Seb Grieve


Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7

Star of the film Hard Grit, scaring (and scarring) audiences with his bold ascents.

Jean-minh Trin-Thieu:

I know how weak he is and I can't understand how he is able to do these routes. [1]

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 73, page 31

Contributors
55 contributions since 22nd December 2020.
TdG
41 contributions since 22nd August 2025.

Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8b
Hardest Trad (Worked): E9
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E7

Star of the film Hard Grit, scaring (and scarring) audiences with his bold ascents.

Jean-minh Trin-Thieu:

I know how weak he is and I can't understand how he is able to do these routes. [1]

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 73, page 31

Contributors
55 contributions since 22nd December 2020.
TdG
41 contributions since 22nd August 2025.

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Ascents

26 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Predator 8b Lead | worked 1993
Love Amongst the Butterflies 8b Lead | worked 1996
First ascent.
Austrian Oak 8b Lead | worked 2000
K3 8a+ Lead | worked 21st Aug 1994
First ascent.

It took Seb three years to climb the route and when he finally succeeded he said, “It’s got to be called K3, as it’s much harder to climb than K2”. Since Seb has never set foot in the Himalaya, this is quite an unusual statement.

During the time that elapsed from bolting the route to its final completion, approximately 90% of the sport climbing population of Sheffield belayed Seb at one time or another. [1]

References

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

Clarion Call 7a Solo | worked
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Knockin' on Heaven's Door E9 Lead | worked 20th Mar 1994 E7
Third ascent?

From the right with the peg.

Parthian Shot (Pre 2011 Break) E9 Lead | worked 1st Apr 1997 E9
Second ascent. Pre-placed gear.

References

[1] Climber June 1997, page 4

Meshuga E9 Lead | worked 25th Oct 1997
First ascent. Belayed by Rich Heap.

You cheeky little thing, I'll have you yet... [1]

References

[1] Hard Grit (1998)

[2] On The Edge Issue 73, page 9

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PawVn_-Cgiw

Harder Faster E9 Top Rope | worked 2001

Top roped clean several times but could not bring myself to lead.

Gaia E8 Lead | worked 5th Mar 1989
Second ascent.
The New Statesman E8 Lead | worked 10th May 1995
Second ascent.
End of the Affair E8 Lead | worked 19th Nov 1995

Both feet cut loose on the crux so just put 'em back on again and carried on. Glad my belayer did not jump off the block and pull me off.

Dharma E7 Lead | worked 23rd Aug 1988
Second ascent.

Climbed during the height of the 1st sport climbing era. People had thrown away all their trad gear and were wearing brightly coloured tights. Had to persuade Stuart to call in on the way back from Raven's Tor to hold my ropes. Dead chuffed because this was my 1st E7.

Braille Trail E7 Lead | worked 30th Oct 1988
Second ascent.

Excellent fun. Buying and making the gear is all part of the experience. Buy hardened steel pegs, saw them to length, add tape to stop them sliding out. Buy a six inch nail with a round flat head, add tape and tie off. Easy to top rope but gets harder when you add the pegs which block your hand holds.

Appointment with Fear E7 Lead | worked 1990
Second ascent.
Dangerous Crocodile Snogging E7 Lead | worked 1991
Second ascent.
Clippity Clop, Clippity Clop, Clippity Clop E7 Solo | worked 13th Oct 1991 E8
First ascent.

Grieve suggested E8 for his solo ascent.

Soloed (Friend 6 did not exist.) with home-made knee-pads made from bathroom towels for added friction. Jeans are a good idea as well. Swinging across with a guppy and a pinch to the a-cheval position is the crux. Coming out of a-cheval to final layback is the heart-stopper and impossible to choreograph due to the 'knee-pad drift'. Felt very E8 at the time. Harder and bolder than Gaia and End of the Affair.

https://www.facebook.com/rockarchivist/photos/a.117978419659044/117979619658924

One Chromosome's Missing E7 Lead | worked Apr 1994

Steady for E7.

Snap Decision E7 Lead | onsight 10th May 1995

The first grit E7 onsight?

B4, XS E7 Lead | worked 21st Oct 1995
Second ascent.
Paralogism E7 Lead | worked 20th Sep 1997
Second ascent?
Fat Slapper E7 Lead | worked 3rd Dec 1997
First ascent.
Gecko Blaster E7 Lead | worked 2nd Mar 1998
First ascent.

There is some misconception that the original ascent traversed in from the right. It did not. I climbed more direct using some long reaches to make it a purer more direct line.

Strappotente E7 Lead | worked 1999
First ascent.
Slackers E6 Lead | worked 1997
Second ascent.
Stretch Armstrong E6 Lead | worked 1998
First ascent.
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade