Blog: 'Once you start climbing you won’t want to stop!'
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year.
In 2016 we’ll be taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people. This week it’s C for Climbing, and John Churcher discusses his passion for scaling heights.
John’s blog:
Climbing is not a sport that you would immediately think of doing if you have a disability.
But there is absolutely no reason why you can’t have a go, whether you have a physical or sensory impairment – and of course there is also no age restriction.
I am registered blind and wear two hearing aids. I took up the sport of climbing six years ago at the age of 36 when a friend invited me along to a local climbing wall.
At first I was wary and wondered how I would cope, but everyone was very friendly and supportive. My confidence soon grew and I progressed rapidly and knew that I had found a sport that I loved.
I wanted to take it further and found out about National Paraclimbing competitions. Keen to do well I increased my number of climbing sessions and improved my fitness through exercising at home.
At the climbing wall I steadily increased the difficulty of the routes. My climbing improved and I was very proud when selected for the GB Paraclimbing Team – recently I became British VI (Male) champion, and I am ranked world number three in the B2 Visual Impairment category.
Climbing has four main indoor areas to it – lead, bouldering, speed and ice climbing – and there’s also outdoor climbing where you can do all of these.
Paraclimbing, as the sport is known for disabled participants, is a growing sport and is a great activity for your body and mind. You can make it as easy or as hard as you like, and it gives you a full workout from head to toe.
Each year the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) runs a series of events all over the country called the BMC Paraclimbing Series. Everyone from complete novice to a very experienced person can come along and have a go at climbing.
There has been an increase in the number of competitors each year since the Paraclimbing Series began, and now they attract 25+ people at each of the four events. The events take place in Scotland, run by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) and also in Newcastle, Manchester and London.
There is a growing international scene as well. The sport has a World Championships taking place every two years, where there are 60+ competitors from over 10 countries.
If you’re interested in having a go then a good place to start is your local climbing wall or you can get in touch with the BMC or MCofS. But be warned - once you start you won’t want to stop!
