Climbing

At Cranleigh we have recently received a very generous donation which has allowed us to build a purpose-designed bouldering wall in the Outdoor Education Centre.  Such is the interest in climbing within the School community that the wall is in use twice a day, most days of the week.   The range of interest ranges from novices (through the outdoor education program every Fourth Former will have at least one opportunity to climb) to pupils who compete in local and regional bouldering competitions such as the Southern Indoor Climbing League (www.sibl.co.uk).  For pupils who can compete at this level, climbing is offered as a sport option; though the training is far wider than purely climbing, taking in aspects of yoga, circuits, power and stamina training.
The performance climbers also help out with the running of the climbing club, with the Master i/c Climbing, Dr Tyrrell (BRT), who has competed in many bouldering competitions and has bouldered and sport-climbed to a high level. The club offers the opportunity for pupils who have passed their competency test (see below) to hone their technique, either as an end in itself or with one eye on performance/competition climbing in the future.

In addition to using our own wall, we run fortnightly trips to Craggy Island in Guildford (www.craggy-island.com) , where the pupils can test themselves on extended route climbs or more boulder problems. In fact, we use their competency test as the basis of our own assessment of the pupils' ability to climb without direct supervision.   Pupils are coached toward their competency test as part of the beginners climbing activities run by Dr Simon Young (SAHY),who holds, amongst other qualifications, an SPA and has many years ‘trad’ climbing experience. Trips to Craggy Island are charged as extra, but at a highly reduced entry fee.
 The boulder problems on the School wall are reset, both in-house and professionally, on a continual, rolling, basis, making sure that everyone has a challenge to work on.

As well as fortnightly trips to Guildford, we also run at least three Sunday trips a year, to local Southern Sandstone crags in the Tonbridge area when the weather is clement or to indoor walls further afield if it is not. We also run an annual extended trip to the Peak District over Michaelmas Long Leave.

It should also be noted that additional climbing, rope work and abseiling is also done by members of the CCF.

Information for climbers

As climbing is a technical sport that requires dedication and specific kit, it is expected that pupils will sign up for at least a term at a time and that once they have committed to their climbing they purchase a pair of rock shoes (which retail from about £60 upwards).   These can be bought at Rock On at Craggy Island during one of our fortnightly trips or from any number of outdoors retailers.