Andy Pollitt


Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7

Features in Statement of Youth

North Stack Wall, 1980s https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3463204157079068

Andy in Longland's Cafe, Hathersage 1987. By Bernard Newman https://www.instagram.com/p/CZYqXzmNuWS/

Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7

Lists


Podcasts


Pics + Vids

Added at 09:02 on 07 February 2021
Added at 08:02 on 26 February 2021
View this post on Instagram

Added at 20:02 on 16 February 2022
Strawberries (E7)
Added at 08:02 on 26 February 2021
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (E9, FA)
Added at 08:02 on 26 February 2021
Fingerlicker Direct (E6, FA)
Added at 17:03 on 20 March 2021
A Midsummer Night's Dream (E6)
Added at 17:03 on 20 March 2021
Skinhead Moonstomp (E6, FA)
Added at 05:10 on 27 October 2021

Ascents

28 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown. Use the other tabs to view these ascents.
Year Climb Grade FA Ascent Date
1982 Fingerlicker Direct E6 (Lead) 29th May 1982

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.115298749927011/115300946593458

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=115864739870412&set=a.115862679870618

A Midsummer Night's Dream E6 (Lead) 30th May 1982

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=115864769870409&set=a.115862679870618

The Dillusioned Screw Machine E6 (Lead) 27th July 1982

With 1pt of aid.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.149994316457454/149994789790740

1983 Zero E7 (Lead) 1983

Second ascent.

Again with Paul [Williams], the second ascent of Pete Livesey’s Zero – a genuine frightener on Idwal’s Suicide Wall. On my first attempt, facing a ground fall from about seventy feet, my left index finger ended up in the pocket that my hex 3 needed to be in. Committing to the ‘dead-point’ principle, I pulled my finger out with a ‘pop’ and hurriedly stacked the little nut upright to cam it in the pocket, then grabbed it and clipped my rope in. On reaching the ground after a rapid but gentle lower-off, the nut must’ve come out of tension so slid all the way back down to the bottom … along with my rope a second or two later! [1]

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/andy_pollitt_-punk_in_the_gym-_exclusive_extract-8314

Psyche 'n' Burn E6 (Lead) 1983
Flash Dance E5 (Lead) 1983

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116372176486335

Space Case E6 (Lead) 2nd June 1983

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116371153153104

1984 Skinhead Moonstomp E6 (Lead) 12th April 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373223152897

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373246486228

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/4520398724692934

For Whom the Bell Tolls E6 (Lead) 29th April 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373066486246

Mammoth E5 (Lead) 20th May 1984

First all free ascent.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/gogarth_north_stack_and_main_cliff-598/mammoth-4286

Mammoth Direct E6 (Lead) 26th May 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373369819549

Teenage Kicks E6 (Lead) 28th August 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116374329819453

1985
1986 The Bells! The Bells! E7 (Lead Onsight) 1986

Second ascent.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/publications/other_publications/the_bells_the_bells__an_extract_from_andy_pollitts_punk_in_the_gym-12110

The Hollow Man E8 (Lead) 2nd October 1986

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.149995619790657/149996006457285

1987 Knocked Out Loaded E6 (Lead) 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043406452545

Boot Boys 8a+ (Lead) Between 10th Apr. 1987 and 10th Apr. 1988

Freed two days after the first aid ascent! [1]

References

[1] Peak Limestone North, First Ascents Supplement /file/bc3fd0e4-a3ee-a736-1cbf-d68af9f0910e/peak_lime_north_first_ascents.pdf

The Whore of Babylon 8a (Lead) 28th May 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043733119179

Out of My Tree 8a (Lead) 20th June 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043746452511

The Spider 8a (Lead Did not finish) 2nd August 1987

1 pt aid, ~E5.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044049785814

Arch Enemies 7c+ (Lead) 9th December 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044706452415

1988 Knockin' on Heaven's Door E9 (Lead) 2nd March 1988

Climbed from the right with a pre-placed peg.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044826452403

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3416013038464847

Masters of the Universe E7 (Lead) 7th April 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044933119059

Ruby Fruit Jungle 8a (Lead) 19th May 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150045239785695

Over the Moon 8a (Lead) June 1988
Thormen's Moth 8a (Lead) 16th June 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150045409785678

Climb Grade FA Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Punks in the Gym 8b+ (Lead)

After long and frustrating siege Andy subsequently gave up climbing.

