Young guns and canny veterans are lining up to try and take the crown this year at the La Sportiva BMC British Bouldering Championships 2019, which will take place on 6-7 July. Find out more about who's gunning for the top at the #BBCs2019. And don't forget, you can watch the livestream of semi-finals and finals on BBC Sport on Sunday!
We asked a few questions of the contenders to build up the hype of the number one event on the British Competition Climbing calendar. There are a few notable names missing below; Dave Barrans, for instance, with 15 appearances at the BBCs and a number of titles to his name is always a contender.
Meanwhile, Jen Wood who came second last year will be eyeing the gold medal this year, especially as reigning champion Hannah Slaney will not be competing at the coming event. Other notables include previous finalists such as Holly Toothill, Rhoslyn Frugniet, and Tara Hayes, not to mention social media elite climbers Imogen Horrocks, who made it to the semi-finals last year, and Xian Goh who made finals of the BBCs in 2014.
If you're as excited as we are but can't make it, watch the semi-finals and finals LIVE on BBC Sport on Sunday using the link below.
So who are some of the other main contenders? Read on to find out.
Nathan Phillips
25 from Huddersfield, currently living in Sheffield, and is the reigning British Bouldering Champion.
What’s your preferred comp problem style? Slabbed and balancey, overhanging and powerful, or esoteric and contorted?
Do you get energy from the crowd or prefer to zone out and focus?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
Natalie Berry
27 from Glasgow, currently living in Chamonix. Placed 1st as a junior and came 3rd as a senior last year.
What’s your preferred comp problem style? Slabbed and balancey, overhanging and powerful, or esoteric and contorted?
Do you get energy from the crowd or prefer to zone out and focus?
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
Orrin Coley
23 from Leicester, and has come 3rd and 4th at the BBCs before.
Do you prefer to climb in trousers, leggings or shorts? (or other?)
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
You’ve just won the BBCs, what’s your celebratory drink?
Jim Pope
20 from London, currently living in Sheffield. Came 6th in the BBCs before.
What’s your preferred comp problem style? Slabbed and balancey, overhanging and powerful, or esoteric and contorted?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
You’ve just won the BBCs, what’s your celebratory drink?
Jon Partridge
36 from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Has come 3rd a number of times before.
Where do you grade yourself on the static-dynamic scale? 1 being static like a sloth, 10 being dynamic like a kangaroo.
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
Gwyneth Uttley
19 from Bristol but now studying in Sheffield. Came 8th in the BBCs in 2017.
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
You’ve just won the BBCs, what’s your celebratory drink?
Tai Tewkesbury
16 from Brighton competing in the BBCs for the first time this year.
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
Louis Parkinson (aka Captain Cutloose)
27 from London and will be competing in the BBCs for his 10th time this weekend, with a best result so far of 8th.
Where do you grade yourself on the static-dynamic scale? 1 being static like sloth, 10 being dynamic like a kangaroo.
Favourite style of climbing?
What music will you be listening to in isolation?
Ajda Remskar
24 from Slovenia, has come 8th before.
Where do you grade yourself on the static-dynamic scale? 1 being static like sloth, 10 being dynamic like a kangaroo.
What music will you be listening to in isolation?
Alex Waterhouse
22 from Plymouth, currently living in New Hampshire, US. Came 6th in the BBCs in 2018.
Do you prefer to climb in trousers, leggings or shorts? (or other?)
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
It's my chance to see if the work I've been doing for the last year has moved me forwards against the best in the country, and to fight for a place on the GB team.
Billy Ridal
22 from Selston, Nottinghamshire, currently living in Sheffield. Came 4th in 2016.
Where do you grade yourself on the static-dynamic scale? 1 being static like a sloth, 10 being dynamic like a kangaroo.
What’s your preferred comp problem style? Slabbed and balancey, overhanging and powerful, or esoteric and contorted?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
Matt Varela-Christie
30 from London, half Scottish half Colombian. Came 12th in the BBCs last year.
Do you prefer to climb in trousers, leggings or shorts? (or other?)
Do you have any pre-comp rituals?
Max (The Future) Milne
18 from Aberdeen, Scotland. First time he’ll be competing in the BBCs.
Where do you grade yourself on the static-dynamic scale? 1 being static like a sloth, 10 being dynamic like a kangaroo.
What music will you be listening to in isolation?
Why do you like competing at the BBCs?
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