Competition season is well underway, and the White Spider Climbing Squad are gearing up for their best one yet!
Earlier this month, The BMC and GB climbing announced the full IFSC season line-up for this year – and it’s mega impressive for the squad! We’ve got 4 squad members heading to international competitions this year in both the junior and senior categories:
Monty James – GB Junior Boulder Squad & GB Junior Lead Squad

Monty started climbing in the Kids Castle at White Spider, before doing NICAS up until Level 3, when one of the coaches suggested him for the Squad.
Monty is “so excited for the upcoming events and can’t wait for the experience.” He’s most looking forward to all of the international competitions and can’t wait to gain more experience!
Izzy Edgington – GB Junior Boulder Squad & GB Junior Lead Squad

Izzy is competing in European youth competitions this year, and potentially a Youth World Championship depending on her performance: ” I am excited to see the gains I have made over the winter. I’m most looking forward to the European boulder competitions as it’s my favourite discipline!”
Iggy Rinaldi – GB Junior Lead Squad

Iggy can usually be found swinging from the wall to wall during her Squad sessions, and she’s super excited for her first international comps!
“My hopes for this year are to perform well at national and international competitions as well as gain experience. It’s been a giant leap for me, from climbing in NICAS to now being in the GB team in less than two years.”
Lucy Garlick – GB Boulder Junior Squad, GB Boulder Senior Squad, GB Lead Junior Squad, GB Lead Senior Squad

Lucy has been climbing since she was 6, and has been sponsored by White Spider for a year now!
“I’m so excited for the upcoming season! The selection events went well, meaning I have been selected for the international competitions. I’m most looking forward to the European Championships – both Youth and Senior!
Lucy deserves an extra shout out – she’s made history as the youngest climber ever to make both the Junior and Senior Squad in both boulder and lead disciplines! We’re so excited to see how she does this season – and we know she’ll do us proud!
GB Regional and Talent Squad!
We’re not finished yet! GB Climbing have two other teams – the Regional and Talent Squads. We have four of our squad members who have been chosen for the Regional Squad, and two others in the Talent Squad. These kids will develop their climbing both at their Squad sessions here at White Spider, but also with the GB coaches over the course of the season!
We’ll keep you updated on how all of these amazing kids get on at all of their comps! For now, we’ll leave you with this from Head Squad Coach, Guy Davenport:
“I am really proud of the work that these White Spider athletes have put into their training to now be in a position to represent GB and White Spider in the upcoming internationals. This level of achievement underpins White Spider as a centre of excellence for youth coaching and I am looking forward to following their progress on the European and world stage!”

Keep up with the Squad: