23 January 2020
Two 8c+/9a in two sessions each by Hamish Mcarthur (17)
Hamish Mcarthur, #2 and #5 in the Youth World Boulder and Lead Championships last year, has done two 8c+/9a's in Siurana in just two sessions each; Jungle Speed and A Muerte. Amazingly, the previous best for the 17-year-old was 8a.
"I never really get the chance to climb on rocks due to school, training and where I live, so I went into the trip with a big tick list but few expectations. I hadn't lead outdoors in over a year and my previous hardest grade was 8a due to lack of trying anything harder. So after an easy first day, to get on an infamous 8c+/9a "jungle speed" and send it within 2 sessions came as a bit of a surprise. Maybe it was just a fluke? After celebrating for new years I took a much needed rest day (a lot of climbing and dancing) before heading out to try "a muerte" as recommended to me by Will Bosi. Similarly to jungle speed, this too falls between 8c+ and 9a so a quick ascent of this (also with 2 sessions) solidified that it wasn't fluke and training on plastic really can get you strong for rock!
I have some big goals for 2020, alongside A levels I plan to compete in junior and senior international competitions. I hope to make another podium at the Youth European and World Championships (preferably gold this time...) as well as make my first final at a senior world Cup. After the comp season I plan on getting back on some international rock to find a project and hopefully send some more classic, hard lines!"
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