Welcome to The Foundry Blog....

Opening its doors back in 1991, The Foundry has been at the heart of the Sheffield and UK climbing scenes ever since. Almost two decades on, the centre continues to provide a world class environment for climbers, whether you're new to the sport or about to tick your first Font 8b!

The blog will keep you up to date with the activity and achievements that are going on in and around The Foundry.

Hope to see you soon! - Neil Bentley (Centre Manager)

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Resetting All This Week..

Rob and Dan will be resetting the Furnace and Main Wall all this week in preparation for the BMC Leading Ladder Finial on Sat 4th April. To find out what's open to give us a ring on 0114 279 6331


It's a cinch


NEW IN! The Trango Cinch is another 'autoblocking' belay device a bit like the GriGri. It's considerably lighter in the hand than its competitors although sadly no lighter on the wallet and it comes in a lovely green colour.

Monday 23 March 2009

Core red point winner!

The winner of the Core finger board is Ed Brown whose name was randomly picked from those who successfully redpointed the green 7c. No one red pointed the pink 8a/+. Hope you all had a good time trying the routes. Next time we will set some lower grade routes to give more climbers the opportunity to win the prize!

Thursday 19 March 2009

BMC Leading Ladder Final - April 4th

This event will have climbers from all over the country testing their leading skills on 5 different routes for each of the 3 categories. The Main wall and Furnace will be open to competitors only on this day. The Foundry will open for registration at 9am
The 3 categories are Improver doing 6a, 6a+, 6b, 6b+, 6c. Recreational doing 6b+, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c and Elite doing 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b. There will be 15 routes in total so two of 6b+, 6c, 7a, 7b and 7c. There will be prizes for top 3 in each category male/female and under 16 m/f.

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Easter and Summer Opening Times

Of course some of you will have been climbing outside all winter, but as the hour changes and the temperatures warm up an increasing number of our regulars head outside to climb on real rock. So it's that time of year when we switch to shorter summer opening times.

From Easter (11th April) The Foundry will close at 6pm on weekend evenings.
We will still open at 10am 7 days a week and close at 10pm on weekday evenings.

Easter Weekend
Good Friday: 10am-8pm
Saturday/Sunday: 10am-6pm
Easter Monday: 10am-8pm

Monday 16 March 2009

Core Climbing Redpoint Challenge.......4 Days Left!!


You may already be aware of, and be embroiled in the torturous ordeal of Redpointing already!.....

But heres a quick reminder that you have until this Thursday (19th March 2009) to get your successful redpoint completed and your entry in, to be entered in to the draw to win a Core Climbing Fingerboard!!

The Two Routes can be found on the Fivet Ten Prow; a 7b+/7c and a 8a/8a+ using exclusively Core Climbing Holds ( http://www.coreclimbing.co.uk/ )

(If you normally easily red point above the 7c/+ level the you will be expected to try the harder route in order to be eligable to claim a prize!)

For more information, please ask at reception.....Good Luck!!

Wednesday 11 March 2009

Now thats Light!!



CragX now have the new DMM Phantom Screwgate in stock. Weighing in at an amazing 41g they are the lightest screwgate ever made!

Only £10 each from Cragx.com or instore at CragX Foundry Shop.

Free tea from Crag x...

Thursday 5 March 2009

Evolv Boot Demo

5pm-9.30pm, Wednesday 11th March

This is your chance to “try before you buy” and get your feet in a pair of Evolv climbing shoes. It’s free to try the shoes, just pay your normal fee to climb then borrow pair from the stand in the main climbing hall.

Evolv climbing shoes are available from CragX and everyone who tries a pair on the night will be entered into a FREE raffle to win a pair.

Sheffield Universities Varsity Competition

There was a great atmosphere on the bouldering wall as Sheffield and Hallam fought to win this years competition. Sheffield certainly had more climbers but unfortunatly for them the winners were decided by the combined scored from the top 3 men and top female - this made Hallam the winners by a mere 6 points!

