Katherine is a well known figure on the Peak scene and a longtime Red Chili sponsee. Always a consistent climber Katherine has also started to really put her climbing together in the last two years and her grades have shot up making her one the UK's best all round women. Katherine at home on the superb trad limstone of High Tor, Peak District UK. Photo Alex Messenger A determined character, Katherine also has to put up with strong competition at home - her husband is Nic Sellers another very talented climber. And as Katherine readily admits, this competition within the household, as well as her determination to not 'swept under the carpet' in the achievement stakes has helped her ambitions in climbing - making her a fierce climber and a great sponsee... Not only a strong boulderer, Katherine climbs well across a variety of rock, and is at home on trad, sports climbing and in competitions. So here's some words from Katherine about her climbing.... "During the 13 years that I’ve been climbing, I’ve dabbled in almost every aspect of the sport, spending the first few years tootling up adventurous routes whether that be the Dolomites, Welsh sea cliffs or in the depths of the Lakes. More recently, in the last 3 years I’ve found myself drawn to the more physical nature of bouldering, sport climbing and competitions. My personal highlights have included climbing Raindogs (8a) at Malham, West Side Story (V9) at Burbage, The Salmon Left Hand (E6 6b) Bamford and very almost making the final in the Birmingham World Cup in 2005 finishing in 14th place! Despite having made 2 World Cup finals before, this felt more of an achievement it was such a strong field. However, perhaps my biggest tick occurred over 10 years ago, when, after only climbing for 2 years, I climbed the American Direct with my friend Simon in Chamonix. Whilst on paper this route is considerably easier than lots of the other things i have since done, I actually still rate it as one of my best achievements: I was way out of my depth and shouldn’t have been up there but I tried as hard on that as I have done on anything since! There are 3 areas in the world that have truly inspired me climb and I can’t wait to return – Arapiles, Australia, The Needles, California, USA and Buoux in France. Some of my favourite climbs in the world are Left Wall E2 5c, Cromlech, North Wales, Spook Book 5.10d Needles, California, Sandinista 23, Grampians, Australia, Profit of Doom E4 6b, Curbar, UK, and The Ashes 7c+ at Kilnsey, UK. This year, 2006 I’m looking forward to a European road trip taking in Fontainebleau, Buoux & more south of France action, Berdorf in Luxembourg, Frankenjura and scary trad in the Czech Republic." Katherines Hit List Sports Climbing
Raindogs, Malham (8a), The Ashes, Kilnsey (7c+), Herbie, Malham (7c+), Chasin’ the Train, Frankenjura (7c), Berlin, Ceuse (7c), Metal Guru, Kilnsey (7c), Comedy, Kilnsey (7c), Biological Need, Kilnsey (7c), New Dawn, Malham (7c), OS up to 7b+ Trad Climbing
Salmon Left Hand E6 6a, Bamford, Peak, Station to Station, 25, Arapiles, Australia, Debutantes & Centipedes, 25, Arapiles, Australia, The Knock, E5 6a, Burbage, Peak, Right Wall, E5 6a, Llanberis Pass, North Wales,Rimsky Korsikov, E5 6a, Llanberis Pass, North Wales,
Many E4s across the world on all rock types Bouldering
West Side Story, Burbage, V9, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Kyloe, Northumberland, V8, Impossible Slab, Caley, Yorkshire, V8, Iceberg, Fontainebleau, V7, Monsieur Plus, Rocher Canon, V7, Rose and the Self Employed Businessman, Stanage V7, Early Doors, Curbar, V7, Many V6s Comps
Best result: 12th Place World Cup, Edinburgh, UK, 2003. UK, come 2nd and 3rd a lot, but never won! Katherine on her ascent of the fierce Raindogs, 8A Malham. Photo Alex Messenger |
