After three full days of competition the IFSC World Climbing Championships is in full swing in the northern Spanish city of Avilés.

Fifty countries are represented by over 300 climbers this event which take place every two years. Teams from all over Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania have gathered to enjoy the hospitality of the Asturians and to compete against each other in what must be one of the friendliest sports around.

Days 1 and 2 comprised the Lead climbing qualification with nearly 200 climbers each attempting 2 routes on the 17m high and 15m overhanging wall. The sole British male climber, Adrian Baxter, acquitted himself well finishing 58th out of 115.  Kate Mills was the only British women competing. She found the routes hard and finished 64th out of 68.

Day 3 saw the qualifying round for the bouldering and as usual the Brits showed that we do better in bouldering. A total of 130 men and 70 women meant that getting a top 20 place in order to qualify for the semis was always going to be hard work but Gaz Parry and Dave Barrans climbed fantastically to get places in Sunday's semi. 

Today's highlight has to be the new World Record set on the standardised 15m high speed wall by Britain's very own Percy Bishton.  Percy's record of 25.13 seconds was short lived though as he was just the route setter.  The first female competitor to climb the route easily beat Percy’s time and after the qualification round the record was down to 11.13 seconds.  This will certainly be knocked down further in this aftenoon's final.  Adrian Baxter is now the proud owner of the British record – a very decent 15.52 seconds – he also briefly held the Commonwealth record before a climber from Hong Kong stepped forward.

Photos, live results and webcasting from the Speed finals (4pm Friday), Lead semi’s and finals (6pm Saturday) and Bouldering semi’s and finals (6pm Sunday) are available at www.ifsc-climbing.org

Watch live action at www.cwch07.com/tv/

Report by Graeme Alderson

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