ROCK CLIMBING NEWS ITEM

Otley's Matt Birch Repeats Climb to Mandala

THURSDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2008

Matt Birch of Otley, West Yorkshire, England climbed Mandala once again, consolidating his Font 8b+ credentials.

He climbed the Mandala soon after Chris Sharma's first ascent in 2000. In 2002, French climber Tony Lamiche added a sit-start that is a Font 8b or V13, which is currently considered a Font 8b+ or V14.

Birch frequented the bouldering areas around Bishop, California. He set one of his greatest achievements on the quartz-monzonite orbs of the Buttermilk Country. This was his first ascent of The Swarm which is a confirmed 8b+ or V14 at the Secrets of the Beehive Area. He also established Somewhere in Time, a V13/14.

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