Bloc Stars 2023

This event has now ended, check back soon for details on Bloc Stars 2024

Highlights from Bloc Stars 2023

What a day, folks! On August 12th, 2023, we hosted Bloc Stars 2023 – an event that ditched the rulebook to give us a day jam-packed with fun and friendly competition. Our community showed up in full force, bringing amazing vibes and sharing the day with us. Seriously, you all made it epic, and we hope you had a blast too. Incase you want a reminder here are some of the highlights. 

Level Playing Field Quallies

We switched things up again this year, introducing a format that ensured everyone had a shot at a decent chance of making it to the finals. Fairness and fun were the name of the game, with each person allowed only 15 attempts to score the highest points possible from 35 blocs. Little did you know that we had cheekily preselected certain scores that would propel you into one of four groups for the finals. The five individuals closest to our preselected scores made it through.

Final Round

The final round was a real game-changer. Unlike standard comps, we cranked up the finalist count, giving more climbers their time to shine. The finals turned into a climber’s showdown like no other – a proper blast of talent and excitement.

But here’s the kicker – all the finalists got to tackle the same blocs, but depending on which group you were in, you were allowed extra handholds. Essentially, everyone was on the same climb, but some had a few bonus grips. It was a level playing field where everyone could have a shot at getting on the podium. The energy was fantastic as the crowd’s excitement grew and grew.

Battle for the Crown

Imagine this: 20 climbers going all in – every grip, every bead of sweat, and a touch of chalk-covered resolve. The air was charged, and the sheer determination was palpable. With tension in the air, the million-dollar question loomed: Who would clinch the coveted title of the Bloc Stars Champion? Let me tell you, it was a proper nail-biter, and we had no idea until Katherine, our official adjudicator, totted up the scores.

The Bloc Cheerleaders

Didn’t make it to the final round? No sweat! We had a job for you – being a bloc cheerleader. These unsung heroes rocked the sidelines with cheers and camaraderie, adding to the whole vibe.

The Champs

Give it up for our category winners: Nat Stephenson Quayle, Tilly Ogden, Chris Morrow, and Will Danks Tatham. You lot were pure legends. And to Nat and Will, the overall champs who managed to climb all the final blocs without falling off – you totally smashed it.

Big Shoutout to Our Partners

A massive thanks goes out to House of Loft for setting the mood with tunes, Tenzing for keeping us refreshed, and a huge shoutout to Relicko and Montane for chipping in with prizes. And let’s not forget a special shoutout to Eve and Tony for stepping in at the last minute to document the day. Follow the link below to check out some of their pics! Your support made it all the more epic.

Here’s to the memories and the good times. Until next year.

CB x

QUALIFIERS SCORES
Matt	484
Tom Jenkinson	471
James Ainge	471
Will Danks-Tatham	471
Luke Hobbs	457
Lucas Waker	457
Harry Simpson	455
Dan Hobbs	443
Nick Wright	438
Jack Bundred	438
Oliver Barry	435
Holly Murray	420
Lewis Swain	419
Jake Tyndall	418
Kevin Norbury	410
Anthony Ainge	393
Joshua Moore	379
Henry Green	379
Thomas Irish	373
Ben Hudson	372
Harry Redechi	367
Richard Tatham	362
Jay Clarke	359
Samuel Brooks	355
Will Goldsworthy	352
Emma Kennard	350
Liam Senior	346
Christopher Morrow	343
Lee Evans	334
Henry Watson	333
Tom Suttill	333
Freya	329
Max Carter	329
Dave Clark	328
Jacob Ashe	323
Ryan Hutson	319
Andrew Tutin	299
Thomas St Clair	299
Thomas Tweedie	298
Alistair Daffy	294
Dominik Szafarczyk	293
Michael Ainge	291
Charlottte Strugnel	288
Will Duncan	287
Baz Zakeri	277
William Cambridge Hartley	268
Nick Livingstone	267
Luka Small	251
Cameron Rhodes	242
Reo Ogusu	228
Fraser Holmes	228
George Cheetham	226
Spencer Newton	225
Carly Green	223
Seb Phillips	211
Matthew Duncan	210
Becky Stephenson	210
Scott Pearce	205
Jez Pale	203
Oswyn Hodgson	202
Stacey Crossley	201
Ali Watson	186
Jack Hobson	185
David Boulton	176
Jacob Inwood	174
Joshua Inwood	169
Mayowa Adeyemi	168
John Wilson	155
Henry Smith	142
Rae Hughes	134
Emma Higgs	132
Jacob Horsfield	128
Tilly Ogden	127
Akku	125
Scott Duncan	122
Peter Bradford	119
Saile Villegas	114
Josh Crosse	107
Anthony Whyatt	106
Charlotte Gupta-Smyth	106
Rachael Gupta-Smyth	94
Charlie St Claire	92
C Covella	90
Natalie Stephenson – Quayle	90
Elizabeth Killick	83
Harry Gent	80
Andy Seddon	80
Henry Green	80
Emily Wilde	76
Georgia Clark	74
Zigmond Sima	62
Matt Andrews	47
Regine	26
Jen Sharman	11
Martin Lewis	8

Event Details

We’re back again with our 2nd edition of Bloc Stars. We’ve ironed out the creases from our debut event last year and have a whole new & improved plan in store. Read on to learn more.

