lack of sleep....

Well another year has past and 2014 has been even busier than the last... That's a good thing isn't it?
The year started off with a load of training, it was going well until our little Arnold decided to start teething again and not sleep at night ( a theme throughout the year ).
There were a few good weather days around Jan/Feb and I went out with Dom and Jonboy and despatched a couple of boulder problems that were on my list. The first being Low Rider 7c+ Stanage and the second MasterKush 7c+ at Rivelin both quality problems.
Next up was a bit of comp action. I competed in the FBO at the foundry where I won the team event with Shauna and Martin and qualified in 16th overall. I felt I didn't climb that well as I could have but I had done loads of training the week before. The CWIF was next I had more rest and was feeling good, I had some great training sessions down the wall doing loads of volume and completing some of the harder circuits so it was game on. I climbed well in the qualifier going round with Alex Magos, it certainly helps when he cruises up the problems and says they are all easy... He's a total Monster!
I topped one problem in the semi final but I just didn't have the fitness or power to do any of the others.

CWIF- Qualified in 13th and finished in  17th.
 

Semi Final crowd

CWIF 2014

I then had a great week with Alex showing him around the Peak and Yorkshire. He despatched loads of stuff and I managed a honourable lap of Raindog's at Malham. Check out the Video here..
http://vimeo.com/93236289

I then managed a great little problem at Bubage north called Back Street Mime Artist, its 8a and its a bit Lowball but the climbing is cool. Here is a little video of me working it.

It was time for some more 'hard move' training for our big trip to South Africa in the summer!
I had some great sessions out in the peak I despatched Infinate Suspense 7c+ Blackwell dale, Paint it black 7c and Hanibal 7c Stoney Cave, climbing with Harry, Dom,Neil,Ryan and Martin. I then had a great day out in Wales with Dave M and Tom N. I did the following great problems, 36 chambers 7c Tremeirchion, unknown problem 7c Tremeirchion and 7b+ at The Gop.

We then had a family week in Fontainbleau at the end of May, Mum,Dad, Cousin Chloe and us 3. The weather was really warm and Arnie did his first slab :) I managed a coulpe of 7b+'s but it was too warm to try anything harder.

Next up was another short weekend up in Northumberland. Lu, Arnie and I headed up with Michelle and Tom Greenall and we had a quality couple of days bouldering and hanging out. I despatched
QueenKong 8a Queens Crag a king line I tried on Tom's stag do back in 2013.

 http://vimeo.com/94450515

I then had a 10 days in Magic wood with Dom and Lee, We stayed in the Generosa and had a great time trying Hard. I tried a couple of 8b's and managed a cool 7c+ called From Darkness into Sunshine.

unknown 7c

One Summer in Paradise

The summer came around very quickly and it was time to head to south Africa and meet up with our good old friend The Rubber Chicken. We had a great time but struggled with a teething baby for the whole month.. I managed an 8a on the last day and Lu did a 7C called last day in Paradise ( also on the last day!! ). Rubber Chicken despatched a few 8a's and all in all we had a good time. I certainly wasn't climbing as well as the last time I was the there back in 2011 but I didn't have a teething baby who was up at least 3 times every night.

Teething!!

Arnold's SA friends 'The Ducks@

Bath Time

My Rocklands Ticklist-
The Arc 8a
Stalker on the Horizon 7c+
Vlad the impaler 7c
Last day in Paradise 7c
Timeout 7c
Rhino 7b+
Shadows of ourselves 7c
Born into struggle 7b+
Minki 7b
Poison Dwarf 7b
Arch Baby sitter 7b

PARTY BOYS!!!

Arnold's bed for a MONTH!

After a week back home it was off again to San Diego for a family wedding. Lucinda's cousin was marring a boy from San Diego so it time for some sun, sea and beach action. We stayed with some other cousins on mission beach. The wedding was really nice and it was great to just chill out hang out at the beach and rest from such a busy summer.

Travel Minister

Go Float

Cloudy California

Last but no means least was our trip to Hueco. We had decided at the begging of the year we were going to get a load of big trips in before Arnie was 2 years old,  you don't have to pay for them...
6 long haul flights later he was a seasoned traveller... The flight home from El Paso was a path, we got on the planes and all Arnie said was Mummy Milk and then sleep please!!!
I wont bore you with the details but we had a great time with Michelle,Tom,Dan and Rowanne, Max and Nathan. We also met a couple of local legends who took us out for some great Tours, thanks Ana and Anne.

Check out my video of some of the problems I despatched.........

http://vimeo.com/117476509

Dean's Journey

Mexico border

El Techo V11

Happy Birthday Dan

BIG GUN

Krispy Creme

The end to what was a great but tiring year was the infamous Works Party... 800 people one big club and one massive after party... The best yet!!!!!!!

See you next year and stay psyched people...

PUSH ON