Spring In England

A beautiful shot of Jiri Sika on Hamper's Hang - indeed a green and pleasant land.

Grillstock 2010

Bristol is set for a taste of the Deep South this summer with the UK’s first full-blown US-style barbecue competition and food show sponsored by Weber UK.

Grillstock 2010 is a barbecue themed two-day food and drink festival taking place at Bristol’s waterfront on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July. The event will see up to 150 of the UK’s top barbecue chefs battling it out for the title of ‘King of the Grill’ in the two-day competition with an anticipated 10,000 visitors who will all have the opportunity to taste and vote for their favourite BBQ food.

Up to thirty teams will compete for the coveted ‘King Of The Grill’ trophy sponsored by Napoleon Grills over the course of the weekend with individual trophies for five key categories: Best Chicken; Best Ribs; Best Pork Shoulder and Best BBQ Sauce; and the Best dish made from a selection of ‘mystery box’ ingredients. Bristol-based chef Mitch Tonks will lead the professional team of judges sampling every dish. The overall winner will be the team who gain the highest score in all categories and they will go on to represent the UK at the World Championship Barbecue Competition at the Memphis in May International Festival.

Happy BBQing!!

http://grillstock.co.uk/

Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre

The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre is a superb weekend out for the whole family and is the perfect introduction into an Eco Friendly, Veggie Friendly and Fair Trade way of life.
The show is packed full of stalls, products, food, information and education - as well as entertainment featuring headline act Roots Manuva. All food and products available at the show are 100% plant based.
Up to 140 stalls
Veggie Village - stacks of stalls with special offers and free tasters!
Veggie Cookery Classes both days
4 Talks and Presentations areas - Campaigns, Fair Trade, Veggie Nutrition and Eco Friendly
Kids area with entertainment
Juice Bars, Veggie Caterers, Snack Bars, Cafés and Licensed Bar
Main Stage with local bands and headliners
Family entertainment including walkabouts
Expected 8,000 visitors throughout the show
Eco Veggie Awards presentations
Marketing campaign aimed at attracting families and local people
Fun for all the family!

Our Newest Duty Manager

Please welcome our newest member of the team, Baxter! As you can see he is already working extremely hard.

Meeting and greeting customers at the climbing centre.

Taking very important business calls.

Abseiling with the Youth Climbing Squad.

The Grand Appeal Presents The Cracking Climbathon

On Friday 2nd July 2010, Undercover Rock are proudly hosting the 'Cracking Climbathon' for The Grand Appeal. Come and take on our climbing challenge to help raise funds for our Cots for Tots Appeal to support the Special Care Baby Unit at St Michael's Hosiptal in Bristol.

For those of you that have not heard of Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal before they are the only charity fundraising exclusively for the Bristol Children’s Hospital and St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Special Care Baby Unit).

The Grand Appeal fundraises to provide comforts and facilities for patients and their families whilst in hospital. Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit provide world-class care to babies and children from Bristol, the South West of England and in some cases the whole of the UK and overseas.

The Grand Appeal are asking you to help them fundraise £4,000 by taking part in a climbathon. Grand Appeal are challenging you to come and help them by climbing 4K and raising over 4K, all in 4 hours! The challenge is to climb over 75 metres and raise £100 each. From complete beginners who have never climbed before to climbing experts, this event is for everyone! You do not need to be an athlete or an expert climber to take part - all that's required is a sense of fun and determination!

To get involved please contact either:

Jo McCready on jo@undercover-rock.com or 0117 908 3487

or Lauren on lauren@grandappeal.org.uk or 0117 927 3888

www.grandappeal.org

Profile - Lloyd Newman

This week it is the turn of Mr Environment himself, namely Lloyd Newman.

1. What is your role at UCR?
I am the Cafe Manager and Social Facilitator!

2. How did you get into climbing?
I started when I was 14 at Llangorse at a friend's birthday party. But really it was in 2005 while at UWE that a lovely girl called Liz introduced me to climbing.

3. What is your most memorable climbing experience?
Completing the Cul de Chien roof at Font and watching Jo Mac fall of a 6c at Torbryan before making the first clip!