Please note:

Passholders don’t need to pay for a ticket but please still register for your free ticket below.

Get ready for an epic day of climbing and friendly competition at Bloc Stars 2023! Our inclusive climbing competition with indoor festival vibes is open to climbers of all abilities. We’ve revamped the format to create a playful and fun atmosphere where every climber has a chance to showcase their skills and aim for the podium.

Join us on Saturday, 12th August, for a day filled with exhilarating challenges, pumping tunes, and a range of climbing grades from V0 to V8. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s something for everyone.

Entry tickets are only £10 per person, making it accessible to all. And here’s an extra perk: City Bloc Monthly and Annual Passholders get free entry on the day!

So mark your calendars and get ready to experience the thrill of Bloc Stars. It’s going to be an unforgettable event celebrating the spirit of climbing. See you there!

ITINERARY

CHECK-IN – 12:00

Just a quick heads-up: we kindly ask that you don’t arrive before the start time. We’ll have the climbing centre open in the morning, but we’ll be busy running kids sessions and getting everything set up for the event. Gotta make sure everything’s in top shape to give you an unforgettable experience. So, we’d greatly appreciate it if you could hold off on arriving until the check-in time.

To beat the queues, make sure everyone has completed the City Bloc registration form before the event. We’ve just transitioned to new gym software, so all attendees need to re-register using these links. For those under 18, an attending adult completes the form and adds <18s. Supervising adults must stick around (unless the <18s are junior assessed). Ratio: 1 adult to 2 under 18s.

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QUALIFIER & CHALLENGES WINDOW – 12:30 – 17:00

Get ready for the exciting part of the competition! In the qualifiers, we’ve set up a circuit of 35 problems and 5 fun challenges for you to tackle. Here’s the twist: you’ll have 15 attempts to score as many points as possible. Each problem is numbered from 1 to 35, with the difficulty increasing as you go up the numbers.

The key is to strategize and choose wisely where you use your attempts. Let’s say you start with problem #16 and crush it on your first try. Boom! You’ve just earned 16 points and have 14 attempts left. If it felt like a piece of cake, maybe you push yourself and try problem #17 for 17 points. Keep climbing and accumulating points until you hit your limit. Alternatively, if a problem feels challenging, work your way down and grab points from easier ones like #16, #15, #14, and so on. Remember, you have 15 attempts in total.

Now, let’s talk about the challenges. You can take as many attempts as you want on these, and each completed challenge earns you a whopping 10 points!

We’ve made some exciting changes this year to ensure a level playing field in the final round. But shhh, it’s a secret for now. You’ll have to come down and experience it firsthand to find out!

Make sense? Okay, finals…

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FINAL – 17:30

Get ready for the ultimate showdown as a group of qualifying individuals battle it out in the Comp Room! Our redesigned format ensures a level playing field, creating a fair and thrilling competition. Expect new surprises and excitement in this year’s final round. While not everyone will advance, we’ve significantly expanded the number of finalists compared to a standard climbing competition. Brace yourself for an intense battle as each climber gives their all to claim the coveted title of Bloc Stars. And if you don’t make it through, you’ll have the honor of being a faithful bloc cheerleader, supporting your fellow climbers.

UNDER 18?

Any participants under the age of 18 must have an accompanying adult with them unless they have been junior assessed. Please note there will not be any problems set specifically for children however the scoring system should allow for equal opportunity to reach the finals.

PRIZES

Bloc Stars is a fun and enjoyable event, carefully designed to provide participants with a fair and balanced competition. While there will be prizes generously provided by Montane, we all know that the true reward lies in the pride and honor of winning a coveted Bloc Stars medal. It’s a chance to showcase your skills, push your limits, and be recognized as a true Bloc Star.

FOOD

At this year’s event subsided food will be available with options that cater to different dietary needs, so whether you’re a meat lover or vegan, we’ve got you covered.

SUMMARY

Join us by booking your ticket, and on the day of the event, grab your score sheet and get ready for a memorable experience. Although we have planned for the event to end at 20:00, please note that as this is a new format, there is a possibility of it running over the scheduled time.

Our competition is designed to be laid-back and casual, with a strong emphasis on friendly competition and inclusivity. We don’t have age or gender categories, allowing everyone to participate side by side. The main focus is on climbing, having an amazing time, and fostering a strong sense of community.

Prepare for a day filled with fantastic music, laughter, and a relaxed atmosphere where climbers of all backgrounds can come together and enjoy the thrill of climbing. So come on down, bring your enthusiasm, and let’s make this a fun-filled event to remember.