Fort climber sets sights on Scottish youth squad after regional win

A YOUNG Lochaber climber is one step away from winning a place on the Scottish youth climbing team after being crowned north of Scotland champion for his age group.

Twelve-year-old Archie MacIntyre, from Corpach, put in a number of impressive performances this year to win the north section of the Youth Climbing Series (YCS), cementing his place in the Scottish youth development squad.

With one more round of competition to go before the development squad is whittled down to the final team, Archie is keen to build on his recent results to make sure he gets the chance to climb for his country.

Last September, at the beginning of his fledgling climbing career, Archie took part in the Scottish school climbing heats, having to complete his scorecard at Three Wise Monkeys in Fort William and then send it in to adjudicators. Archie was then selected to go to the final in Glasgow in November, where the young Lochaber climber finished second overall, missing out on the top spot by just one point.

This taste of national competition encouraged him to enter the premier youth climbing series in Scotland, the YCS. As part of the series, Archie took part in three competitions over the course of January and February this year.

At the first round in Inverness, Archie finished third. The second stage was closer to home at the Ice Factor in Kinlochleven where he secured a top place finish. The final competition of the series was held in Aberdeen, where Archie equalled his previous performance and finished first again.

These two wins in the final two rounds confirmed meant that Archie was confirmed as the north of Scotland champion for his age group, meaning that he was automatically selected for the Scottish YCS development squad.

Archie only started climbing 18 months ago at Three Wise Monkeys but has since worked through the Nicas climbing scheme and is about to complete level four.

He is competing again in Ratho the March 24 to be selected to represent Scotland in the British final in April.

Archie MacIntyre focuses during one of his competition climbs.

Archie on top of the podium at the Aberdeen stage of the Youth Climbing Series.