Dangerous Sports Popularised at Sunbury!
An open evening was held at Sunbury climbing wall on Tuesday 9 June
1998 to coincide with club night. Free admission to try climbing proved a magnetic draw to
locals with time to kill and the wall was packed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The club
members assisting the punters (Dave Waine, Dave Roberts, Ian, Martin and Anna) were kept
extremely busy and got no climbing at all done themselves!
There wasn't enough club/centre gear to go round so turns had to be taken, but it was
all under control until, at about 8 p.m., another thirteen people turned up, all wanting
to climb with the exception of the lady with stilettos and Big Hair. Harnesses were ripped
off children and redistributed whilst Dave, Dave, Ian, Martin and Anna kept their cool.
Some of the would-be climbers did very well, notably a girl with one arm who climbed in
bare feet. As usual, the macho types who thugged their way up (men) generally tired
earlier and did worse than those who tried to apply some thought (women - Girl Power Rules
OK).
(This issues comp. Guess gender/identity of this article's author. Write on one side of
the paper only.)
Lang & Hunter paid another visit with a stall of gear including bargain harnesses and
rock boots; Corinne conned her mum into investing in no less than two pairs of the latter
(well done Corinne, what are mums for after all?). A reminder that (paid-up!) club members
are entitled to a 10% discount at Lang & Hunter, with bigger discounts for certain
packages.
Dave Roberts exhibited a selection of Silva compasses and equipment including the new
'Skystreme' safety device, a must for all mountaineers!.
(NB. The author will be requesting backhands as recompense for all this advertising.)
Finally, there was a photographic display, arranged by Ian, showing club members on a
variety of routes in a variety of locations, from Scotland to Swanage, Wales to the Alps.
(Personally I liked the one of Dave Waine and Lee Hopkins crocheting on Valkyrie at The
Roaches - what does the guidebook say about ropework on this route??)