The Royal Navy surprised their Army rivals when they snatched one of the trophies at the annual Inter-Services Climbing Championships.

Traditionally, soldiers dominate the event, held this year at the Rockface in Birmingham, but for the first time sailors walked off with one of the team trophies.

Competitors enter one of three categories – open, U25s and ladies – and attempt routes which become more and more difficult as they climb higher, hanging by their fingertips as they fight their way through a big overhang 20 metres above the ground.

The winner is the climber who reaches higher than anyone else before falling off the face – or the first to reach the top.

CPOMEA ‘Ellie’ MacPherson, of SFM in Portsmouth, was the Navy’s top climber, but it was the U25 squad which took the laurels by bagging a trophy.

AEA Gaz Wilson (848 NAS) came second, followed closely by LOM(C) Andy Jackson (HMS Gloucester) and trainee pilot S/Lt Will Batho.

Fresh from their success, the climbers are already looking ahead to the 2005 competitions – the RN and RM championships are lined up for next May, with the Inter-Services in June.

Details from Lt Cdr Mick Cooke 9380 44531 or visit www.rnrmmc.org