The Ace | 8B Boulder problem at Stanage

United Kingdom / England / Hope Valley

Low start to The Joker.

Alex Megos:

The holds are there, the holds are big, the moves are small, it's easy. Why is it so hard!? [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10607.msg470882.html#msg470882

Contributors
129 contributions since 1st February 2021.
37 contributions since 1st February 2025.
ben
2 contributions since 12th March 2026.

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Ascents

42 successful ascent s recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent.

Various dates between 2000 and 2002 have been reported for the first ascent. It was reported in On The Edge #105 (March 2001 edition) which suggests it was done around January 2001 [4].

If the truth be known, it had been my goal for the last three years; either I'd just not been in good enough shape to try it, or the conditions were not right. As soon as I started trying The Ace everybody who had done The Joker was attempting it this way, which added to the pressure. My advantage was that I felt good on The Joker. If I could just get in to the top moves feeling strong, I knew i could do it. My sequence didn't feel right though and I was intrigued to find out about an alternative sequence Ben Moon had been trying. First chance I had I went straight back to the crag and tried his method. I hit the top second go but couldn't hold it. The friction wasn't good that day, but I returned in better conditions and for it done. [5]

References

[1] Revelations by Jerry Moffatt and Niall Grimes, 2009. Page 225.

[2] Peak Rock by Phil Kelly, Graham Hoey and Giles Barker, 2013. Page 310.

[3] https://www.climber.co.uk/news/dave-mason-repeats-the-ace/

[4] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,33255.msg666546.html#msg666546

[5] Climber magazine

Second ascent.

References

[1] Confirmed Ben made the second ascent via email correspondence, 30th November 2023.

Third ascent.
Fourth ascent.

References

[1] Winter Sessions @ 49:30

Fifth ascent.

A dream come true... to Jerry the legend.

Tom Newman Boulder | worked 26th Oct 2012
Cailean Harker Boulder | worked 24th Feb 2018
Sam Blackwell Boulder | worked 7th Nov 2020
Matt Cousins Boulder | worked 26th Nov 2020

Freak moment! Executed just perfectly! Thanks for the beta Will and Leon for beta, and extra psyche by the legend himself Jerry [Moffatt] and Magnus [Midtbø]!

Jerry Moffatt:

That was fucking awesome! [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnzog4ZoynB/

[2] https://youtu.be/xe8PeQgbvEs?t=939

Over 30 sessions.
Jim Pope Boulder | worked 25th Nov 2024

Gus purposefully didn't climb The Joker beforehand, so when he did The Ace it would be his first time sticking the move to the jug.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHEX9yitkCD/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGsiKRXJatI

Campused as he had a broken left foot!

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DO6l16IjTcs/

Tom Williams Boulder | worked
Ryan Pasquill Boulder | worked