Frances Bensley (14) surprised everyone, including herself, by reaching the finals of the BMC Youth Climbing Series on her very first attempt.

She went one better in the actual final, attaining a perfect score, and had to go into a nail biting head-to-head decider against Kitty Wallace. The crowd was huge, and you could feel the tension as the two girls battled it out high above. Kitty pulled off a brilliant piece of climbing to take the prize as Frances slipped on the last very move. It’s fantastic to see new people entering the BMC’s Youth Climbing Series and doing so well, so we decided to ask Frances about her climbing.

How long have you been climbing?
I started climbing because my dad got me into it at a young age, I would guess from about 7 or 8. I ‘ve been climbing fairly regularly for the last couple of years.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?
I love wakeboarding, volleyball, and swimming. I’m beginning to learn to surf, and I love reading.

Why did you enter a climbing competition?
I entered the BMC Youth Climbing Series because Guy, one of the instructors at Warwick University climbing wall, thought it would be a good experience for me.

How long have you been training seriously for competitions?
I haven’t really been training seriously, but I have been given some useful help and advice from Alex and Guy, the instructors at the Warwick University climbing wall.

What sorts of climbing have you done?
Other than trips to the wall, I’ve seconded some traditional routes in the Wye Valley, and last Easter I went to Costa Dorada in Spain for some sport climbing.

What do you enjoy about climbing?
I love the freedom of climbing, and to be able to push and compete with myself.

How did you feel having to compete in a head-to-head in your very first national final?
Before the final I felt surprisingly calm, during the competition it was nice to meet some really lovely people and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, not worrying about where I came. And after the head-to-head I was gutted to have slipped so near to the top, I wished I could have had a second go at it. I was amazed to have come second and really happy, as I didn’t even expect to come in the top ten.

What would be different about you if you didn’t climb?
That’s easy. If I didn’t climb I wouldn’t be as fit!

Where is your favourite place to climb?
My favourite place to climb is at the Warwick University, because of the overhanging lead wall, but if Ratho were closer that would probably be my favourite place.

Any ambitions in climbing?
I’d like to get somewhere near F8a.

How would you recommend climbing to a friend?
I’d simply take them along climbing with me and show them so they can try it for themselves and see what they think.

« Back