. ROCK
ON - the national sport climbing championship a
brief look back . . .
history
Climbing
as a sport began in Singapore around mid 1980s with self-taught climbers
exploring the cliffs at Dairy Farm Quarry. In 1989, the Singapore Advisory
Council on Sports and Recreation identified climbing as one of the sports
which can help build a more rugged society. That same year, SAFRA
pioneered the sport by constructing Singapore’s first permanent artificial
rock climbing walls at SAFRA Tampines.
In
1990, the first national rock-wall climbing competition was organised.
The inaugural event held at SAFRA Bukit Merah’s rock wall, attracted 150
participants. What followed was an amazing series of breakthroughs that
opened the doors of climbing to some 130,000 Singaporeans, young and old.
Rock-wall climbing was then re-termed as “sport climbing” to be in line
with international calling in 1997.
Today,
the National Sport Climbing Championship, fondly referred to as “Rock On”,
has catapulted to become Asia’s largest and a significant event in the
climbing scene. Each year, participation increases steadily, reflecting
a growing interest in the sport. Over 850 climbers participated in the
Rock On 2001.
milestones
1992
The
1st National Sport Climbing Championship was organised at Marina Promenade,
attracting about 280 climbers. Even on its maiden year, the Championship
became the first of its kind in South East Asia to be sanctioned by Union
Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA)
– the international body for climbing and mountaineering-related activities.
1993
At
this infant stage, the Championship already saw participation from climbers
around the Asia Pacific region. This speaks volumes of the prestige and
standards of the Championship. Since then, foreign climbers representing
their countries have been gearing up for this annual event every year.
1994
Singapore
broke into the international climbing scene when 6 of our local climbers
represented Singapore in the 3rd Asian Sport Climbing Championship held
in Matsumoto, Japan. These representatives were selected from winners of
the National Sport Climbing Championship.
1995
Indeed
a year to be proud of – the SMF and SAFRA hosted the prestigious 4th Asian
Sport Climbing Championship with the 3rd National Sport Climbing Championship.
Some 500 of the best climbers in the region competed in this dazzling show
of strength of mind and body, held at the Expo Gateway, World Trade Centre.
1996
The
1st speed climbing competition made it up the walls. A relatively new sport
at that time, speed climbing challenges the speed and agility of the climber.
The fastest climber to scale the 15m wall wins the day.
1997
To
keep the adrenaline pumping for both climbers and spectators, the first
ever Mixed relay team category for speed climbing was introduced. This
vertical team relay consists of 4 climbers who vie for the top spot by
racing against other teams, up the wall in the shortest accumulative time.
1998
This
Championship saw a record breaking of more than 800 climbers taking part,
making it the biggest climbing competition in Asia. A total of 19 categories
was offered in the competition to cater to the diversity and growing number
of participants ranging from 8 years old to the sixty-somethings.
1999
Another
groundbreaking feat was added to history when the organisers hosted the
first ever Asian
Youth Sport Climbing Championship during that year’s National Sport
Climbing Championship. Some 58 top youth climbers from 8 countries took
to the walls.
2000
In
the wake of the new millennium, the Championship continued to be top climbers’
springboard to international opportunities. Six winners of the year’s Championship
went on to represent Singapore in the 2nd
Asian Youth Sport Climbing Championship held at Beijing, China.
2001
This
year celebrated the 10th anniversary of our National Sport Climbing Championship,
and the event was held for the first time at the National
Rock Climbing Centre at the SAFRA Yishun Country Club, completed at
a cost of $600,000. A record breaking 850 participants took part. The SMF
sent a team to compete in the 3rd
Asian Youth Sport Climbing Championship held at Zanjan, Iran.
