Ned Feehally climbs new Font 8a bloc
- Friday 10th October 2014
Ned Feehally has climbed a new Font 8a problem on the Dougless Boulder at The Roaches. The problem, which is a super rounded and slopey prow overlooking Rock Hall Cottage, required full-on power slaps from Ned as well as a gnarly one-handed, push down-cum-mantel move.
Ned, a past British Bouldering Champion, is no stranger to doing hard problems and this should prove to be a fine addition. Blogging about the problem, which hasn’t got a name as yet, Ned commented “I have often wondered what would make the perfect gritstone problem. A great feature, immaculate rock, an interesting and tricky sequence, lovely hand holds that don't tear the skin, a good height and some pretty burly moves right on the limit of friction. I think this problem ticks all the boxes. I am not one for hyperbole but it really is good.”
Ned goes on to talk about the grade hinting that it might be tough at Font 8a: “I think it felt as hard to climb as similar 8as and 8a+s, however I climbed it on a hot and muggy day and freshly cleaned rock always takes some time to settle down. For now I'll go with 8a.”
The Roaches has numerous great problems spread about an abundant collection of bouldering areas but strangely there’s something of a dearth of super hard problems. Ned’s new problem joins Jerry Moffatt’s The Inertia Reel Traverse (Font 8a+) and Ben Moon’s Mushin (Font 7c+) all of which are on the Lower Tier at The Roaches.
A video from John Fullwood showing Ned’s ascent is on-line here… http://vimeo.com/107067169
Ned is sponsored by Five Ten, Arc'teryx, Beastmaker and Wild Country.