up any new judges with those more experienced)
- Top-rope Belayer (belaying Youth D and Youth E category competitors)
- Lead belayer (belaying Youth A, B and C category competitors)
- Marshall (Comp zone, warm-up supervision, chaperoning, and any other required general duty)
Volunteer Registration and Support:
- You can volunteer when booking a place for your child(ren) in the booking portal. Click on the Volunteering link and complete your details - you only have to fill the form in once and indicate which comps you can help at
- Further information can be found here
- There are up to 30 volunteer places available at each event which will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis
- When you volunteer as a lead belayer you will be asked to read and confirm acceptance of a Volunteer Competency Form
- We offer free belay training sessions at local climbing walls throughout the year, which helps ensure belay safety at the competiitons but is also a good refresher for any climber
- You will be asked to check-in and register on the morning of the competition
- There will be a belay and judge briefing before each competition starts
- Volunteers in any of the positions above get free hot drinks on the day
- Volunteers' details will be kept on a central register
2023 Series Sponsors:
We are looking for Scottish Youth Climbing Series sponsors - if you feel you can help get in touch with us at: info@climbscotland.net