And the winner, scooping top prize in this year’s ‘Be in my calendar’ competition, is Alastair Smith from Chester. The competition on top UK climbing website, www.ukclimbing.com, was to find a willing victim to feature alongside the good and the great in climbing:10, next year’s climbing calendar.

The five runner-up prizes went to Mike Pollitt - a committed traddie from Nottingham, Alex Mason - an aspiring 8a sport climber from Hull, Charlotte Kelly - a chalk-fiend from Glossop, Sophie White – another traddie from Sheffield and Catherine Raine – a new starter from Nottingham. Each will receive a copy of climbing:10 when it hits the shelves later in the autumn.

And once again, UKC Top Gun, Rob Stone deserves a special mention having submitted the first correct answer (for the second year running) to the quiz questions. Rob’s answer came in a little over 25 minutes after the competition was uploaded onto UKC. To help Rob plan for next year’s competition, which will hopefully run in the summer, I will be firing a copy of the climbing:10 over to Rob. Great effort Rob – no pressure mate, but you reckon you can get first entry next year as well?

It was great to see that the competition was so well received/subscribed with loads of correct answers. Entries came in from as far afield as Gibraltar, from new and established climbers, from sport climbers to chalk climbers, from students to granddads. A massive thanks to all of you that submitted entries for your interest and support; much appreciated. Sorry you can’t be in the calendar – this year...

Amazingly, given the UK weather, a photo shoot was planned and executed with near military precision last weekend on Clwyd limestone in the hills above Llangollen. It’ll take a little time to turn the images around but watch out for a report on the photo shoot on www.ukclimbing.com and www.keithsharplesphotography.com in the early autumn. Meanwhile, here’s a few of shots from the shoot taken at Craig Arthur

Alastair Smith on one of Craig Arthur’s trad masterpiece routes, Digitron (E2 5c)...