Climbers Club and Pinnacle Club Joint Meet – Count House 16-24 June – The Solstice Meet

Climbers Club and Pinnacle Club Joint Meet – Count House 16-24 June – The Solstice Meet
Attendees
Climbers Club –Tim Bateson, Ann Blandford, Michele Bourne, Duncan Bourne, Barry Dyde, Nevil Hewitt, Val Hennelly, David Jones, Andrew Kitchen, Trevor Langhorne, Harry Moss, with Gabrielle Liddy, Pete Murphy, Vic Odell, Malcolm Phelps, Rya Tibawi, Roy Thomas, Rob Ward
Pinnacle Club –Liz Davies, Teresa Hughes, Chris Johnson, Hazel Jones, Hazel Lewis, Claire Maw, Christine May, Blanka Nori, Marie Skinner

Another great week of tides, weather and social activities. The cast list reduced in the run up to the meet for various reasons but that was a good thing because it meant we managed pretty well with the restricted ablution facilities, while enjoying a bird’s eye view of the continuing works on carpark, new camping facilities and toilet block. The important rules were use the ‘tinkle room’ when appropriate and no showers in the morning.

Social activities included: –
• The Darkside a Pink Floyd tribute band – 5 Classic Rockers enjoyed an evening at the Acorn Theatre in Penzance for a very professional rendition of their later hits as part of the Mazey Week festivities
• Some visits to support the local economy of the Radjel, Rosemergy Tea Rooms, Tinners Arms (crab sandwiches recommended) and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and the Tate at St Ives.
• A solstice morning outing to Chapel Carn Brea where 5 of us enjoyed a ball of fire sunrise in a downpour
• Gathering around Malcolm’s car to discuss options for removing it from the edge of the ditch in front of the mine buildings (the rescue service hauled him out in the end and no damage was done)
• Music on the patio; a gentle session from our own Duncan Bourne on the Banjo one night and a more energetic evening of Protocol – the local cover band we had last year back to celebrate more birthdays, along with much dancing and a shared meal and barbecue. Current and previous Hut Custodians Rob Seymour and John Atherton with Jan joined us – all hitting the dance floor with gusto.
• And finally, an estimated 150 scones were produced and consumed with clotted cream and jams on site during the week.

In between all this there was lots of climbing – and mixing and matching – see the image!

Rare crags visited this year included Vessacks West, Carn Barra, Goldsworthy, Echo Zawn, St Loy and the Great Zawn, along with all the usual suspects of Bosigran, Bosigran Ridge, Chair Ladder (paying careful adherence to the bird restrictions on Wolf Buttress), Sennen, Gurnard’s Head, Zennor and Pen Olver. Although some people climbed nowhere other than Bosigran all week (Ann Blandford’s has the’ low carbon footprint prize’.
Notable ascents were Desolation Row in the Great Zawn by Nevil and Tim (25 and 17 runners respectively), Madonna of the Sea by Tim, followed by Chris, Nevil and Malcolm. On one of the days Harry and Tim went in for the ‘most pitches in a day prize’ polishing off Venusberg, Anvil Chorus, Little Brown Jug, Ochre 1, Ochre 2, Black Slab, Autumn Flakes and Ding. I haven’t totted up the footage but certainly of alpine proportions and possibly only outdone, over 2 days, by the Hazel Lewis, Hazel Jones and Andy Kitchen who all did both Commando Ridge and Land’s End Long Climb during the course of the week. It certainly put my busiest day with Blanka into perspective – we only managed Andrew, Ledge Route and Doorway!
Commando Ridge teams were Hazel Jones and Teresa, followed by Claire and Hazel Lewis. All were very pink by the end of that day; Andy and Trevor went for a later ascent on a cooler day.
The cast list were nursing a variety of injuries up the climbs over the week – Barry was heroic following the nimble Rya up many climbs in a pair of climbing boots 2 sizes too big for him due to his recently mended broken foot. I agree with him that Venusberg is a sandbag! I also had an afternoon out with Ooh-Aah Roy who was being persecuted by his back on the delightful Goldsworthy Slab, so we cut our losses and went for a medicinal pint. A local photographer grabbed some good images so enjoy this link to https://petermaddernphotos.weebly.com/june-2023.html (20th June images). My directions to the crag were insufficient for Dave and Rob to find it later, although Harry and Gabrielle did on the same directions!
I haven’t mentioned everyone – some went swimming, some pushed their grade (Liz particularly), all were gregarious and mucked in with the final chores. Thanks to you all.
We are looking forward to next year when carpark and toilets will be complete, and so we can see what project the creative and excellent CH custodian team dream up next. I think it should include birdbath on the patio or Cornish wall . . . .

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