INTERVIEW: The rise of the National Universities Lead and Speed Climbing Championships

Now in its third year running in close partnership with the Warwick University Climbing Club, the event continues to evolve, attracting elite talent - including an Olympian - while staying true to its core mission: to provide the biggest stage possible for university lead and speed climbers.

In this interview, we sit down with Elliot and Laure to discuss NULSCC’s journey, the challenges of organising such a large-scale event, and how they’re raising money for Climbers Against Cancer while shaping the future of university climbing in the UK.

How has the event evolved over the years, and what milestones are you particularly proud of?

NULSCC began with the aim to create an independent, not-for-profit event providing the biggest stage possible for university lead and speed climbing. This is still our core vision. However, a lot has changed since the first year as we have built a precedent and a reputation that helps us attract more athletes at the elite level and that draws in sponsors and media attention. The event has grown with us and we are building up professionalism and partnerships to ensure its sustainability in the long-term.

We are especially proud of how much this event has grown in just three years. What started as a simple idea has evolved into one of the largest lead and speed competitions in the UK. The event has garnered press attention, with BBC News covering the 2024 edition, and this year, it will feature elite-level athletes, including multiple GB Climbing team members and an Olympian.

What’s the most challenging part of organising this event?

The biggest challenge of organising an event like NULSCC is building and maintaining the relationships that are essential for long-term sustainability. It will surprise no one to learn that finance is a top concern. We rely on the support of our venue, suppliers and an army of volunteers to keep the championships going. Entry fees are a major source of funding, but rising entry fees limit athlete turnout and represent a significant barrier to making high level sport financially accessible.

How do you think we can get more young organisers doing events like this?

Elliot: There is no shortage of passionate young event organisers and community leaders willing to create new opportunities for UK climbers. The university climbing scene in particular has seen a wide array of events and a dizzying collection of acronyms to refer to them all: BUCS, NUBS, LUBE, MUCC, SWUCCS and more will be familiar events for veterans of the university comp circuit. Beyond university climbing local wall competitions and events are often driven by passionate staff members, volunteers and community groups willing to go the extra mile to create something special. Perhaps the real challenge is to ensure that the events that do exist are sustainable and find the resources, expertise and partnerships that allow them to develop into real showstoppers.

Having come through the youth competition circuit, I see a real divide between competition climbing as a youth, and continuing once an athlete reaches 18. It is a common experience for young competition climbers in the UK to “age out” and find themselves without a team or club to keep them engaged in the sport. University clubs are the clear exception here, and I see this as evidence that, if the environment is right, more athletes can be kept engaged in sport at a high level well into adulthood.

Laure: Laure did not start climbing before university, and without the existence of these clubs, I think it is unlikely that I would have discovered and continued with competition climbing through and beyond university.

This year, the event features over 25 academic institutions. How do you see the diversity and scale of participation impacting the climbing community?

At NULSCC, we are incredibly proud to have achieved near perfect gender parity, with around 51% of our competitors for 2025 identifying as either female or non-binary. The climbing community continues to face challenges in terms of diversity and offering a welcoming space for everyone. Within the current climate, accessibility for people on low-incomes is a major concern, particularly as it intersects with so many other measures of diversity.

We are hoping that NULSCC will encourage more people to get themselves out there and compete in more lead and speed events thanks to the inclusive and welcome atmosphere we aim to project!

Where’s the hot bed of the university climbing scene?

It is hard to identify a single hot bed of the university climbing scene. Climbers are everywhere, and thanks to the number of new walls popping up around the country, climbing is also almost everywhere. There are definitely areas that tend to attract high-level climbers such as Sheffield or Leeds due to the proximity to the peak district and to high-quality training facilities. Perhaps the only fair way to identify the hot bed of university climbing is to tune in to our livestream and see which university takes the title…

What role do student volunteers and the Warwick University Climbing Club play in organising and delivering the event?

NULSCC is an entirely volunteer-led event and the overwhelming majority of those who help to deliver the championships are unpaid volunteers. Warwick University Climbing Club is an essential partner in hosting the championships. Each year, two members of the club are elected to support the organisation of the event and coordinate judges, belayers and other volunteer staff that make NULSCC possible. We would be unable to run this event without student volunteers and Warwick University Climbing Club.

What are some key highlights attendees and competitors can look forward to this year, both during the competition and at the finals?

Competitors can look forward to an action-packed qualification period where they will have the chance to grapple with two challenging lead routes, race up our speed route and support their fellow competitors. Alongside this there will be a raffle, stalls and activities courtesy of our partners and contributors and food available from nearby outlets on campus. Once the qualification period ends, those athletes who did not make it to finals can take their seats alongside a large crowd of spectators to enjoy a showstopping finals, designed in partnership with the University of Warwick’s own technical theatre society. For those who can’t make it in person, the event will be livestreamed, with expert commentary from Team GB athletes and exciting guest speakers.

Speed final heats are always a highlight to look forward to, usually surprising those not-so-fond of the discipline at first. We are lucky to have both 2024 British Speed champions competing.

With the growing popularity of sport climbing following the Paris 2024 Olympics, how do events like NULSCC contribute to nurturing the next generation of climbing talent?

We are proud to be nurturing the next generation of climbing talent and seek to provide the largest stage possible for up-and-coming athletes. Our athletes have gone on to use their rankings to support successful applications for university scholarships. For those athletes at the elite level, NULSCC is yet another opportunity to hone their ability to perform under pressure.

Do you have a standout moment or memory from previous events that encapsulates what NULSCC is all about?

Perhaps a surprise to those who see the lead event as the "main" attraction, the speed finals are undeniably one of the most electrifying moments of NULSCC. Arguably the event’s most intense highlight, the atmosphere shifts as a huge crowd falls silent, anticipation building before those iconic beeps signal an eruption of cheers. In just a few heart-pounding seconds, the champion is decided, and the cheers swell into thunderous applause.

What is the pathway to encouraging new climbers to give competitions a go?

Every athletes’ pathway to participation is unique. As climbing has evolved as a sport, more and more pathways have opened up. This is a good thing for the sport. There is no specific age to start climbing, some athletes transition from outdoor climbing to competitions, some transition from other sports, and others still will start climbing as their first real sport. People start out in kids clubs, societies or on their own.

As far as encouraging new climbers to give competitions a go, there are three cornerstones that the community needs to address. These are visibility, accessibility and relatability. First, competitions need to be visible. People need to know that events exist. This means promoting local competitions effectively, reaching out to existing groups and networks, using the media and taking every opportunity to put climbing events in the spotlight. Once competition is visible, it needs to be accessible. This means having local events that people can get to and provide a progression pathway to larger events. It also means that events should be financially accessible and processes to get involved should be as transparent as possible. Relatability is the final step. Athletes need to know people attending these competitions (and having a good time). This is not necessarily someone they know closely but someone they can relate to in terms of climbing level and experience. Whilst seeing top level athletes compete is very inspiring, it may not motivate participation for those first considering competing. University sports clubs are a powerful force for creating pathways to competition. As organisers, we really tried to value making this event exciting and enjoyable for both elite athletes and those first entering the competition circuit!

What message would you like to share with students or spectators who may be considering attending or getting involved for the first time?

If you’re a student wanting to try competing in lead and/or speed, please do consider entering NULSCC 2026. We truly aim to make an event for new competitors and international-level athletes alike to ensure everyone can enjoy their experience and want to come back next year. Finals are truly a memorable experience from both a spectator’s and an athlete’s point of view, with a great display from top-level climbers and a psyched crowd! If you want to enter in 2026, follow our Instagram @nulscc.ww to stay up to date.