With ten weeks of coaching completed no one could have guessed just how closely fought the final would be.

Monday, 23rd March saw young climbers from Aquinas Grammar, Little Flower Girls School, Methodist College and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution arrive at the Ozone to compete in the final of the first ever Mountaineering Ireland, under 15 Schools Climbing Competition.

Having been tested by three routes and three boulder problems only 10 points separated the first four girls.  Lucy Mullan secured 1st place, Emma Bogues took 2nd just 1 point behind, closely followed by Aoife Shirlow and TJ O’Neill in 3rd and 4th.

The competition was run by the NI Youth Climbing Team with the aid of a Support for Sport grant from Belfast City Council with Cotswold Outdoor providing the prizes.

Click on this link for a full report, results and more photographs from the event.

For more information on the Northern Ireland Youth Climbing Team please visit their website.

Visit the Cotswold Outdoor web site for more information on their wide range of products, don't forget they offer a 15% discount to all Mountaineering Ireland members with valid membership cards.