News and Announcements

Hey Bowliners,

Well you have been a busy bunch over the past week. There I was expecting to start this email with a paragraph on the great time we had on our Family meet in North Wales this weekend. And we did indeed have a brilliant time with sporting climbing in the slate quarries, bouldering, playing in the woods, ice-creams, and games at the hut. But there has been so much else going on that I want to share with you as well. We had our cyclists battling the mud on the Peddars way over the weekend, thanks to Andy Railton for organising. Bowliners were in action at The Roaches and Windgather with Derek and Andy Richards taking on the fiercesome 'Sloth' (another great lead for Derek). Masa and Michelle have been getting into deep water, literally with an ascent of the Am Buachaille sea stack which involves swimming to earn your climbing fix. Meanwhile Simon and Alex have been making us jealous with pictures of beautiful climbing in sunny Italy. Fantastic!

It's been great to be back at our lovely club hut over the past coupe of weekends. Our hut meister, Paul Parker, has been very busy making improvements; we have a new fire escape door, improved surfacing for the parking area and track, a deep clean of all the rooms and kitchen equipment, well kept grounds around the hut, the list goes on. A big thanks to Paul and those club members that have been helping him. We have more improvements planned over the winter which we'll be asking club members to get involved with. In the meantime everyone who visits the hut can help us out by doing the following:

• Make sure you test the fire alarms, noting any problems, and sign the fire book immediately upon arrival. This is crucial for compliance with fire regs and insurance.
• Take time to leave the hut in a good clean and tidy condition. We've had a problem with a recent booking at the hut, where it was left in a very bad condition. As a result, the committee have decided that we will now charge a £50 cleaning deposit on any large groups making a first time booking.
• Let us know immediately if you have places booked at the hut which you no longer need (contact Dave Toach). And if possible try to avoid cancelling at the last minute. The hut is increasingly popular and people have been missing out on staying at the hut because places that had been booked were not actually used.

If you're heading to the Climbing Station for bouldering tonight I'll look forward to seeing you there. Climbing this Thursday is at The Tower climbing wall in Beaumont Leys from 19:00 onwards. Join us if you can!

Hope to see you all soon!

Andy

Hello Bowliners,

I've been looking into a Mountain Biking skills course and I thought this might make a good thing to offer to fellow club members. The date for this course is Saturday 3rd December and it would take place at Cannock Chase trails centre. The minimum number for the course to run is 3 riders, with a maximum of 7 per group. As I know we have a range of abilities I've lined up two courses, one aimed at 'Beginner->Intermediate', and one aimed at 'Intermediate->Advanced'. See below for the outline for each course.

You will need a Mountain Bike in good working order, plus a helmet and gloves. Plus the usual kit for a ride out such as spare inner tube, pump, some drink, lunch, etc. The course will last for around 4-5 hours and cost £50 per person. The course instructors are from Chase Skills.

I need to get back to the course instructors by this Friday to let them know if there is enough interest to run either or both of the courses. I can then make the bookings and pay the deposit which will be £10 per person, with the remaining £40 to be paid by the end of October.

If you are free that day and would like a place please reply to let me know (and which course) by this Thursday!

Beginner->Intermediate course:

• Body position
• Descending
• Climbing
• Braking
• Track-stands
• Wheelies

Followed by a guided ride on and off piste aligned with a skill level needed for a Red graded trail.

Intermediate->Advanced course:

• Body position
• Pumping
• Manuals
• Bunny hopppping
• Drops
• Jumps
• Steep trails

Followed by a guided off piste ride aimed at Red-Black trail grading

Hello everyone,

It's super to be reporting back after another great club gathering at our lovely hut in Snowdonia. The rock was a little damp in places on Saturday morning but we managed to find climbable rock in the LLanberis pass and enjoyed some brilliant routes. I'd definitely recommend Direct Route on Dinas Mott, a brillant climb with good jugs at the top just when you need them (but watch out for the slugs). On Sunday we split up to various crags, the Ogwen valley was where I headed and had a great time moving together up the Idwal slabs and the Cneiffon Arete. Now I'm looking forward to heading back to the hut this coming weekend for our Family Meet.

Our next meet with a few places still available is to The Lake District on the weekend of the 24th/25th September. We have a super group of club members going and we'd love to have more company so grab your places now via the website (there are only 5 left).

The latest minute of the club committee meeting from the 31st August are now available on the club website in the members area. The next committee meeting will take place on Wednesday 5th October, 7:30pm at the Blackhorse Pub in Aylestone. As always club members are very welcome to attend the meeting.

