BIFF and FBO – Chalk and Cheese

• Wednesday 24th February 2016

Feb 24^th; 2016

Bouldering comps, perhaps not surprisingly, have been big news during February; two of the bigger comps being the Beastmaker International Footless Festival (a.k.a BIFF) and the Foundry Bouldering Open (a.k.a. FBO) comp.

Held respectively at The Climbing Works and The Foundry, BIFF and FBO were about as different as chalk and cheese. Both comps attracted strong fields but there the similarities ended. If ever there was a comp that had the potential to wreak havoc BIFF must be that comp! The FBO comp, by comparison, was far more conventional – not least because the competitors were positively encouraged to use their feet!

BIFF, in its second year, was all about messing with the usual climbing comp rules and regulations. All the problems are set to be climbed footless with points being awarded not only for topping out but wearing fancy-dress costumes as well as being resistant to discriminatory marking from the judges. Anything was ‘in’ – including slabs were competitors dragged their feet up behind them as well as monster overhanging circuits on the ‘bins’. One problem involved a ‘fridge hug’ quite literally! Finally, when the competitors must have been just about all in, the ultimate test was laid on them – the sudden death spit roast deadhang.

The results for BIFF were:

Men

1^st Jim Pope

2^nd Nathan Phillips

3^rd Matt Cousins

Women

1^st Molly Thompson-Smith

2^nd Janja Garnbret

3^rd Jen Wood

Across town, FBO was perhaps more about the serious business of climbing – although the setters threw in a ‘hanging ball’ start on one of the women’s blocs. The Foundry has a long-standing tradition for holding comps although this year FBO also included both youth and vets categories as well as the usual male and female seniors. Last year, Ben Moon had taken the men’s title with a terrific display of climbing ability and strength. All eyes were on Ben to lift the title again although on this occasion he was outgunned by super-strong Ned Feehally. Meanwhile,  Micheala Tracey snuck up to the line to lift the women’s title.

The results for FBO were:

Men

1^st Ned Feehally

2^nd James Noble

3^rd Nathan Phillips

Women

1^st Michaela Tracey

2^nd Tara Hayes

3^rd Diane Merrick

Filming the action at FBO was Rich Heap and The Foundry have now released the vid – see below.