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Competition climber Shauna Coxsey wins Scottish Youth Ambassador Award

Written by Fiona

February 21 2018

Shauna Coxsey (MBE), the UK’s most successful competition climber, has been named as the winner of The Fort William Mountain Festival’s Scottish Youth Ambassador Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture 2018.

Organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival have chosen the first day of the weekend event to make the announcement.

The Scottish Youth Ambassador Award recognises and celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of an inspiring young person and their outstanding contributions to Scotland’s mountains.

Specialising in the climbing discipline of bouldering, Shauna is the current two-time reigning IFSC Bouldering World Champion and came third in the Combined event in 2017. She is also the first British woman to climb the outdoor bouldering grade of V14 (8b+).

Shauna Coxsey. Pic credit: Toby Ziff / Red Bull Content Pool

Shauna is a Director of the Women’s Climbing Symposium which promotes participation and progression of women in all disciplines of climbing. In 2016, the event was awarded the #BeAGameChanger Inspiring Initiative (regional) Award by the Women’s Sport Trust.

Shauna is also a trustee of the charity, Climbers Against Cancer, set up by the late John Ellison to raise funding and awareness about cancer amongst a global climbing community.

Shauna, 25, was born in Runcorn and now lives full time in Sheffield, where she trains. She said: “It is a real surprise and huge honour to receive this award. I am incredibly grateful to those who have nominated me.

“Although most people will know me from my day job as a competition climber, much of my free time is spent climbing outside whether that is on my doorstep in the Peak District or further afield.

“I love the fact that climbing is so varied and attracts people from all walks of life to try the sport either down a wall or at a local crag.”

Shauna competing.

The Scottish Youth Ambassador Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture is sponsored jointly by Corpach Boatbuilding Company Limited, which provides marine services from its base in Fort William and by the Nevis Landscape Partnership / Heritage Lottery Fund.

A festival spokesperson said: “Shauna Coxsey has achieved great success in competition climbing to become the United Kingdom’s most successful ever competition climber. She has also demonstrated her strong commitment and great desire to share and encourage participation amongst the wider climbing community.”

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