Peak Mix & Match Meet, 16-18th May 2014
Ali Wood at Birchens
Attendees: Alison Cairns, Andy Cairns, Robert Dufton, Peri Stracchino, Astrid Saxby, Andy Saxby, Ali Wood, Dave Wynne-Jones, Adele Long (guest), Hilary Lawrenson, Sam Fletcher, Mick Green, Nic Dieu, Rich Ellis, Crispin Cooper, Peter Murphy, Clair Wilson, Mike Dennis, Jo Goodson (aspirant), David Proctor (aspirant), Steve Crossley
A fantastic turnout, helped by the ever-improving weather and forecast, which thankfully turned out to be right. Check out that blue sky!
Andy Cairns at Birchens
Most people arrived on Friday evening, enabling me to introduce them to their climbing partners for the following day. Nobody turned round and ran away so a good start. (For those that haven’t yet twigged, the purpose of a Mix & Match meet is to mix everyone up and get them climbing with people they don’t know or haven’t climbed with before – this is done in advance by the meet co-ordinator using dark spells and dread potions…)
Next morning was, predictably, chaos as everyone tried to decide where to go, sort gear with unfamiliar partners, and work out transport to the various venues. Finally everyone got away, mostly to Stanage High Neb in an effort to avoid the crowds of the Popular end, and catch the breeze as it looked like it would be roasting, As it turned out it was absolutely mobbed, and blowing a gale so actually quite cool – but we still managed to find loads of routes to do and everyone seemed to have a good day (apart perhaps from David who had an unfortunate encounter with the ground leaving him bruised and shaken, and Peri who just seemed to be finding gravity unusually high…). Andy S & Rich braved the Popular end and had great fun ticking classics as they came free, while Andy C went up to Froggatt with Dave, Clair & Adele and found it almost deserted and a very pleasant temperature – such are the vagaries of the English weather! Grit-phobic Ali managed to persuade Robert to brave Peak limestone, and had a very pleasant day at Wildcat in perfect conditions.
Steve Crossley on Nelson’s Nemesis at Birchens – HS 4b
The evening passed in a blur of more and more fantastic dishes emerging from the kitchen! Apparently I missed at least one starter but was still almost full with just the ones I did sample, and struggled to do justice to the main courses let alone the puddings. However the leftover Moroccan fruit salad and cake were rapidly demolished for breakfast and the flapjacks welcome for lunch so very little was left by the end.
Andy Saxby at Stanage
Most people swapped climbing partners again for the Sunday, and yet again much debate ensued trying to agree on venues. Sam & Nic were the exception to this, clearly having decided they made a perfect team and headed straight for Lawrencefield where they had a date with Billy Whizz. A large group went to Birchens, while other teams headed for Millstone and (inspired by Ali & Robert) Wildcat. David miraculously recovered enough to lead Bond Street, and Peri is still undecided whether she might one day come to like climbing on limestone.
Thanks to everyone who came and made this a brilliantly successful meet, and hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!
Alison & Andy Cairns
Many thanks to Rich Ellis for all of the photos above.
Looks like a great meet! Catered as well? Not that I’m easily swayed by food you understand, but I would love to come on one of these in the future… Are there any planned for the Lakes this year?
Catered by everyone – it’s a ‘BYOBuffet’ affair. Works great – loads of choice and always FAR too much, what’s not to like?
None in the Lakes – Wales in 2 weeks time. Maybe next year?
Top tip: you need to sit at the table people are bringing the food to – that way you don’t miss a course!!
Beds fast disappearing on the Helyg M&M in 2 weeks’ time. Come along, Pete, to find out how it works and then you can run one in the Lakes next year….
Cornwall meet will be mix and match with at least one BYO gastronomic effort, and options of Tosca at the Minack and La Frowda festival (live music and beer) in St Just. places still available!!