Hannah Slaney (18, Bristol): British Junior champion who won silver in the seniors last year. A huge prospect.
Madeleine Cope (27, Cheshire): Considered more of an outdoor climber but capable of transferring those skills to the indoor walls.
Holly Toothill (16, Yorkshire): Took silver in this year's junior nationals and is a surprise finalist in Sheffield.
Natalie Berry (26, Glasgow): Editor of a climbing magazine and on the comeback trail to the competition circuit.
Imogen Horrocks (19, Hampshire): Was a finalist in the UK Ninja Warrior series this year.
Ones to watch
Men's
Matt Cousins (29, London): Winner of the title in 2016 and was fourth last year. Has had finger injuries this year.
Aidan Roberts (19, Penrith): Making his comeback from an ankle injury but has impressed on the international circuit.
Orrin Coley (22, Leicester): Finished third two years ago and came close to reaching the final last year.
Alex Waterhouse (21, Devon): Made the final of the US nationals in 2016 and was fifth in the US Collegiate Championships before coming back to Britain.
Nathan Phillips (24, Holmfirth): Took the silver medal in 2016, added a bronze in 2017 and is now looking to complete the set in just three years.
What is Bouldering?
Bouldering is rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials. Leaving behind ropes and harnesses and just using climbing shoes and a bag of chalk over safety mats, the challenge is to climb short but tricky bouldering "problems" (a route, or sequence of moves) using balance, technique, strength, and your brain.
In Bouldering, climbers
scale a number of fixed routes on a 4/5m wall in a specified time. The climber wants to complete as many boulder problems as
possible, in the fewest number of attempts. A climber will also get marks if
they fail to top the climb, but manage to reach a ‘zone’ hold; this is a
climbing hold, usually half way up the problem or after the crux move on a
problem. So the scoring sequence would be:
1. Number of Tops (T)
2. Number of zones (z) if tied on tops
3. Number of attempts to Top (A) if tied on zones
4. Number of attempts to zone if tied on top attempts
So for example, somebody that tops 3 of the 4 problems and
achieves 4 zones, will be placed higher than somebody that tops the same amount
of problems but only reaches 3 zones.
BMCCopyright: BMC
Get Inspired: How to get into climbing
Get Inspired
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What to expect when I start?
To get started you'll need ropes, harnesses, a helmet and comfortable shoes. Most climbing centres have these available for hire or purchase.
Regular climbing can improve stamina and all the reaching and stretching for holds improves flexibility and agility.
The activity uses lots of muscle groups, both in the upper and lower body. Your arms, back and shoulders as well as abdominal and leg muscles all get exercised.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
- Hannah Slaney (18, Bristol): British Junior champion who won silver in the seniors last year. A huge prospect.
- Madeleine Cope (27, Cheshire): Considered more of an outdoor climber but capable of transferring those skills to the indoor walls.
- Holly Toothill (16, Yorkshire): Took silver in this year's junior nationals and is a surprise finalist in Sheffield.
- Natalie Berry (26, Glasgow): Editor of a climbing magazine and on the comeback trail to the competition circuit.
- Imogen Horrocks (19, Hampshire): Was a finalist in the UK Ninja Warrior series this year.
- Matt Cousins (29, London): Winner of the title in 2016 and was fourth last year. Has had finger injuries this year.
- Aidan Roberts (19, Penrith): Making his comeback from an ankle injury but has impressed on the international circuit.
- Orrin Coley (22, Leicester): Finished third two years ago and came close to reaching the final last year.
- Alex Waterhouse (21, Devon): Made the final of the US nationals in 2016 and was fifth in the US Collegiate Championships before coming back to Britain.
- Nathan Phillips (24, Holmfirth): Took the silver medal in 2016, added a bronze in 2017 and is now looking to complete the set in just three years.
BMCCopyright: BMC 
-
To get started you'll need ropes, harnesses, a helmet and comfortable shoes. Most climbing centres have these available for hire or purchase.
-
Regular climbing can improve stamina and all the reaching and stretching for holds improves flexibility and agility.
-
The activity uses lots of muscle groups, both in the upper and lower body. Your arms, back and shoulders as well as abdominal and leg muscles all get exercised.
Latest PostOnes to watch
Women's
Ones to watch
Men's
What is Bouldering?
Bouldering is rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials. Leaving behind ropes and harnesses and just using climbing shoes and a bag of chalk over safety mats, the challenge is to climb short but tricky bouldering "problems" (a route, or sequence of moves) using balance, technique, strength, and your brain.
In Bouldering, climbers scale a number of fixed routes on a 4/5m wall in a specified time. The climber wants to complete as many boulder problems as possible, in the fewest number of attempts. A climber will also get marks if they fail to top the climb, but manage to reach a ‘zone’ hold; this is a climbing hold, usually half way up the problem or after the crux move on a problem. So the scoring sequence would be:
1. Number of Tops (T)
2. Number of zones (z) if tied on tops
3. Number of attempts to Top (A) if tied on zones
4. Number of attempts to zone if tied on top attempts
So for example, somebody that tops 3 of the 4 problems and achieves 4 zones, will be placed higher than somebody that tops the same amount of problems but only reaches 3 zones.
Get Inspired: How to get into climbing
Get Inspired
#GetInspired
What to expect when I start?
Where to start?
British Mountaineering Council will be able to help you find a club near you in England and Wales. If you live in Scotland, get in touch with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and in Northern Ireland, try Mountaineering Ireland.
To find out more check out our Get Inspired climbing page.