Martin Atkinson

Also known as: Basher

Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Hardest Trad (Worked): E7
Social Media

Martin started climbing in Yorkshire, England around 1974. He was part of the generation who took over from Pete Livesey and Ron Fawcett.

For the first part of my climbing...I just wanted to do everything that Ron did... The Vision, Eye of the Tiger, whatever it was as soon as he did it I just wanted to do it! [3]

References

[1] Statement of Youth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeqI9axxrco.

[2] Interview with Jon Barton of Vertebrate Publishing https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/blog/v-publishing-blog/the-climbers-of-84-hunter-house-road/

[3] Interview on his route Mecca - The Mid-life Crisis https://vimeo.com/68128640

Quick Info

Nationality: GB
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b+
Hardest Trad (Worked): E7
Social Media

Martin started climbing in Yorkshire, England around 1974. He was part of the generation who took over from Pete Livesey and Ron Fawcett.

For the first part of my climbing...I just wanted to do everything that Ron did... The Vision, Eye of the Tiger, whatever it was as soon as he did it I just wanted to do it! [3]

References

[1] Statement of Youth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeqI9axxrco.

[2] Interview with Jon Barton of Vertebrate Publishing https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/blog/v-publishing-blog/the-climbers-of-84-hunter-house-road/

[3] Interview on his route Mecca - The Mid-life Crisis https://vimeo.com/68128640

Contributors: remus

Pics + Vids

Added at 09:02 on 07 February 2021
Added at 11:11 on 16 November 2021
Mecca - The Mid-life Crisis (8b+, FA)
Added at 11:11 on 16 November 2021

Ascents

8 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 Ascent Date
1984 Sidekick E6 (Lead worked) 26th Aug 1984
First ascent.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116374353152784
Dream Topping E7 (Lead worked) 15th Oct 1984
First ascent.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.116371059819780/116374463152773
1985
1986
1987 Supercool 8a+ (Lead worked) 1987
First ascent.
The Dangerous Brothers 8a (Lead worked) 14th Mar 1987
First ascent.

Stoney new routes book
1988 Mecca - The Mid-life Crisis 8b+ (Lead worked) Sep 1988
First ascent.

The hardest route in the UK at the time, and completed the day before Martin moved to Switzerland to start a job with Mammut [1].

We ended up having this enormous bouldering session...doing loads of stuff and feeling really strong...then someone said "come on, have a go then" and I just did it. [1]

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/68128640
1989
1990
1991 Revelations (Pre-1999) 8a+ (Lead worked) Before 1st Jan 1991

Pre-1991. [1]

[1] The Power of Climbing (1991) by David Jones, page 192
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Mecca - The Mid-life Crisis 8b+ (Lead worked) Sep 1988
First ascent.

The hardest route in the UK at the time, and completed the day before Martin moved to Switzerland to start a job with Mammut [1].

We ended up having this enormous bouldering session...doing loads of stuff and feeling really strong...then someone said "come on, have a go then" and I just did it. [1]

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/68128640
Supercool 8a+ (Lead worked) 1987
First ascent.
Revelations (Pre-1999) 8a+ (Lead worked) Before 1st Jan 1991

Pre-1991. [1]

[1] The Power of Climbing (1991) by David Jones, page 192
Chouca 8a+ (Lead worked)

Third ascent? [1]

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/ukc/supercool_duncan_drake_versus_martin_atkinson-493019?v=1#x6743460
The Dangerous Brothers 8a (Lead worked) 14th Mar 1987
First ascent.

Stoney new routes book
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Ascent Date Suggested Grade