Hallam University - 715 points
University of Sheffield - 709 points


I Turton (H) - 190 - joint top male
E Feehally (S) - 190 - joint top male
T Arnold (S) - 187
A Harrison (H) - 181
K Whittakey (HF) - 172 - joint top female
R Cowie - (SF) - 172 - joint top female
J Grondowski (H) - 172
D Waters (S) - 160
J Lynch (H) - 143
R Armour (H) - 138
K Piddock (SF) - 136
M Boden (S) - 136
J Studden (HF) - 134
S Bennett (S) - 130
J Nunn (H) - 129
O Burrows (S) - 128
T Dixon (S) - 122
R Snowden (SF) - 120
J Powell (S) - 118
A Saul (S) - 118
M Gee (S) - 118
N Weston (S) - 108
M Watson (S) - 106
J Rous (S) - 97
E moorhouse (H) - 77
R Hulme (S) - 66
F Prall (S) - 52
L Andrew (H) - 46

The overall top scoring male/female win a 1 months Foundry Membership - these can be collected from Reception.

Monday 2 March 2009

Varsity bouldering comp 4th March 2-4.30pm

Yes, its the Sheffield University v Sheffield Hallam varsity bouldering comp here on Wednesday afternoon. There will be 20 new problems set by Rob on the wave. bleaustone wall, traing board and volumes in the main wall. See you here at 2pm !

Foundry Academy Friendly comp!

On Saturday 30 young climbers competed at the first Foundry Academy friendly. After having 5 problems and a route to try the final scores are below. It was a good comp, everyone looked like they were enjoying the great problems and routes set by Rob Napier (our resident brilliant setter!) and Tim Hill (usually seen managing the cafe) who is also a dab hand at setting. Well done to all of you who took part and the parents who helped out. Good luck to all of you intending to do the forthcoming BRYCS series.

The maximum score possible was 150.
7-10 years
1MARY CLERKIN 132
2ABBIE RIVETT 119
3BETH JENNINGS 115
4DANIELLE HOYLAND 111
5PIPPA WATKIN 110
6DANA WINDLE 104
6LUCY CLARKSON 104
8 NIAMH FARRELL 71

11-14 years
1 JAKE BEECH 150
2 JACK SHAW 147
3 BETH HOYLAND 118
4 PAREESA TAI 84
5 ABBIE HEATH 77
6 JAKE JAMES 59
7 DANIELLE DUROED 52
8 ISABELLE COTTYN 45
8 JACK GOULD 45
10 ELLA FARRELL 39
10 MEG HARVEY 39

B3
1 ALEX LEONARD 122
2 ED MORRIS 120
3 JOSH FORDE 118
4 JOE BROADHEAD 114
5 JON HICKSON 106
6 OWEN BELLWOOD 105
7 DAN LEICESTER 82
8 ROB COOK 72

G3
JESSICA ATKIN 101
HOLLY MURRAY 101

Silly deal on Supramonte DVD



A little bit of entertainment to get you psyched now the weather is starting to come good. Supramonte DVD is a bit of an old school film but its pretty entertaining. It's not often you get to watch Steve Mac struggling these days! The film follows Steve and Gaz Parry attempting to on-sight Hotel Supramonte on Sardinia.

We managed to get a bulk deal which means we are selling these babies at just £5 (RRP is £19.95)

Cliffhanger 2009


For the second year running Millhouses Park in Sheffield will be hosting Cliffhanger, so stick the 11th-12th July in your diary.

For climbers the big draw is of course the British Bouldering Championships which, once you have paid your entry to Cliffhanger is free to spectate.

There will be a range of "come and try"activities from Scuba Diving to Caving, plus a dyno competition and the annual CragX pull-up challenge. You can also expect a selection of retailers and stands, offering a wide range of products for the outdoor market and beyond.