4. What is your favourite meal?
Crispy aromatic duck.

5. Who is your climbing hero?
Prajak Khunrat - the 'Bruce Lee' of climbing - not only because of his own ability but due to his positive attitude towards the climbing of others regardless of grade.

6. What are your climbing ambitions?
To carry on climbing until old age stops me.

7. What would be your theme tune?
'Mi swing es tropical' by Quantic and Nickodemus.

Dave Birkett & the Walk of Life

Don't miss out on the interview and images of Dave Birkett repeating James Pearson's modern classic.

Even if 95% don't climb this hard, it is still inspirational.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=53538

National Wildlife Day

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol, will once again host National Wildlife Day on Saturday 22nd May.

The day is aimed at getting visitors to take an active part in conservation projects and learn about what they can do to help the environment. To celebrate there will be lots of fun interactive activities such as pond dipping, a conservation talk and meet and greet the animals.

Visitors should bring their wellies and wet weather clothes as it may be a mucky experience. National Wildlife Day aims to bring back the lost traditions and knowledge of Britain’s natural heritage in a fun and enthralling, active day out!

http://www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk/pages/visiting/visiting.php

Stokes Croft Streetfest

Under the name of the Stokes Croft Streetfest, a day of free activities, workshops, stalls, food and live music will take place on Saturday 22nd of May.

The daytime event will be centered around Kings’ Square off Jamaica Street from midday until 6pm and is free to enter. This will include outdoor stages, stalls, booths, flea markets, free shops, games, workshops, art galleries and live music, with stages in Kings Square park, The Bear Pit (St James Barton Roundabout Underpass), The Junction Garden and the Full Moon yard. Artists include Kid Carpet, Miss Cecily, We are the Nynes, Phil King, Lamp Fall and Terry Clement plus loads more.

If that’s not enough, in the evening until late the best of local music will be featured at every venue along Stokes Croft; Lakota, Blue Mountain, The Attic, The Junction, Canteen, The Croft and Left Bank. There’s something for everyone with live bands Yes Rebels, John E Vistic, Gecko, Fromage En Feu, Circus of Invention, William Mbuende Band, Ironing Board, Dr Meaker, Substatic, Kundama and dance music from nearly every club night in Bristol at Unity in Lakota and Blue Mountain.

The PRSC and CoExist have joined the Bristol Festival Community Group to organise the festival, in order to raise funds towards the regeneration of the area, volunteer training and September’s city centre community festival, Brisfest.

Life Still

This Friday is the launch of a new exhibition featuring the work of 5 home-grown Bristol photographers called life.still at howies Bristol shop. Pop along on Friday 21st from 7 – 10pm, there will be free beer as usual and slideshows by professional and non-professional photographers.

Visit http://www.lifestill.co.uk/ for more details, part of the Bristol Festival of Photography.

Adam Ondra

Check out the article on the wunderkind of modern climbing.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=2747

What are your thoughts on the belaying on the 8a+?

All comments gratefully recieved.

Profile - Dave O'Brien

It is the turn of our resident mohican-bearing Duty Manager, Dave.

1. What is your role at UCR?
I am the finest DM and Buildings Manager UCR has seen and a friend to everyone.

2. How did you get into climbing?
Through friends when I was 13 years of age - I did a junior Beginners Course at 'The Climb' in Amersham.

3. What is your most memorable climbing experience?
Climbing in Thailand - not only was the climbing beautiful but the stunning environment made it even more special especially when you can drop off into the sea after a route.

4. What is your favourite meal?
It just has to be a big, greasy fry-up complete with black pudding, soda bread and potato bread.

5. Who is your climbing hero?
I have three of them. Johnny Dawes, Reinhold Messner and especially Dave McLeod, All of them have pushed the limits in terms of climbing and mountaineering.

6. What are you climbing ambitions?
To see the world through climbing and enjoy every minute of it.

7. What is your 'theme tune'?
After long deliberation it has to be 'Hi life' by Luke Howard.

Dave has refused to disclose who he has chosen as the next victim of the UCR Staff Profile Machine!

Spanish rock

It just makes you want to climb!