Tonight we have a double whammy of climbing for you. There is a group heading to Markfield Quarry for 17:45 onwards to make the most of what is probably the last outdoor climbing evening of the year. And some of us are heading to The Tower climbing wall in Beaumont Leys from 19:00 onwards. Join us if you can!

Hope to see you all soon!

Andy

Whilst at the hut this weekend Paul Parker found a USB power pack down the side of one of the sofas. If it's yours please let me (Andy Potter) know and we'll get it back to you.



 

Hi Bowliners and friends,

Time is slipping by all too quickly as I realised when looking back to the brilliant weekend we had in Pembroke and finding that was 10 days ago, wow. It was great to see a good size group in attendance, with lots of new members coming along to cut their teeth on the sublime sea cliffs. Congratulations to Derek on leading his first E1 (checkout the photo of the week on the website). The weather obviously approved and conditions were mostly favourable allowing us plenty of time to enjoy climbing and also enjoy chilling out around the fire pit (thanks Lisa). We definitely will be back here next year, perhaps even for a longer trip.

The weekend just gone didn't quite pan out as well as the Pembroke trip. Despite a reasonable looking forecast we spent Sunday morning hunting around the Peak district looking for dry rock. Eventually our efforts were rewarded with one group finding that Frogatt provided the right conditions for some great climbing. And Black Rocks also turned out to be a good choice for me. We've definitely got to make the most of the remaining weekends so we'll be out and about whenever we can over the next month or so.

Talking of getting out and about, this weekend we are climbing in North Wales and staying at our club hut. There might be a few places left still so why not come and join us. Plenty of great walking, scrambling, cycling, etc too.

If you can't make it this weekend then how about joining us for a spot of Cycling along the Peddars Way on the weekend of 17th/18th September. Or for more climbing, walking, cycling in the Lovely Lake district we have some places left at the wonderful Barrow MC hut on the weekend of 24th/25th September, you can book your places now via the website.

Phew, and if that wasn't enough to whet your appetite then of course we have bouldering tonight at The Climbing Station. The BMC Midlands area meeting is on Wednesday evening. And conditions look very nice for some bouldering/top-roping at Beacon Hill on Thursday evening.

Hope to see you all soon!

Andy

Hi Everyone,

Did you manage to dodge the rain and wind this weekend? Looks like some of you manage to make it out in the Peak district on Sunda. And from what I've seen on Facebook it looks like Rob, Simon and Masa have has a good time out in Chamonix, looking forward to hearing more about their adventures soon. It was also good to see some members getting out for some midweek climbing. Just what you want to see when you're stuck at your desk working is a photo of climbing in glorious sunshine, thanks Yvonne and Graham!

Unfortunately the summer is slipping away from us so it's time for us all to make the most of the remaining climbing opportunities of the year. You could get started with a warm up at The Climbing Station this Tuesday, and then follow up with some outdoor climbing at Markfield Quarry on Thursday. And once your appetite has been whet you'll be itching to head to Pembrokeshire with us for a weekend of fantastic sea cliff climbing. If you will be coming to Pembroke let me know so I can keep you abreast of the plans once we discover if the weather will be in our favour, fingers crossed!

Also a little reminder to get your places booked on our Lake District trip in September, and the Mountain Biking meet in November. However if you can't make the Lake District trip in September then you could checkout this event on the same weekend which is raising funds for Leicestershire Search and Rescue.



Have an awesome one!

Andy

Hi Everyone,

The place to be this weekend was Stanage Popular, where the early bird climbers who were at the crag for 8am on Saturday would have been treated to the sight of me falling off Square Buttress Arete (VS 4c). This was a somewhat auspicious start to the day were Andy Richards and I were attempting our own Stanage VS challenge. Luckily my one piece of gear held and solid belaying from Mr Richards meant I avoided a ground fall (just). Next time we will wait a little longer for the rock to dry before starting, but none-the-less we carried on and although I had to retire from the challenge after 12 routes, Andy carried on to achieve 19 VS's before we had to stop for dinner.

Well done Andy, and also well done Michelle Aukland who on the following day ticked 24 routes (totalling 61 stars) in a team up with James from Ceunant Mountaineering Club. It was also great to see some of our new members out on the crag with us on Sunday. We all did our best to help Blanka gets some mileage under her new gear which looked far too bright and shiny!

Looking forward to this week we have bouldering at The Climbing Station on Tuesday as always. The climbing venue for Thursday is not decided yet so watchout for an invite. And don't forget we've got our Pembrokeshire coming up on the bank holiday weekend!

