I started climbing regularly indoors at the end of 2007, a year after moving to Longridge, Lancashire. Although I didn’t start climbing regularly until my mid-twenties, I’d always enjoyed the outdoors. When I was younger, I was also a keen swimmer and 
competed nationally for several years. This experience gave me a good strength and fitness base and the mentality to train hard and improve, which I’ve since applied to climbing.
Over Easter 2008, I went on my first climbing trip to Alicante, Spain, where I got totally hooked on sport climbing. This motivated me to explore sport climbing in the UK.
Tanya on the technical '10 O’Clock Saturday Morning' E6/7 6c, Nesscliffe. Photo: Pat Novelli
In 2010, I redpointed my first 7c, ‘Tremelo’, and completed the first, short(!) section of the ‘Traverse of the Gods’, Longridge (to wobble block) which gains a sport grade of 7c+. By summer 2012, I had flashed 7b/+ and redpointed my first 8a, ‘Raindogs’ at Malham. I spent 2013 consolidating my sport climbing, doing lots of easier on-sighting and quick redpoints including‘The Ashes’ 7c+ and ‘Dominatrix’ 7c, both at Kilnsey. At the start of June 2013, I also managed to link to the end of the second section of the ‘Traverse of the Gods’ (to the high break), which gains a sport grade of 8a+. This gave me a great base for a short summer trip to Ceuse in August, where I mainly on-sighted lots of amazing routes – the highlight for me was flashing the very pumpy Blockage Violent’ 7b+.
In the autumn of 2013, I brought my traditional and sport climbing skills together and quickly headpointed Ten o’clock Saturday Morning’ E6 / 7 6c at Nescliffe and 'Linden' E6, 6b at Curbar.
Sport Climbing
Redpoint: ‘Raindogs’ 8a, ‘The Ashes’ 7c+, and seven 7c sport routes (including ‘New Dawn’, ‘Dominatrix’ and ‘Comedy’).
Flash: ‘Blockage Violent’ 7b+, and ‘Aud Sud de Nulle’ 7b/+, at Ceuse.
On-sight: Numerous 7a+ and 7b sport routes.
Traditional Climbing
Onsight: ‘Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Broken Arrow’ both E4 6a, in Pembroke.
Headpoint: ’10 O’Clock Saturday Morning’ E6/7 6c, Nescliffe and Linden E6 6b, Curbar
Tanya on the very, very runout Linden E6 6b, Curbar. Photo Mike Hutton
