| From: | United Kingdom 🇬🇧 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Hardest Boulder (Worked): | 8A |
| Hardest Sport (Worked): | 8c+ |
| Hardest Trad (Worked): | E9 |
| Hardest Trad (Onsight): | E7 |
John Dunne is a British climber who established many hard, high quality sport and trad routes in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s. In particular routes like Austrian Oak and Magnetic Fields at Malham Cove were some of the hardest in the UK at the time.
John also put up many excellent trad routes. For example The New Statesman at Ilkley included very difficult climbing in a dangerous position and was one of the hardest routes on gritstone when it was put up.
John's climbing attracted a degree of controversy with some not believing his claimed ascents, though these doubts now appear to be unfounded.
[1] Interview with Adrian Berry March 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20061022044419/http://www.planetfear.com/article_detail.asp?a_id=466
[2] John Dunne - The Big Issue 1996 film by Sid Perou
48 recorded ascents.
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Eclipse First ascent. | 8c+ | Lead | worked | 11th Sep 1995 | |
| Cry Freedom Third ascent. | 8c | Lead | worked | Aug 1989 | |
References[1] The Power of Climbing (1991) by David Jones, page 192 |
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| Totally Free First ascent. | 8b | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Predator First ascent. | 8b | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Austrian Oak First ascent. | 8b | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Magnetic Fields First ascent. | 8b | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Well Dunne Finish First ascent. | 8b | Lead | worked | 1st May 1988 | |
| The Groove First ascent. | 8a+ | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Militia First ascent. | 8a+ | Lead | worked | 1993 | |
| Breach of the Peace First ascent. | 8a | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
References |
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| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Careless Torque Second ascent. | 8A | Boulder | worked | 1989 | |
References[1] Email exchange, September 2023 [2] On The Edge, issue 114 |
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| Cindy Crawford First ascent. | 7C | Solo | worked | 2000 | E8 |
| Three More Reps First ascent. | 7B+ | Boulder | worked | 1987 | |
| Super Set First ascent. | 7B+ | Boulder | worked | 1987 | |
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parthian Shot (Pre-2011 Break) First ascent. Around 15 sessions. Third go. | E9 | Lead | worked | 19th Sep 1989 | |
|
John top roped the route within 40 minutes on his first visit, finding it similar in difficulty to Austrian Oak. He then spent another 12-15 sessions on the route. Believing the flake would not hold a fall, he was rescued on two lead attempts. All gear was placed on lead, with the rope to the runner in Brooks Crack dropped at the half way point to save weight. (2) He graded the route HXS 7a, with others touting a grade of E10. There was scepticism from some at the time that John had actually climbed the route, suggesting that the photographs were staged; this has subsequently turned out to be baseless. References[1] John repeating the route on top rope for John Dunne - The Big Issue around 1996 https://youtu.be/3D0Mp0RrQRA?t=1448 [2] ‘Peak Rock’ p.276 |
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| Gerty Berwick | E9 | Top Rope | did not finish | 1990s | |
References |
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| Divided Years First ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | Sep 1994 | E10 |
References |
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| The Big Issue First ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | May 1996 | |
References |
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| Savage Earth First ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | 1997 | |
References[1] Climber July 1997, page 5 |
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| Gribin Wall Climb Third ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | Between 24th May 1997 and 1st Jan 1998 | |
|
Reported as the second ascent [1], unclear whether this was a typo and Neil Gresham actually made the second or third ascent. References[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 73 |
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| Widdop Wall First ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | 1998 | |
| Breathless First ascent. | E9 | Lead | worked | 26th Jun 2000 | E10 |
References[1] On The Edge Issue 100, page 10 |
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| Countdown to Disaster First ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | 1986 | |
| The New Statesman First ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | Oct 1987 | |
| Requiem Second ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | 1989 | |
| Reservoir Dogs Second ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | 1995 | |
| Loaded First ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | 1997 | E8 |
References[1] On The Edge Issue 67, page 8 |
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| Carmen Picasso First ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | 1998 | E9 |
| The Quarryman | E8 | Lead | worked | Before 1st Jan 1998 | |
|
John climbed the top two pitches only, incorrectly believing the lower pitches two have been significantly affected by rockfall.
References[1] On The Edge Issue 71, page 15 |
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| Impact Day Second ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | Jul 1999 | E8 |
References[1] On The Edge Issue 92, page 11 [2] One the Edge Issue 91, page 11 |
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| The Great Escape | E8 | Lead | worked | 21st Jun 2001 | |
|
John suggested a grade of HXS |
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| End of the Affair | E8 | Lead | worked | ||
| Tolerance First ascent. | E8 | Lead | worked | E7 | |
| Strawberries | E7 | Lead | yo-yo | 1985 | |
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| Marrow Bone Jelly | E7 | Solo | onsight | 1985 | |
| Benign Lives | E7 | Solo | worked | 1986 | E6 |
|
First repeat after loss of a pebble |
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| Kaluza Klein Second ascent. | E7 | Lead | worked | 23rd Feb 1986 | |
|
John was straight in for a repeat after seeing the route written up the Stoney new routes book. References[1] Mountain Issue 109, page 19 /library/11131/mountain-109 |
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| Snap Decision First ascent. | E7 | Lead | worked | Jun 1986 | |
| Over the Top First ascent. | E7 | Lead | worked | 15th Jan 1989 | |
| Mean Streak | E6 | Solo | onsight | Between 1st Jan 1985 and 31st Dec 1986 | |
| Life Assurance First ascent. | E6 | Lead | worked | 1988 | |
| Eternal First ascent. | E6 | Lead | worked | 1995 | |
| Fast Forward First ascent. | E6 | Lead | worked | 1998 | E7 |
References[1] Hard Grit (1998) |
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| Outspan First ascent. | E6 | Lead | worked | 1999 | |
References[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 79 |
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| Detritus First free ascent. | E6 | Lead | worked | 2000s | |
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John's last significant new route. |
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| Edge Lane | E5 | Solo | onsight | 1982 | |
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Aged 14 |
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| Wellington Crack | E4 | Solo | repeat | 1980s | |
References |
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| Oedipus! Ring Your Mother | E4 | Solo | repeat | 1988 | |
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|