Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Ricky Bell has continued with his great form and ticked off Ireland’s hardest route, Divided Years in The Mournes. This is the first ascent of the route by a local climber and the fourth ascent over all after John Dunne, Dave Birkett and Dave MacLeod, a fairly impressive list for Ricky to have his name added to. Yet again the news was broken by Si Moore on the Fairheadclimbers forums and here’s what he had to say:

Rick managed to succeed today on divided years. Very impressive ascent. French 8a+/8b climbing, several 30 foot falls onto hand placed bird beaks. Amazing route climbed in style placing all gear on lead. E9 6c.

Divided Years has been the big one in Ireland ever since John Dunne first climbed it back in 1994 and graded it E10 7a, the worlds first E10. Then there came the reports of it being over-graded, leading to Dave MacLeods ascent and his proposed down-grading of the route to E8 6c in 2006. Dave MacLeods down-grading seemed to cause nearly as much controversy as the over-grading did in the first place and even more rumours appeared suggesting E9 6c might be a more accurate grading. Looks like Ricky agreed, and he climbed it in great style as well, to be only the second ascent with all the gear placed on lead.

I’d heard that Ricky fell from one of the last moves on this a few weeks ago, then the weather wasn’t co-operating for him to get back to it. It’s great to see that he’s ticked it now, bringing Irish climbing standards to the next level. Fair play and many more big lines to go this summer I’m sure!

-Stephen Mc Gowan-

(Image Credit: Ricky Bell working Divided Years - E9 6c by Craig Hiller - http://www.hillerscapes.co.uk/)