William Bosi has sent his first 9b at Siurana with the route “La Capella”. The route is 15m of bouldery pockets, crimps and underclings and took him just three days. Will Bosi is a Team GB athlete and native of Edinburgh, Scotland. Mainly known in the UK as a prolific competition climber and previously the UK Lead and Speed champion. He may still gain a 2020 Olympics spot at the European Championships qualifying event in March.
Will is now only the second Brit to ever climb a 9b / 5.15b. Steve McClure was the first British climber to climb 9b on his own route “Rainman” at Malham Cove in 2017.
“La Capella” 9b / 5.15b was originally put up by Adam Ondra in February of 2016 and this will make the third repeat. Stefano Ghisolfi took the second repeat in 2018 and broke a hold on the second crux while redpointing – video. Daniel Woods then repeated it a month later, taking five days – see video. The sector is also named “La Capella” in one of Spain’s most amazing climbing areas Siurana. With over 1,100 routes and 10 9a to 9b climbs this place is world class limestone.
This is actually Will Bosi’s first climb above 9a. He’s done a few 9a’s but no 9a+’s – so a big jump up. It took him three days of attempts and you can see him attempting the crux on his insta here, then here with a “fall off the last move before the jugs” on the second day. He did say he thinks the grade is soft.
Will has also climbed the classic UK 9a Rainshadow in Malham, and Hubble at Raven Tor (supposedly the world’s first 8c+ but most now grade as 9a). He could still take the last UK spot at the Olympics as there is a European qualifier happening in late March – held in Moscow. He may then be able to represent Team GB along with Shauna Coxsey. She qualified in 1st place at the IFSC Combined Climbing World Championships 2019 to get her invite.
