Profile - Greg Forward

We have been saving this one until after our Autumnal Festival - so here you have it, the one and only Mr Greg Forward.

1. What is your role at UCR?
I'm chief tea drinker and part-time route setter.

2. How did you get into climbing?
My mother told me to - she didn't approve of the usual, 'common' sports activities.

3. What is your most memorable climbing experience?
Climbing with Sarah Reynolds.

4. What is your favourite meal?
Curry will do it.

5. Who is your climbing hero?
The aforementioned Sarah Reynolds.

6. What are your climbing ambitions?
They have been achieved!

7. What would be your theme tune?
"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" by Gary Glitter

... and who has Greg chosen as the next 'Profile victim' - you will have to wait and see!

Last Walk Around Mirror Lake - Boom Bip (Boards of Canada Remix) from FroschYankee on Vimeo.

Awesome base jumping video Adrenaline Rush (The Science of Risk). Filmed by Frosch Yankee in Norway.

Profile - Guy Jarvis

We had dipped under the radar for a mo but UCR's Profile team are back with a profile on Mr Guy 'lastminute.com' Jarvis.



1. What is your role in UCR?
They call me the 'Chief Instructor'.

2. How did you get into climbing?
I joined the Manchester University Mountaineering Club and they had the wildest nights out - we were banned from more North Wales mountaineering club huts than any other university mountaineering club.

3. What has been your most memorable climbing experience?
Climbing in Wadi Rum in Jordan. The routes are big, loose and scary. They are about a kilometre long, hugely adventurous and in the middle of nowhere.

4. What is your favourite food?
Leftovers!

5. Who are your climbing heroes?
I only have one and it is Mick Fowler. Over the past few years he has held down a full time job and at the same time he has 'whipped the pants' of prima donna climbing professionals.

6. What are your ambitions?
I would like to retire at some stage, buy a yacht and sail off into the sunset without 2 broken ankles as a legacy of climbing.

7. What is your theme tune?
'How Soon Is Now' by the Smiths.

Thank you Guy and who should our next victim be?

A little music, some philosophy and uber hard climbing

BD athlete Nico Favresse on La Reina Mora (8c+) in Siurana, Spain from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Profile - Ben West

Ah ha - now it is the turn of our very own Ben West, the one and only!

1. What is your role at UCR?
I'm the Centre Manager, Chief Route Setter and ' I will do whatever.'

2. How did you get into climbing?
It was on a school trip with my 'old' science teacher, Guy Jarvis. By-the-way, he didn't teach me much science.

3. What is your most memorable climbing experience?
There are quite a few - most of them involving Steve Findlay. The highlight, if you can call it that, was being caught up in the tsunami in Thailand. As a party of 6 we were climbing at the Ao Nang Tower. Steve and I had climbed the route, signed the book and lowered off. Whilst the others were climbing, Steve and I were deep water soloing around the tower when we noticed the tide rushing out. We got back into the boat and then noticed the wave - OMG! We took the boat around the back of the tower for shelter but then the 2nd wave capsized us. Steve became entangled in the anchor rope but managed to free himself. We swam through the waves to the capsized boat and eventually were washed up on shore. Our friends on the tower were rescued 4 hours later by a police boat but we didn't find out that the girl friends were safe until 10 hours later. It was epic!

4. What is your favourite meal?
It has to be roast lamb dinner.

5. Who are your climbing heroes?
I have three. Firstly, there is Martin Crocker. He has done so much in terms of hard trad and sport climbing around the country. Secondly, there is Malcolm Smith. He is a dark horse - super strong but shys away from publicity. Thirdly, there is Ian Vickers who is an unbelievably talented climber with a style all of his own.

6. What are your climbing ambitions?
I want to climb as much as I can and as hard as I can all over the world. Ideally, I would do 8c before the kids arrive!

7. What would be your theme tune?
It has to be 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor.

Competition Dates for 2010/11

Our competition and festival dates have been finalised for the coming season and here they are:

Date Details
Thursday 21/10/10 Bouldering Round 1
Saturday 27/11/10 Autumn Festival & Bouldering Round 2
Monday 24/01/11 Schools Comp
Thursday 10/02/11 Bouldering Round 3
Saturday 12/03/11 Spring Festival & Bouldering Round 4

Many thanks to Snow and Rock and Lyon for providing prizes for all categories of climbers from novices through to the experts. Our festivals will be the usual mix of mayhem, fancy dress, good climbing and entertainment.We look forward to seeing you there.

Our website will have more details closer to the date.

Profile - McKenzie Lloyd-Smith

It is the return of the UCR profiling machine and it is the turn of our youngest member of staff, McKenzie, to reveal all.



1. What is your role at UCR?
I hold the role of the youngest employee - I represent the Youth at UCR.

2. How did you get into climbing?
It was through school, QEH, I was injured and couldn't play rugby so I came along to the climbing sessions instead.

3. What is your most memorable climbing experience?
I spent the day trad climbing with Tom Heslam at Gull Bay in Devon. It was an eye-opener to what is possible.

4. What is your favourite meal?
Continuing in the trad line it is good old-fashioned fish 'n' chips especially with minted peas.

5. Who is your climbing hero?
I have 2 - it is Le Cox and Mr West, especially for their natural ability and being able to do what it is they do without seemingly doing any training.

6. What are your climbing ambitions?
It would be to climb abroad and to be able to climb consistently at 7a.

7. What would be your theme tune?
It is Rappers Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.