Rock Climbing IG (Climb.Republic) does RP Proud in recent Competition

Rock climbing in Singapore goes on display through several competitions a year. As many as 6 competitions spice up our rock climbing sports calendar each year, ranging from intense bouldering action to hair-raising high wall climbing events. As such, it is more frequently termed as “Sport Climbing”.

“Bouldering” is a form of sport climbing using minimal equipment, reaching up to 4 metres off the ground, with the ground supported only by thick landing mattresses (known as crash pads). This variation of the sport has been gaining rapid popularity in the recent years for its intense and dynamic action, frequently allowing participants much room for self-expression and creating plenty of photo opportunities.

On 27 October, RP’s very own rock jocks Climb.Republic took part in an annual bouldering competition, Climba Prix, organised by Singapore Polytechnic at their bouldering gym. This event drew a large crowd of spectators from the local sport climbing community including curious onlookers and passionate supporters rooting for various competitors and participating institutes.

The competition featured multiple skill categories including the Novice Men & Women, and the Open Category Men & Women. Also, a point-tally of all competitors across the various categories was done to determine the overall Institutional Champion, giving each participant a chance to boost their institution’s overall standings.

Climb. Republic sent 13 men and 3 women competitors for the novice category against strong opponents from schools such as ITE College East, NP, SP, TP, VJC, NUS and NTU. RP’s flag flew high when Zayd Por Pramuk denied over 90 other competitors to clinch the Climba Prix Novice Men Champion. The other RP climbers emerged with the following standings:

7^th Muhamad Syafie B Zolkiplie
8^th Muhammad Fadhli B Ramli
26^th Azhari Bin Rohman
27^th Zulkifli B Mohd Senen
29^th Mohamad Hazri B Hassan
33^rd Jeremy Tong Zhi Hao
42^nd Liu Heng Yi
47^th Qi Bin
52^nd Farhan Bin Hamzah
55^th Arif B Bakar
75^th Cyril Khoo Su Ming
85^th Steven Cheung Kwun Yuk

Competing against some 34 other formidable climbers, our girls achieved the following standings:

In addition to these achievements, Climb. Republic also surfaced among the top 3 best performing schools based on their outstanding performance in the Novice category alone. Well done Climb.Republic!

Although it was tough coping with both schoolwork and training, Climb.Republic never stopped working hard. Months of hard work, sheer determination and cohesive team dynamics yielded the first signs of progress since 2007. In Rockamania 2007 held at Temasek Polytechnic, Muhamad Syafie brought back the bronze trophy for RP in a high wall competition¹ and set a new benchmark for all to follow.

This year’s achievement at Climba Prix is truly praiseworthy, as both junior and senior team members encouraged one another in a bid to do RP proud. It was certainly no mean feat for the junior team members to display such confidence in the competition despite their short experience with Climb. Republic.

Climb. Republic would like to offer very special thanks to our Coach Beatrix Cheong for her endless support and for believing in the team. Not forgetting our Advisor Michael Lim for motivating and instilling a “never-say-die” spirit in us. Once again, thank you!

Be sure to catch us next month, on 23 November, as we turn up the heat in one of the most prestigious local inter-school sport climbing competitions: the National Inter-School Sports Climbing Championship (NISCC). High wall climbing and speed climbing events will be the focus of this competition. Buckle up for the intense action because Climb. Republic speed demons have been training hard, and will certainly try to break the national speed records. Rock ON!

¹ High wall climbing involves the use of equipment like ropes, harnesses and “personal protection devices” called runners. Participants of these competitions will be required to climb a long and sustained route on a wall as high as 15 metres or more. In this format, participants compete to achieve the greatest progress on the difficulty route.

Words by Zayd Hashim Siraj (inputs from Michael Lim, OSG). (VO). Edited by LH/OCC.