Andy Pollitt


Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Date of birth: 26th October 1963
Date of death: 13th November 2019
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7

References

[1] Features in Statement of Youth

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

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

[4] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/goodby-to-british-rock-climbing-icon-andy-pollitt.html

[5] https://www.thebmc.co.uk/remembering-andy-pollitt

Contributors: remus

Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Date of birth: 26th October 1963
Date of death: 13th November 2019
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 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
Punks in the Gym (8b+)
Added at 12:08 on 24 August 2023
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
Skinhead Moonstomp (E6, FA)
Added at 05:10 on 27 October 2021

Ascents

29 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 Style Ascent Date
1982 Fingerlicker Direct E6 Lead | worked 29th May 1982
A Midsummer Night's Dream E6 Lead | worked 30th May 1982
The Dillusioned Screw Machine E6 Lead | worked 27th Jul 1982
1983 Zero E7 Lead | worked 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]

References

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

Psyche 'n' Burn E6 Lead | worked 1983
Flash Dance E5 Lead | worked 1983
Space Case E6 Lead | worked 2nd Jun 1983
1984 Skinhead Moonstomp E6 Lead | worked 12th Apr 1984
For Whom the Bell Tolls E6 Lead | worked 29th Apr 1984
Mammoth E5 Lead | worked 20th May 1984
Mammoth Direct E6 Lead | worked 26th May 1984
Teenage Kicks E6 Lead | worked 28th Aug 1984
1985
1986 The Bells! The Bells! E7 Lead | onsight 1986
Chimes of Freedom 8a+ Lead | worked 27th Jun 1986
The Hollow Man E8 Lead | worked 2nd Oct 1986
1987 Knocked Out Loaded E6 Lead | worked 1987
Boot Boys 8a+ Lead | worked 10th Apr 1987
First ascent.

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 | worked 28th May 1987
Out of My Tree 8a Lead | worked 20th Jun 1987
The Spider 8a Lead | did not finish 2nd Aug 1987
Arch Enemies 7c+ Lead | worked 9th Dec 1987
1988 Knockin' on Heaven's Door E9 Lead | worked 2nd Mar 1988
First ascent.

Climbed from the right with a pre-placed peg.

References

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

Masters of the Universe E7 Lead | worked 7th Apr 1988
Ruby Fruit Jungle 8a Lead | worked 19th May 1988
Over the Moon 8a Lead | worked Jun 1988
First ascent.
Thormen's Moth 8a Lead | worked 16th Jun 1988
1989
1990
1991
1992 Punks in the Gym 8b+ Lead | worked 5th May 1992

After long and frustrating (but ultimately successful) siege Andy gave up climbing.

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Punks in the Gym 8b+ Lead | worked 5th May 1992

After long and frustrating (but ultimately successful) siege Andy gave up climbing.

Chimes of Freedom 8a+ Lead | worked 27th Jun 1986 E7
Boot Boys 8a+ Lead | worked 10th Apr 1987
First ascent.

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 | worked 28th May 1987
Out of My Tree 8a Lead | worked 20th Jun 1987
The Spider 8a Lead | did not finish 2nd Aug 1987
Ruby Fruit Jungle 8a Lead | worked 19th May 1988
Over the Moon 8a Lead | worked Jun 1988
First ascent.
Thormen's Moth 8a Lead | worked 16th Jun 1988
Arch Enemies 7c+ Lead | worked 9th Dec 1987
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Knockin' on Heaven's Door E9 Lead | worked 2nd Mar 1988 E9
First ascent.

Climbed from the right with a pre-placed peg.

References

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

The Hollow Man E8 Lead | worked 2nd Oct 1986
Masters of the Universe E7 Lead | worked 7th Apr 1988
Zero E7 Lead | worked 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]

References

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

The Bells! The Bells! E7 Lead | onsight 1986
Eye of the Tiger E7 Lead | worked

Andy made an early repeat of the line.

Strawberries E7 Lead | worked
Fingerlicker Direct E6 Lead | worked 29th May 1982
The Dillusioned Screw Machine E6 Lead | worked 27th Jul 1982
Space Case E6 Lead | worked 2nd Jun 1983
Skinhead Moonstomp E6 Lead | worked 12th Apr 1984
For Whom the Bell Tolls E6 Lead | worked 29th Apr 1984
Mammoth Direct E6 Lead | worked 26th May 1984
Teenage Kicks E6 Lead | worked 28th Aug 1984
Knocked Out Loaded E6 Lead | worked 1987
A Midsummer Night's Dream E6 Lead | worked 30th May 1982
Psyche 'n' Burn E6 Lead | worked 1983
Flash Dance E5 Lead | worked 1983
Mammoth E5 Lead | worked 20th May 1984
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade