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Another Colmcillers' evening outing, and, for once, it wasn't raining. Andy McInroy, Martin McGuigan, Alan Bradley, Mark McGuigan, Colleen McGuigan and I met up at the parking space and set off on the long haul to the toe of the crag.

I was quite excited about showing one of my favourite crags to five people who had never seen it before, and I'm glad to say that they all seemed suitably impressed. Colleen and Mark did 6-5 Special, Severe, with Mark leading. Martin led the superlative Iron Horse VS 4b with its mixture of technical slab climbing and strenuous off-widthing. Andy and I did Jeepers Sleepers HS, taking a pitch each (Andy leading the longer top pitch).

The McGuigan clan couldn't stay late, so they beetled off home while Andy and I did Head of Steam VS 4c with me in the van. I must confess that I did not show any great sang-froid in achieving this ascent. Having done the crux, I went to pieces and even contemplated taking a dive, I was that scared to continue. It might seem strange that my terrors hit me after I had done the hard moves, but Andy will confirm that I stood trembling for a good fifteen minutes before moving up the climb again. My only consolation was that he found the route suitably difficult - can there be a worse sight than a rope shooting through your hands as some git completes your hard-won-lead without even having the manners to sweat?

All in all a very pleasing night out. Everyone who missed it is a big girl.