Australia’s Youth National Championships were held last weekend at Sydney Indoor Climbing Villawood, with over 300 competitors and over 600 people in attendance from all over the country. Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing was proud to send our Rock Squad to represent our gyms and the ACT.
The route setting team, volunteers, and staff at Sydney Indoor Climbing Villawood did an amazing job of putting on the event — it was truly a community effort.
For our Rock Squad member Sam Inglis, it was his first nationals. He said everyone involved at the event made him feel welcomed.
“As it was my first nationals, I was a bit overwhelmed,” Inglis said. “After I got over that it was awesome; the climbs were good and the other competitors were nice, so there was an amazing atmosphere at Villawood.”
Rock Squad Podiums
Sam Inglis competes in lead climbing at the Youth Nationals. Photo courtesy of Sam Inglis
We were ecstatic to see several of our Rock Squad members make podiums and top-ten in their categories. Squad member and CIRC-sponsored athlete Sasha Faul said she was proud to be the team captain.
“The focus and dedication that went into training beforehand was obvious, especially for the many kids who were competing in their first ever nationals,” Faul said. “We proved ourselves as a team of determined crushers!”
Below is the complete list of Rock Squad members and ACT climbers who placed.
- Abby Manning (Category: Junior Female) — Overall 1st, 1st in lead, 4th in bouldering, and 1st in speed
- Ellisa Andres (Category: Youth B Female) — Overall 3rd, 2nd in lead, 2nd in bouldering, and 3rd in speed
- Anouk Moser-Verchot (Category: Youth B Female) — Overall 4th, 5th in lead, top 10 in bouldering, and 4th in speed
- Sasha Faul (Category: Junior Female) — 3rd in lead and 3rd in bouldering
- Emily Scott (Category: Youth C Female) — Top 10 in lead and 4th in bouldering
- Ally Hocking-Howe (Cateogry: Junior Female) — Top 10 in lead and top 10 in bouldering
- Tigerlily Howlett (Category: Youth B Female) — Top 10 in lead and top 10 in bouldering
- Madison Mulligan (Category: Youth A Female) — 4th in lead
- Sam Inglis (Category: Youth A Male) — Top 10 in lead
- Willem Grant-Ryan (Category: Youth B Male) — Top 10 in lead
- Rory Blackbourn-Rooney (Category: Youth B Male) — Top 10 in bouldering
Team Captain and CIRC-sponsored climber Sasha Faul took third in bouldering in her category. Photo courtesy of Sport Climbing Australia.
Congrats to all participants
We are immensely proud of all of our Rock Squad members and ACT climbers who travelled to compete at the Youth National Championships this year. In addition to those listed above, this also included: Marlo Chapple, Hugo Curtis, Max de Majnik, Jasper Geach, Eoin Godley, Tahlia Harsdorf, Caitlin James, Matthew Kitchin, Jeremie Lerat, Mael Lerat, Lila MacGibbon, Myles Murphy, Grace Oakden, Sam Owens and Henry Patrick-Kobier.
Thank you to our Rock Squad coaches Cait Horan, Callum Hyland, Kale McCauley and Dave Park for all of the hard work they put in year-round to training Rock Squad and preparing them to compete.
Horan said 2019 was a big year for Rock Squad, with several nationals debuts.
“With several of our older team members finishing their time on the youth scene we had quite a few climbers competing at a national level for the first time,” she said. “Nerves were high, but all the training paid off and the Rock Squad members did us proud.”
Horan said she wanted to give particular recognition to Faul and McCauley — Faul for being a great team captain and being on the podium in both lead and boulder, and McCauley for taking over the ACT coaching role and doing an outstanding job.
Congratulations as well to all of the youth climbers from all over Australia who participated this year. We’re looking forward to the next competition!
Lis Andres placed 3rd overall in her category. Photo courtesy of Sport Climbing Australia.
