Hotrock Leading Series

The Hotrock Leading Series is a new, fun leading competition. It is based on the very successful BMC Leading Ladder, which is run at a number of walls across the water. Taking part is an excellent way to improve your climbing standards. It's also a great way to get fit - and stay fit - over the winter months.


What is it?

The Hotrock Leading Series is an informal series of competitions that start in January and run until the end of March. That means that you can come to Hotrock Climbing wall and take part in a leading competition whenever you want within each month - and all at your own pace. The three ‘competition periods’ are: 12th – 27th January, 2nd – 17th February and 1st – 23rd March 2008 – that is three separate rounds of competitions


How hard are the routes?

8 routes are set at the wall: F4, F5, F6a, F6b, F6c, F7a, F7b and F7c. All routes are set by a limited number of route setters to ensure grade consistency.


Categories

There are four age categories: 12 – 15, 16 – 18, 19 – 45, and 46 and over, with separate male and female categories. Ages will be those on 1st January 2008.


How will it work?

The Hotrock Leading Series competition routes are clearly marked and anyone using the wall may climb them. But if you want to take part in the Hotrock Leading Series competition, and have your score recorded, then you need to buy a scorecard for £1 – you will get this at the reception desk. Don't try any of the routes before buying a scorecard - that's cheating!


Scoring

The Hotrock Leading Series is a fun competition relying on the honesty and integrity of those taking part and those belaying to ensure fair play. Climbers start at the bottom of a route and see if they can climb to the top. Clipping the lower-off from the last hold on the route signifies a successful ascent. If a climber is successful, their belayer marks their score their card. If not an X is marked on the card. Higher scores are awarded for fewer goes and, of course, a flash ascent receives the highest score. Succeeding on a route on the first attempt (a flashed ascent, or flash for short) gains 20 points. Getting it second go gains 10 points, third go 5 points, 4th go 4 points, 5th go 3 points, 6th go 2 points, and any subsequent attempts, however many, gain one point. Competitors may attempt the routes as often as they like during each month long period when the competition is running at the wall. The maximum score possible, and therefore the perfect score, each month 160 points - that's eight climbs multiplied by 20 points. Over the three month period, the maximum score possible is 480 points.


Can I practise the moves before trying the routes?

Nope. With the maximum score for the onsight climbers can't practice or inspect the routes first. Nor are they allowed to weight the rope, use out of bounds holds or features, use the top edge or side edges of the wall, or grab the lower-off. All quick-draws are to be clipped while climbing - the first one may be pre-clipped for safety purposes. The normal ‘route rules’ apply for each of the graded routes i.e. if the route is described as ‘Green handholds and footholds’ you can use any / all of the green handholds and footholds plus any smears as handholds / footholds. You must not use any of the pockets as either handholds or footholds unless the route description specifically includes them in the description!


Belayers

Competitors choose their own belayer(s) as usual at a climbing wall. Climbers and belayers need to be aware that they will be required to meet a wall's usual entry conditions. To find out what these are, especially if you are under 18, please contact the wall direct prior to your visit.


Results

At the end of the competition period Hotrock will collect the score cards for the competition. The results will be published on the Tollymore website.


Final

When all the competitions in the series have been completed, each competitor’s scores will be added together to give their overall score for the series. The highest possible overall score is 480. Those with the highest overall scores qualify for a grand final, to be held in April 2008.


Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for each month and for the Grand Final in April.


Full rules

A copy of the full rules is available at the climbing wall