Milngavie climber Natalie aims for the top
ELITE British indoor climber Natalie Berry is aiming for a podium place in at a premier climbing competition at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) on Sunday.
This will be the Milngavie 17-year-old's first year at senior level in the British Lead Climbing Championships — last year she had to concentrate on exams.
The young athlete is in confident mood even though she will be up against girls in their early 20s.
Speaking before heading east, she said: "I have been training quite hard going up to Ratho three times a week.
"They have a 12 metre overhanging wall and recently I spent three days staying with friends who live near Ratho, so I could go climbing every day."
Natalie, who recently finished her advanced highers, is currently waiting for her exam results and would like to study languages at Durham University, also practices at a specially built climbing wall at home.
The former Bearsden Academy pupil added: "I have a climbing board at home with a 45 degree incline which is great for building up strength and stamina.
"I've also been dong a lot of rowing and running so I feel hopeful of a podium place. I am going to try my best. The first prize is 350 and that would be very welcome."
There will be two qualifying rounds for the seniors on Sunday and it is expected more than 60 top class climbers will compete. The top eight or 10 climbers will go through to the final.
This weekend's event will be organised by The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) who chose EICA because of the uniquely difficult climbing offered there.
Some of the walls Natalie will be climbing lean out at precarious angles and are all of the new international standard level demanded at this level of climbing.
The two-day tournament will see juniors and Veterans compete on Saturday with the seniors climbing on Sunday.
For more information visit www.eica-ratho.com
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
