The BMC Youth Climbing Series is a climbing competition for young people. The series is extremely popular and attracts hundreds of young climbers nationwide.

The competition is open to first-time competitors, as well as experienced competition climbers from categories Youth E to Youth A. Find the category table below to see if your child is eligible to enter.

There are four regional rounds; two roped and two boulder. Each round consists of eight separate events taking place simultaneously across eight different regions in England and Wales. The series will culminate in a two-day Grand Final where the top three in each category from each BMC region, and from Scotland and Ireland, are invited to take part.

To be eligible for the Grand Final it is necessary to take part in a minimum of three regional rounds in the same region throughout the series.

Scotland
Mountaineering Scotland hold their own Youth Climbing Series with two areas: Scotland North and Scotland South. The top 3 in each category in the Scottish Final go through to the Grand Final.

Ireland
Mountaineering Ireland run their own Youth Climbing Series and the top 3 in each category from the final go through to the Grand Final.

Find a rough guide to the Youth Climbing Series here. 
 

Dates England & Wales
Dates for every round and region.

Round 1                - 25 January                         (boulder)
Round 2                - 8 February                         (roped)
Round 3                - 7 March                              (boulder)
Round 4                - 21 March                            (roped)
 

Entry closing dates England & Wales
Entries close at midday (12pm) 10 days before each competition. Late entries are strictly not accepted.

Round 1                 - entries close 12pm noon, Wednesday 15 January
Round 2                 - entries close 12pm noon, Wednesday 29 January
Round 3                 - entries close 12pm noon, Wednesday 26 February
Round 4                 - entries close 12pm noon, Wednesday 11 March

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THE ABOVE DEADLINES.
 

Competition timings
The timings for each round will be published below on the Tuesday before each round and emailed to all competitiors.

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3

Results
Results will be published by 5pm on the Monday after each round.

• Please click here for the results website
• View the 2019 Grand Final results here
   

Grand Final
The Grand Final is a two-day, invite only event for the top 3 competitors from each category and each region. The Grand Final has a seperate entry price to be announced in January 2020.

Day 1                - Saturday 25 April                    (boulder)
Day 2                - Sunday 26 April                      (roped)

The Grand Final will take place in Sheffield.

For further information on the Grand Final click here.

How to enter
Entries close at midday (12pm) 10 days before each competition. Late entries are strictly not accepted.

To enter you must complete our online booking booking form, with successful payment. Forms without payment will NOT be counted.

All competitors MUST be a member of the BMC to enter. Join here.

If you haven’t used the online booking system before, then you will need to create an account to log in.

If you are experiencing difficulty with the booking system, please ensure you contact us before the entry deadline. Dates above.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBLITY TO ENSURE PAYMENT IS MADE BY THE ENTRY CLOSING TIMES. SEE ENTRY CLOSING DATES ABOVE.

UNPAID FORMS ARE NOT ACCEPTED AS ENTRY AND YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENT/S.

On the day entry is strictly forbidden.
 

BMC Regions:
Competitors can compete in a region of their choice but MUST compete within the same region throughout the entire series.

Venues
Competitors can compete in a region of their choice but MUST compete within the same region throughout the entire series.

London & SE North
200 entries only
Round 1: Stronghold Climbing Centre, Tottenham Hale
Round 2: Westway Climbing Centre, London
Round 3: Highball Climbing Centre, Norwich
Round 4: Big Rock Bond, Milton Keynes

London & SE South 
130 entries only
Round 1: Boulder Shack, Southampton
Round 2: High Sports, Brighton
Round 3: Chimera Climbing Centre, Tunbridge Wells 
Round 4: Calshot Activity Centre, Southampton 

Midlands & Peak
100 entries only
Round 1: The Climbing Station, Loughborough
Round 2: Green Spider Climbing, Hereford 
Round 3: Social Climbing, Leicester
Round 4: Nottingham Climbing Centre 

North East & Yorkshire
80 entries only
Round 1: The Valley Bouldering Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Round 2: Big Depot Climbing Centre, Leeds
Round 3: Depot Climbing Centre, Pudsey 
Round 4: ROF59 Climbing Centre, Newton Aycliffe

North West & Lakes
100 entries only
Round 1: Boulder UK, Preston
Round 2: Awesome Walls, Liverpool 
Round 3: Eden Rock, Carlisle 
Round 4: Awesome Walls, Stockport

South West North - NEW REGION!
110 entries only
Round 1: Rockstar Climbing Centre, Swindon
Round 2: Rockstar Climbing Centre, Swindon 
Round 3: The Climbing Academy, The Mothership, Bristol 
Round 4: Rockstar Climbing Centre, Swindon 

South West South
110 entries only
Round 1: The Climbing Hangar, Plymouth 
Round 2: The Quay Climbing Centre, Exeter 
Round 3: The Tide, Cornwall 
Round 4: Plymouth Life Centre

Wales/Cymru
90 entries only
Round 1: Boulder Hut, Ellesmere Port
Round 2: The Beacon Climbing Centre, Caernarfon
Round 3: The Climbing Hangar, Swansea
Round 4: Rock UK Summit Centre, Treharris

Each region has a unique entry cap on their regional rounds based on the maximum number of competitors the smallest wall in their region can facilitate. This must be used to ensure the safety of the competitors, spectators, volunteers and wall staff. 