Boot Boys 8a+ (Lead) Between 10th Apr. 1987 and 10th Apr. 1988

Freed two days after the first aid ascent! [1]

References

[1] Peak Limestone North, First Ascents Supplement /file/bc3fd0e4-a3ee-a736-1cbf-d68af9f0910e/peak_lime_north_first_ascents.pdf

The Whore of Babylon 8a (Lead) 28th May 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043733119179

Out of My Tree 8a (Lead) 20th June 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043746452511

The Spider 8a (Lead Did not finish) 2nd August 1987

1 pt aid, ~E5.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044049785814

Ruby Fruit Jungle 8a (Lead) 19th May 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150045239785695

Over the Moon 8a (Lead) June 1988
Thormen's Moth 8a (Lead) 16th June 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150045409785678

Arch Enemies 7c+ (Lead) 9th December 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044706452415

Climb Grade FA Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade FA Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Knockin' on Heaven's Door E9 (Lead) 2nd March 1988 E9

Climbed from the right with a pre-placed peg.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044826452403

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3416013038464847

The Hollow Man E8 (Lead) 2nd October 1986

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.149995619790657/149996006457285

Masters of the Universe E7 (Lead) 7th April 1988

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150044933119059

Zero E7 (Lead) 1983

Second ascent.

Again with Paul [Williams], the second ascent of Pete Livesey’s Zero – a genuine frightener on Idwal’s Suicide Wall. On my first attempt, facing a ground fall from about seventy feet, my left index finger ended up in the pocket that my hex 3 needed to be in. Committing to the ‘dead-point’ principle, I pulled my finger out with a ‘pop’ and hurriedly stacked the little nut upright to cam it in the pocket, then grabbed it and clipped my rope in. On reaching the ground after a rapid but gentle lower-off, the nut must’ve come out of tension so slid all the way back down to the bottom … along with my rope a second or two later! [1]

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/andy_pollitt_-punk_in_the_gym-_exclusive_extract-8314

The Bells! The Bells! E7 (Lead Onsight) 1986

Second ascent.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/publications/other_publications/the_bells_the_bells__an_extract_from_andy_pollitts_punk_in_the_gym-12110

Eye of the Tiger E7 (Lead)

Andy made an early repeat of the line.

Strawberries E7 (Lead)

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/3454948037904680

Fingerlicker Direct E6 (Lead) 29th May 1982

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.115298749927011/115300946593458

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=115864739870412&set=a.115862679870618

The Dillusioned Screw Machine E6 (Lead) 27th July 1982

With 1pt of aid.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.149994316457454/149994789790740

Space Case E6 (Lead) 2nd June 1983

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116371153153104

Skinhead Moonstomp E6 (Lead) 12th April 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373223152897

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373246486228

https://www.facebook.com/climbing.in.the.80s/photos/a.270388289694020/4520398724692934

For Whom the Bell Tolls E6 (Lead) 29th April 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373066486246

Mammoth Direct E6 (Lead) 26th May 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116373369819549

Teenage Kicks E6 (Lead) 28th August 1984

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116374329819453

Knocked Out Loaded E6 (Lead) 1987

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.150043076452578/150043406452545

A Midsummer Night's Dream E6 (Lead) 30th May 1982

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=115864769870409&set=a.115862679870618

Psyche 'n' Burn E6 (Lead) 1983
Flash Dance E5 (Lead) 1983

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116372176486335

Mammoth E5 (Lead) 20th May 1984

First all free ascent.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/gogarth_north_stack_and_main_cliff-598/mammoth-4286

Climb Grade FA Ascent Date Suggested Grade