Sports: Reports - Climbing
Merton continues to be at the centre of a burgeoning climbing community. Rock climbing, and particularly bouldering, is increasingly popular, with Merton climbing attracting more participants this year than ever before. Impressively, Merton climbers have been surmounting climbs across Oxford, the UK, and far beyond. The Merton community has even roped up and helmeted to try their hand at climbing outdoors (despite the best attempts of the weather to deter us).
The younger Merton generations (the 2023 cohort) continue to develop their climbing skills and friendships. As avid climbers, they frequently meet up in groups to climb in the two main Oxford climbing centres: Oxford Brookes Climbing Wall and Gallery Bouldering, off the Cowley Road. Ivan Pulich (2023), Moli Birkinshaw (2023), Matthew Campbell (2023), Eddie Day (2020), and Eloise Partridge (2023) continue to triumph over difficult climbing problems across both Oxford climbing centres, joined this year by Luke Liang. The friendly cheers, morals support, and fist-bumps of these climbers are unavoidable sights in Oxford climbing centres: a huge well done for their continued dedication and friendly, welcoming approach making climbing the wonderful community it is.
The older generations of Merton climbers have not been resting on their laurels either: Ivo Elgueta and Marc Giroux de Foiard Brown (both 2022) and Eddie Day have been joined in raucous fashion by Charlie Hobbs (2022), providing a real nucleus of climbing among the finalists. Ivo and Charlie have dedicated many early mornings, late nights and pairs of climbing shoes to the climbing cause. But even older generations of Merton also deserve a mention: Aryaman Gupta (2019) has been frequently sighted at gyms across Oxford spreading his love of climbing beyond his stay at Merton, while our own Junior Dean for Welfare, Olivia Simpson, has also proved a keen climber.
Over the summer vacation we all go home to train in our local gyms, seeking to improve our technique, acquire new climbing gear and work on our strength. I am sure we will see many of these climbers in Oxford climbing centres at the top of challenging climbs come Michaelmas term.
Lars Hofflin (2022) Rock Climbing/Bouldering Captain 2024–25
The future of climbing at Merton is bright. Rock climbing, but particularly bouldering, has become increasingly popular across the world in recent years, and Oxford is by no means an exception: a new dedicated climbing centre opened this term, the third such facility around Oxford. So too in Merton has climbing proliferated. The 2023 cohort have proved to be particularly avid climbers, with experience gained in climbing gyms from across the UK and beyond. Ivan Pulich has emerged as a critical member of the younger climbing community. He has done Merton proud in competitions in both London and Oxford, as well as helping other climbers by setting climbs and lending his weight belt to the Merton gym.
However, no mention of the avid younger climbers in Merton would be complete without praising Matthew Campbell (2023), Moli Birkinshaw (2023), Eddie Day (2020) and Eloise Partridge (2023). The social aspect of climbing is often unappreciated but is a definite part of the sport. Nothing helps you top out like a friendly cheer from below; nothing helps improve your technique and keeps you pushing like the challenge of a friend; and nothing makes previously unassailable walls assailable like the beta spraying* of your friend. These younger climbers have proved their dedication to the sport, getting the most out of each other by their joint ventures on the climbing walls. It has been fantastic to see them grow to be better friends and better climbers.
The older generations of Merton climbers are just as keen to improve and extend their climbing ability. More Mertonians in higher years have been climbing this year. French exchange student Héloïse Bertrand joined the ranks of climbers this year, and special mention must go to Ivo Elgueta and Marc Giroux de Foiard Brown (both 2022) for showing particular enthusiasm, participating in early morning and late evening climbing sessions, even after exams. Ivo has spent more time on the wall every session, showing remarkable progress in both his technique and grip strength.
Over the summer we aim to improve our technique and strength in gyms across the world. I very much look forward to seeing all the tricky climbs our lovely Mertonians have tackled when we are back for Michaelmas.
*Beta spraying = when one climber tells another how to climb something when they weren’t asked to
Lars Hofflin (2022)
Rock Climbing/Bouldering Captain 2023–24