Some Lessons from the Irish Bouldering Championships 2026

Last weekend, BoulderWorld, Belfast, hosted the Irish Bouldering Championships 2026 in partnership with Mountaineering Ireland. It was an amazing event and I took away some lessons which I felt would be of great value to the church. Some of these things are, perhaps, already in place in some churches but, when you see them coming together, they remind you of really important things.

The first one is that it takes a lot of preparation for a great event to succeed. There were people involved in setting routes which would be suitable for different age groups and abilities, from under 13 to senior in both male and female categories, and there was also an open community event on the Sunday afternoon. There were zoom calls to answer queries about technical questions, there were briefings for participants and judges on the days themselves. There were specific routes prepared and covered for the finals so no one could see them in advance. There was a registration team, there was an app to help people with scoring and judging the climbs, there were appeals processes to be followed, and so a huge amount of preparation went into making the event succeed on the days themselves.

There is a rather unique and special atmosphere at climbing competitions where, although everyone wants to win, competitors also want to see and help others to succeed. They cheer one another on as they are on the climbs, they discuss different methods of making the climb and offer constructive suggestions where they have seen someone fail and how they might get it on their next attempt. It’s a very beautiful thing to see competitors from very different backgrounds from all over the UK, Ireland and Europe come together and form friendships that are lasting and enduring. You find families share lifts, accommodation and, in the very important social side of things, there’s a lot of fun to be had as people share food and stories together. Something special has been shared as people stretch themselves to their limits, and that common bond is celebrated in the social gatherings afterwards.

The competition fostered a really impressive spirit of volunteering. The call came out via email that volunteers were required for judging, registration and other tasks around the event. As climbing has given so much to our family over the years, I reluctantly and nervously said ‘yes’ to judging despite not knowing how the new app works. The chief judge and other volunteers showed me, and there I found myself with my judges tee shirt! Even though I didn’t relish the prospect, the buzz was electric around the centre as I watched climbers utilise the option of unlimited attempts to try to secure extra points by reaching a zone or a top . There were some very tiny competitors but they had the courage and the hearts of lions as they came off many times and attempted to go again. It did my heart so much good to hear a Dad cheer his twin daughters on and, after many attempts, see one of the girls achieve a zone and, as everyone cheered and he told them how proud he was of them, it’s hard not to feel moved.

There’s a great family feel to this championship. Although the competition is fierce, you find every generation watching and cheering each other on in the finals, lending itself to a great atmosphere. There was a recognition that some competitors may need space and quiet in the intensity of competition, so there was a quiet room to escape to if required. This allowed some space from the noise and the crowds. There were lots of younger siblings and those with additional needs around the place and everyone was welcome. We were able to leave our daughter with one of the coaches and instructors and judges while we grabbed something from the car, and what a kind and patient encounter that was as she was made so welcome at this incredible event.

Reflecting on this wonderful weekend, let’s not neglect to prepare thoroughly and properly for church services and events. How can we create an atmosphere that enables people to connect and engage with one another? How can we cheer one another on as we walk the journey of faith together? Are there simple things we can do in church to make the place more welcoming and accessible for all, so that they feel valued and precious as they have the courage to come across the threshold. Can we help people to see the joy and fulfilment in volunteering to serve, and get involved in events that make a real difference in the lives of others in our community. The suggestion is that if we do, we will be blessed.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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