Teenagers' golden triumphs fuel drive to reach world championships

Erica Gatland in action.

A team of nine young New Zealanders returned from the Oceania Sport Climbing Championship in New Caledonia in May with three golds, four silvers, and a bronze medal.

Among them were two teenage girls who turned heads with their performances.

Erica Gatland, 14, won two golds, in the female under-18 difficulty category and in the female under-18 speed climbing category.

Carly McIlroy, 13, matched that effort in difficulty climbing and won gold in the female under-16 division.

The Aucklanders are two of New Zealand's most promising climbers and now that they have tasted success on the international stage their sights are set on competing at the World Youth Championships next year.

How did you get into sport climbing?

CM: My mum got me into it. I had finished with athletics for the year and she wanted me to do something that was all year round. I went to the climbing gym for my birthday and I really liked it. It was so different to any of the sports I had done before and I had a lot of fun. I haven't looked back.

EG: I got into it because my brother was big into climbing. I always liked climbing trees and I was always jealous when he got to climb. So when I got the chance I couldn't wait to start. He has had a bit of success overseas, so I want to follow that and do better than him.

What is the best bit about climbing?

CM: The people and the competition. Climbers are really friendly and the events are a lot of fun competing against people from all around New Zealand.

EG: There is so much I love. The whole atmosphere is great. The people are awesome and getting to the top of a climb is always an amazing feeling. Outdoor climbing is even better. I love everything about it.

What did it mean to you to win at the Oceania Championships?

CM: It was big for me. When I found out I had won it was an amazing feeling. I didn't expect to win at all. I climbed really well over there, and I will take a lot of confidence from that performance.

EG: It was really cool to win. I didn't climb too well in the opening rounds, but I climbed really well in the final and I thought I had a chance of winning. It was nice to take home the gold.

How often do you train?

CM: I am climbing three or four times a week and training at home on top of that. I am doing strength and conditioning all the time to try to improve on what I can do and keep building.

EG: I train three times a week and we climb for two-and-a-half to three hours. We do everything from flexibility to strength and conditioning, and it is a lot of fun.

The big goal for you both is the world championships - what would it mean to get there?

CM: I would love to qualify for the worlds. To represent New Zealand would be incredible. I did well at the Oceanias, so I would like to go there and see how well I can go and what the standard is like.

EG: Yeah, the worlds is the big goal now. I think I should go well if I qualify because it's in the same place and I know those walls pretty well now. It would be great to compete for the world title there.

What advice do you have for newcomers to the sport?

CM: Try it. It is a lot of fun and you never know how much you will enjoy it. Climbing is my No1 sport now, I love it.

EG: The more you climb the better you will get and the more you will enjoy it. Have fun, it is the best sport.