Welcome from the President
Hello lovely SCC people!
The sun is shining, the rules are lifting, and we are CLIMBING again! Happy times. I hope you are all doing well and feeling psyched for a soon-to-be summer of climbing adventures.
Before I go on, as this is the first newsletter of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of our members into the fold, both new and old - it is great to see so many of you (re)joining SCC, despite the pandemic-style washout that was 2020!* Hopefully we will all get to know each other well over the next few weeks as we start revving up for a much improved 2021.
Whilst overnight stays are still not possible at present (roll on May 17th!) we have already had a great day meet of Sport-tastic fun at Hedbury quarry last weekend, and over the upcoming early May bank holiday weekend we will be setting our sights on the many trad options availabe in Swanage - exact crags TBC and depending on the wind direction (which, as I'm sure you have noticed, has been rather chilly of late)! Further in the future we have a weekend in North Devon planned for the late May bank holiday weekend (accommodation TBC) and several excellent training opportunities in the pipeline which are bound to prove very popular, so sign up asap to avoid disappointment! Keep an eye on the website and of course the members-only facebook group for updates in the coming weeks.
Of course we are not out of the woods yet, so please continue to observe social distancing rules, face-mask wearing and general hygiene considerations whenever you get out climbing, and do remember to keep on top of the ever-changing guidelines (the current BMC guidelines can be found via a link below). Lift-sharing is still not advised, so please be careful to plan your trips to crags where ample parking is available (or arrive early!).
A final note, it will not have escaped your attention that we have a brand new, shiny climbing wall in Southampton (Parthian)! Discussions are underway for a potential club night/discount for SCC members, so keep and eye on the FB group for updates over the next few of weeks.
*considering the restrictions that were in place, we did still manage to have some great meets - particular highlights for me were Cornwall, the Peak District and our first Southern Sandstone meet. I can't wait to revisit these amazing locations over the course of 2021!
~ Colette O'Neill, President.
COVID-19 Guidance
We kindly ask that all members follow our COVID-19 guidance when attending meets, training or socials.
As an affiliated club of the BMC we follow their COVID-19 guidance, full details can be found here.
Upcoming outdoor meets
Your meet secretaries are Kizzy and Matt.
- Swanage Trad Weekend - 1st - 3rd May Bank Holiday Weekend (Day 1, Day 2)
- North Devon - 28th - 31st May Bank Holiday Weekend
- Peak District - 26th - 27th June
- Cornwall - 10th - 18th July
Meet details can be found here
Upcoming training dates
Your training sec is Chris.
At SCC we want you to get the very best out of your climbing, so throughout the year we have a programme of training events to motivate and educate you!
- Rescue Skills and Problem Solving - Saturday 15th May
- Introduction to Trad Climbing - Sunday 16th May
- Cleaning Sport Anchors - Wednesday 19th May
- Introduction to Roped Climbing - Friday 21st May - 4th June
- Multipitch Climbing - Saturday 19th June
See the training section for further details.
The BMC also have subsidised training courses available to BMC club members (that's you!). So why not take a look at what they can offer too: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/training-essentials-climbing-skills
Upcoming Socials
Your Social Sec is Sarah
- Taskmaster Social - 7th May
Keep an eye out on the members Facebook group & website for more events and updates.
NEW Club Merchandise!
It's only been about 2 years, but we are so pleased to announce that we have some new club merchandise now available to order now! We have teamed up with Boulder Shack to help in providing on-demand printing on a range of high-quality garments.
More info and access to the shop available to members when logged into the website: SCC Club Merchandise
We have lots of ideas for what else we could do with this, but we'd love to hear your thoughts too!
Recent meets
Hedbury, Swanage
Club Gear
Your Gear Sec is Jo
Don't forget that the club has a stash of gear that members can borrow, not to mention all the guidebooks too in our club Library at Boulder Shack.
Club indoor sessions
As usual, here are the details of the club's weekly indoor sessions, great for socialising and getting a midweek climb in.
- Tuesdays at Boulder Shack from approx. 7-9.30pm. Our discounted club night, followed by a trip to the local watering hole, usually The Book Shop (pizza available next door) or The Rockstone.
- Thursdays at Calshot from approx 7pm onwards, again with a discount (which in fact is valid any time in Calshot) and a drink/food after in the bar. We'd recommend using the club's Facebook group to check who else is going and coordinate lifts, especially during the winter!
Social Media
Your Web Sec is Simon
All members of SCC have access to the Facebook members only-group. This is a great place to stay in touch with fellow club members, see updates and announcements about club activities, find climbing partners for a visit to the wall/crag/pub, or just share climbing-related news. Feel free to "pitch" in 🙂
If you're having any difficulty joining the group, please let us know by contacting the committee. You can also find us on Instagram, and we have a public Facebook page as well. Give us a follow and share with any mates you think may be interested!
SCC Members Facebook Group
SCC Instagram
SCC Public Facebook Page
As always, please get in touch if you have any feedback about the club or ideas for future activities.
With best wishes,