More than 70 climbers descended on the Nottingham Climbing Centre last Friday for the 1st round of the Alpkit Winter Bouldering League. New for this season is a single epic 3 hour session format giving competitors a fighting chance of nailing some of the more difficult problems. There was a special treat for those with the stamina to crank out the full 3 hours with a competitors prize draw raffle. The evening culminated with a special Alpkit challenge; a speed traverse of the climbing wall. Competitors set off at 15 second intervals with only 4 managing to complete the traverse, the weak either falling or getting tagged. Junior British Team member Billy 'Gonzales' Ridal was narrowly beaten into second place by a nimble-footed John Nightingale. The prize for his efforts: a Maverick slackline. Post competition banter took place in the Lion.

The team at the Nottingham Climbing Centre put a serious amount of work into the round, stripping the existing 103 problems, and with the help of guest setter James Garden, set over 100 new routes for climbing centre visitors to enjoy over the next month.

Round 2 takes place on the 4th November with another instant prize draw and a brand new Alpkit challenge to flummox climbers and entertain the crowd.

For results, pictures and information about the series visit the website (link below).