The The Epicentre Blog
Great Britain 2011 Display of Brilliance
08 January 2012
British Youth Team Captain, Luke Tilley reviews 2011 and Looks forward to 2012.
What an inspirational year for the world of junior British competition climbing! From our home comps to Bulgaria, Austria, France and Slovenia the team has been getting stuck in. The evidence of the huge amount of training and commitement put in by our young athletes and their pure enjoyment of our fantastic sport is not just seen in the results on paper but in the atmosphere and friendship within team events.
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On the international stage, like firework travelling through the sky an almighty whoosh of flying sparks, we have been propelled rapidly to great heights by the youngest competing members of our team.
Molly Thompson Smith and Tara Hayes only in their first year of Youth B competition, have been taking their first (not so timid) steps into the terra incognito of international competitions have gone out and both had 6th place finishes in Europe!
On top of this Molly made it through to the finals in her first World Youth Championships, finishing in an impressive 8th place, a truly great achievement.
Our metaphor flies on to its ultimate awe inspiring finale of sheer brilliance and flying colour, driven by the oldest member of our team. 2012 has been a great year for Ed Hammer his vision and dedication to climbing both on the competition circuit and out on the rocks led to some milestones in progression and achievement. The results of this drive were realised in October when he finished 2nd in world for U20’s. The pride and excitement that welled up from the crowd of supporters cheering Ed under the clear Austrian sky framing the inspiring competition wall at the Imst Kletterhalle, was a powerful and moving experience!
Behind these fantastic achievements and international successes there is an important and valued teamd. The whole team has been a credit to those that support us. The atmosphere at our national events has been warm and unbelievably positive. There is no doubt that the standards being achieved by everyone in the team are steadily pushing higher and higher. The outstanding performances at national events, British Championships and Youth opens shows that every climber that has been chosen to represent Great Britain has the potential to make it as far or further than our current stars, all that is required is dedication and belief. We have seen the amazing talent and energy of the up and coming climbers in Youth C underlined by outstanding performances at the recent Sunderland youth open, the lads were well onto the heels of us Junior males, inspiringly so! We are welcoming onto the team an incredible bunch of new climbers who are going to take things forward I can't wait!
More now than ever before the support from the Epicenter, BMC, coaches, family and friends is driving things forward for our national team. Towards the end of the year we have faced the hard news of John Ellison’s Cancer, as a network of friends we are united under the world of climbing in support for him. The energy and passion of team members, management, sponsors, volunteers, supporting family and aspiring young people promises for an exciting year ahead!
Luke Tilley (Team Captain)
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