SMSC SOUTHFIELDS MOUNTAIN SPORTS CLUB

WHO ARE WE? SMSC is a mountain sports activities club which is affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council [BMC] the governing body of the sport in the UK. The BMC provides basic third party insurance to club members and a whole range of other services to both club and individual members.

WHAT DO WE DO? The activities members do include hill-walking, mountain biking, fell running, mountaineering in summer and winter, rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing snowboarding and snow shoeing. As a club we organise away days and residential trips. At the Aspire centre we use the climbing wall and gym. We also provide practical and theoretical workshop and training sessions for members and guests in mountain related skills, e.g. navigation, first aid, rope work etc. These are delivered by club members with suitable experience or qualifications. Informal social and meet planning sessions Take place in “our local” on the last Thursday of the month. Within the club many members train and climb regularly on the various indoor climbing walls in London.

CLUB CONTACTS:
TREASURER       This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
SECRETARY       This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CHAIRPERSON   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
This was not particularly well attended and the following changes implemented. Julie Eyre has taken over the position as club secretary from Brett who we thank for his efforts in a tedious job. She is going to be assisted by Christina Schams who has also agreed to be our junior members” safeguarding” representative.

ANNUAL DINNER: This has been moved from the clogged up Christmas period and will take place on Friday 13thJan 2012 at the Pig and Whistle, gastro pub. Cost £20.00. Please confirm your booking by sending a deposit to Maggi Reading our treasurer.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION:
Members are invited to submit up to 3 digital images from their mountain, crag or hill related activities for this competition. Entries should be titled and will be posted on the web site. Results and prizes will be awarded at the annual club dinner.
Send entries to Cecil Hughes by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Scott/Shackleton Photography Exhibition of the Antarctic at the Queens Gallery, Buckingham Palace is well worth a visit. Book on line

PROGRAMME FOR SUMMER 2012:
For all events please contact the named event organiser. We also rely on members organising further events open to others even if it is at short notice. Send your information to the secretary for email distribution.
A great alternative indoor climbing option is at Surrey Sports Park Guildford. Open throughout, except for bank holidays.

REAL ROCK CLIMBING DAYS ON SOUTHERN SANDSTONE
For climbers young or old who have climbed on indoor or outdoor walls this is an opportunity to progress onto real rock.  the various Southern Sandstone crags offer an ideal opportunity for bouldering and bottom rope climbing.  these one day sessions will show you how to safely make this transition.

Instruction ratio 1:4 Climbing at either Harrisons Rocks or Bowles Rocks.

All technical equipment will be provided.

You will need suitable clothing, a packed lunch and some soft drinks.

These sessions are suitable for first time adult climbers, and parent and child groups with some wall climbing experience.

You will initially learn to locate, assess the difficulty of your proposed climb using a guide book.  You will have the opportunity to try a range of climbs, to safely set up top anchors, and climb / belay within the agreed code of practice.

Proposed Itinerary:

Meet at Aspire Centre at 9.00am.  Travel by car to venue.

AM Climbing Session 10.30 - 12.30pm

Lunch Break 12.30pm - 1.00pm

PM Climbing Session 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Return to Southfields ETA 5.00pm

INCLUSIVE COST: £45.00 per climber (max. number 4)

Proposed Dates:

21st July, 22nd July, 28th July, 29th July, 4th August, 5th August, 12th August, 18th August, 19th August, 25th August & 26th August.

For further information contact Cecil Hughes, ML.SPA. by
Telephone: 020 8949 7186
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LEARN TO CLIMB IN A WEEKEND

Day 1 - Saturday - 2 X 2 Hour Sessions on a Climbing Wall
Day 2 - Sunday - 2 X 2 Hour Sessions "Real Rock" on Southern Sandstone

Single Day sessions by arrangement.

These courses are suitable for adults and family groups.

Instruction Ratio 1:4

INCLUSIVE COST: £45.00 per day inclusive of hire of technical equipment.

Proposed Dates: Saturdays and Sundays throughout July and Sugust 2012.

For further information contact Cecil Hughes, ML.SPA. by
Telephone: 020 8949 7186
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CLIMBING AWAY DAYS AT SURREY SPORTS PARK

The indoor climbing walls, [bouldering and roped climbing] at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, provides an opportunity for climbers to extend their skills and take on more challenging climbs.

These day courses are suitable for children [minimum age 8] with some previous climbing wall experience.  The day activities will include bouldering, bottom rope climbing and belaying.

Intruction Ratio 1:4

INCLUSIVE COST: £45.00 Inclusive of all entry fees and all technical equipment hire.

Proposed Itinerary:

Meet at Aspire Centre at 9.00am

Travel to Guildford by car

AM Climbing Session 10.30am - 12.30pm

Lunch Break 12.30pm - 1.00pm

PM Climbing Session 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Return to Aspire - 4.00pm

Proposed Dates:

21st July, 22nd July, 23rd July, 25th july, 26th July, 27th July, 28th July, 29th July, 3rd August, 26th August, 27th August, 29th August, 30th August & 31st August.

For further information contact Cecil Hughes, ML.SPA. by
Telephone: 020 8949 7186
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CLUB NIGHT AT ASPIRE
Every Thursday evening meet other members and enjoy a climbing session.  Suitable for novice climbers wishing to lear the ropes as well as the more experienced.  On the last Thursday of the month this is followed by a social drink and meet planning session at the Pig and Whistle public house.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
3rd September - SMSC Committee Meeting
19th November - Annual General Meeting

The Annual Dinner will take place in January 2013 to avoid Christmas clashes.

In addition to the above meets and events members organising visits at shorter notice should e-mail the information to the membership via the club secretary who can also put them on our blog.  It is often the case that these are subject to weather and time available.

ASPIRE based WORKSHOPS 2012:
The following workshops will take place subject to demand on Monday evenings. These are to be held in conjunction with Wandsworth Community Learning. 7.30 T0 9.30 PM.
Map and compass work, route planning and navigation, Rope work for hill walkers and climbers, First aid for the outdoors. Camp cooking. Preparation for winter skills .
MEMBERSHIP is open to individual adults, juniors and families.
If you are interested or want to know more come down to the climbing wall any Thursday evening and meet us. Benefits include reduced entry fee to the Ascent Climbing Wall and 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor Shops. Application forms from,
Contact Maggi Reading email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OUR BLOG:
Click here to visit our Blog!

GALLERY
Members may submit digital images on mountain related themes for inclusion on this site. A small amount of explanatory text may also be included. We reserve the right to edit images and include them in SMSC publicity materials. Please give to Cec Hughes.