Hope to see you soon,

Andy

Hello Bowliners and friends,

Pleased to see that there has been lots of climbing going on whilst I was busy taking Explorer Scouts for adventures in the Swiss Alps. Glad to see there was lots of you enjoying our lovely club hut on the BBQ weekend, shame I couldn't join you but I will be there for the next club hut meet on the 10th/11th September. And whilst on the subject of September meets don't forget to get your places booked for what will no doubt be an awesome trip to the Lake district on the 24th/25th September.

Of course there is no need to wait for September for your next Bowline climbing fix. As we have a trip to Pembrokeshire on the August bank holiday weekend. Home to probably the best, and most numerous, sea cliff climbs this will be a weekend not to be missed.

As for this week well we have bouldering at The Climbing Station tonight as always. The nights are starting to draw in a little but we are still getting out on Thursday nights while we can. This week we are back at Wildcat crag in Matlock Bath from 6pm. And this coming weekend we are looking to head to the Peak District where a few crazy fools (myself included) are thinking of attempting the Stanage VS challenge. Whilst other more sensible types are just planning to enjoy climbing at Stanage. We'll let you know whats happening, and when, via email nearer the time.

Have an excellent week!

Andy

Hello Everyone,

As you are hopefully all aware the Bowline Climbing Club is affliated to the British Mountaineering Council (BMC). As such all members of the Bowline are also club members of the BMC (and I know a number of you are also individual members of the BMC in your own right). The BMC has embarked on a process of rebranding itself with a new logo and a new name 'Climb Britain'.

The rebranding process, and the choice of name/logo, has generated a strong reaction within the BMCs membership. No doubt this will include members of our club. As well as encouraging all of you to have your say on the rebranding at the next BMC Midlands Area meeting on Wednesday 7th September. The committee would also like to hear from our members directly so that we can form a position for the club on this matter, which we can then put forward to the BMC. We would like to hear from as many of you as possible with your views on the rebranding (whether positive, negative or neutral). This would be best done via email to the club secretary (Zoe Pickering) - clubsecretary@bowlineclimbingclub.co.uk.

For your information the following email was sent to us by Dave Turnbull (Chief Executive of the BMC).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
BMC rebranding - engagement with clubs

 
Following my email of earlier this week I am writing to draw your attention to the update article as posted on the BMC website yesterday, see: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/climb-britain-update-from-the-bmc
 
There has been a strong reaction to the idea of rebranding the BMC and we have now announced there will be a period of discussion and feedback in advance of the next BMC National Council meeting on 17 September.
 
The next BMC Area Meetings take place between 1-14 September and each meeting will be attended by one or more members of our Board of Directors (I will be attending at least six) who will explain the rebranding process and take questions. Most of the dates are already established (see: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/upcoming-bmc-area-meetings) but do keep an eye out for changes and updates. It would be great if you could encourage your members to attend these meetings and contribute to the debate.
 
The BMC also intends to hold a meeting specifically for club officials on Tuesday 6 September at a location to be fixed once we know where the demand is coming from. If your club would like to come along to such a meeting I would be very grateful if you could drop me a line to confirm the name of person who will be attending.
 
With thanks

Best regards.

 
Dave Turnbull
Chief Executive
British Mountaineering Council
 
www.thebmc.co.uk
 

Hello Everybody,

I've held off this weeks email until now as I am leaving for two weeks in Switzerland this evening so there won't be any updates whilst I'm away. But I'm certain you'll all be out enjoying climbing in this lovely weather so I look forward to swapping tales of adventure when I get back.

We have the BBQ in Brynrefail (club hut meet) coming up on the weekend of the 30th July, lots of people already booked to go so make sure you grab your place quick. Also I've lined up a couple of Thursday climbing sessions whilst I'm gone, next week it's Turningstone Edge (28th July), and then the week after it's Beacon Hill (4th August). Also don't forget our trip to the excellent cliffs of Pembrokshire on the bank holiday weekend (27th-29th August)!

As you may well have gathered from the various photo's on Facebook we had a fantastic time in the Forest of Dean. We visited Wintours Leap, Symonds Yat and Shorn Cliff and found the climbing to be excellent. A return trip to these venues is definitely required. On Saturday night we were treated to a delicious three course dinner thanks for which we owe a very big thanks to the hard work of Michelle, Zoe, Rich, Suzie and Ania.

See you all in a few weeks time,

Andy