Olivia is on top of the world

Reporter: Catherine Smyth
Date online: 31 January 2010

STAR climber Olivia Ratcliffe never drives anyone up the wall – because she has already scaled it. 

At just 13 she is ranked third in England has been selected to represent Great Britain in the sport she loves. 

The Haslingden High School student enjoyed her first Team GB training camp at Newcastle Climbing Centre at the weekend and is hoping, once she reaches 14 in March, to be able to represent her country in European competitions and at the world games in Edinburgh in September. 

She said: “I started climbing when I was six and I was on holiday visiting family in Whistler, Canada. I just loved it and spent the whole holiday climbing. 

“When we got back home Climb Rochdale had just opened and so I went with my dad and brother to try it out. We had a professional lesson and the trainer said my brother was good but he described me as a natural.” 

Since then she has never looked back, or down, and now practises climbing four nights a week and on the remaining days has a fitness regime of running, rowing and pilates.
Her coach at Rochdale Ian Dunn is also the junior British team coach. 

Olivia has climbed in Italy and at the European Championships in Spain and Canada. She has already been North West Champion five times. 

Deputy headteacher at Haslingden High Gill Rennard said: “Olivia’s talent and her commitment are incredible and the school is very proud of her achievements.” 

In 2020 climbing is going to become an Olympic sport and so, although she will not be competiting in 2012 in London, Olivia has already set herself a long term goal to make the first British Olympic squad. 

She said: “In this country we have not been very good at climbing but the coaches are determined to try to change that. I hope to be part of the team that helps put Britain on top in the climbing world.” 

Olivia is not the only sporting ace at Haslingden High – Kiera Walsh earned a place in the England under 15s football team aged just 12.