Fourways climbers dominate championships
Luke Westman and Victor Ellis secure multiple medals at the SANCF Nationals, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication.
It’s been a standout competition season for Fourways-based climbers Luke Westman and Victor Ellis, who have achieved impressive results on both local and international stages.
The talented duo started their year by qualifying to represent South Africa at the IFSC Youth World Championships 2024, where they proudly showcased their skills in China this August.
Read more: Fourways climbers to represent SA against the worlds best in China
Following their world championship performance in China, Victor wasted no time getting back into competition mode, returning to Gauteng four days later to compete at the provincial level.
His efforts paid off brilliantly as he clinched a gold medal in speed climbing and secured a spot on the provincial squad in both lead and bouldering disciplines. In addition, Victor earned a silver medal in his age category for speed and a bronze medal in the open male category.
Luke had a busy schedule ahead of him, with only three weeks between the Youth World Championships and the SANCF Nationals held in Pretoria.
Also read: Local City Rock sport climber leads and boulders for South Africa
Coming into the national competition well-prepared, Luke left a mark by earning medals in speed, lead, and boulder within his age group.
Notably, he stood out as the only male open climber to compete in and achieve podium placements across all categories, solidifying his reputation as the most versatile male open climber in South Africa for 2024.
As the year comes to a close, Victor is set to focus on completing his matric at Pretoria Boys High School, while Luke can look forward to some well-deserved rest and recovery before gearing up for training ahead of the IFSC and local competitions in 2025.
The SANCF National Climbing 2024 competition took place at CityROCK in Pretoria, with speed competition events held at the Johannesburg branch from September 21 to 23.
The event attracted a formidable lineup of 126 climbers from across the country vying for top honours. In a notable expansion, SANCF also welcomed a select team of climbers from Zambia, providing them an opportunity to gain valuable experience and skills alongside South Africa’s best.
As these young athletes continue to make waves in the climbing community, their dedication and perseverance serve as an inspiration to aspiring climbers throughout the country.
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