Competitor categories
There are five categories and each is split into boys and girls. The categories are called Youth A, B, C, D and E and follow the IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) system:

Each region has two roped rounds and two boulder rounds, alternating per round. The roped rounds are made up of four routes and the boulder round made up of ten blocs per category. In categories A, B and C routes are led. In categories D and E they are top-roped. 

For an explanation of the difference between leading and top-roping please see A Parent’s Guide to Climbing.
 

Volunteers

Volunteers are pivotal to the running of the BMC Youth Climbing Series.  Please volunteer if you can.  The more volunteers there are, the smoother the events can run.

Experience required to volunteer:    
             
Judging
No experience necessary

Top-rope belaying

• Competently belay a climber on top-rope without guidance.
• Have top-rope belayed regularly for at least two years.
• Have top-rope belayed at least twice within the last month.
• Be able to attach and use a manual or assisted braking device.
• Ensure the rope does not become a hindrance to the climber. For example, the rope pulling on or obstructing the climber.
• Pay attention to the climber throughout the entire duration of the climb and lower-off.

Lead belaying

• Competently belay a climber on lead without guidance.
• Have lead belayed regularly for at least two years.
• Have lead belayed at least twice within the last month.
• Be able to attach and use a manual or assisted braking device.
• Provide extra attentive belaying between the first and third clip.
• Have an active stance throughout the climb to ensure you’re prepared for immediate action.

Parents of competitors can confirm their intention to volunteer on the entry form.  Anyone else wishing to volunteer please email the YCS team stating which region, rounds and roles you are able to do.  Roles will be allocated on the day.

Read the Volunteer Guidance Roped

Raed the Volunteer Guidance Bouldering

Costs per round
All competitors MUST be a member of the BMC to enter. Join here.

£90.00  - for all four rounds, only applicable when booking all four rounds together
£30.00  - per individual rounds

Income support / Universal credit:

£45.00  - for all four rounds
£15.00  - per individual rounds

(proof required, please contact - ycs@thebmc.co.uk)

Cancellation policy

Refunds will only be issued if you cancel by the Sunday before a round by sending an email to ycs@thebmc.co.uk 

If you paid the discounted rate of £90, you received entry to all four rounds for the price of three, i.e. one free entry. If you paid this rate and cancel just one round, you will therefore receive no refund. If you cancel two rounds you will receive a refund of £30. If you cancel three rounds you will receive a refund of £60. If you cancel all four rounds you will receive a refund of £90.

If you no longer plan on attending one of the rounds please email ycs@thebmc.co.uk as soon as possible and before the entry deadline.  Places can only be made available to others if you inform us before the entry deadline.

READ: Coronavirus: The latest BMC event advice

Parental consent
All competitors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at each round.

Parents or guardians must hand-in a signed parental consent form at EACH round. Your child will NOT be able to compete without one.

Download the parental consent form here.
 

Rules and Regulations 2020
Please familiarise yourself with the rules ahead of the competition.

• Download the Youth Climbing Series Rules and Regulations 2020 - here
• Download the Youth Climbing Series Grand Final Rules and Regulations 2020 - TBC
• Find a rough guide to the YCS here.
   

Changes to the 2020 series:
A number of changes have been made for the 2020 series, based on the feedback we have received from parents and host walls in 2019. 

• Competitors can now compete in a region of their choice but must remain in the same region throughout the entire series. 
• The number of roped climbs in each roped round will be 4.
• The South West region has been split into South West North and South West South.
• Each region has a maximum number of entires which is bespoke to each region. See above to find the caps on the YCS 2020 regions.
• Competitors MUST be a member of the BMC to enter. Become a member here.
   

Further information

• For any queries please email ycs@thebmc.co.uk
• Keep up to date by following our YCS Facebook page here
• Entry will open at 3.30pm on Thursday 14 November.  We apologise for any inconvenience caused.  The delay is due to a technical issue which we are working hard to resolve, please bear with us.
• An email will be sent to all competitors with event details on the Tuesday before each round
• See here for more competitions for young people
• For an explanation of the difference between leading and top-roping a route, please see A Parents Guide to Climbing

As the climbing walls, crags and mountains start to open, we wanted to say thanks to every BMC member who supported us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t have made it without you.

If you liked what we did, then tell your friends about us: www.thebmc.co.uk/join

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