THE challenge of a Barn Climbing competition near Milton Abbot reached a peak on Monday.

The event was attended by more than 120 competitors, who each had four hours to complete as many of the routes as possible on a massive, free standing boulder.

The top points scorers for each category then went forward to a final climb-off to determine first to fourth places.

Prizes to the value of £1,000 were on offer, with the top males being a £200 bouldering mat donated by Lyon equipment, UK importers of La Sportiva climbing shoes and Beal climbing ropes and bouldering mats.

Hazel Findlay, one of the UK's most promising female climbers, was at the barn climb — fresh back from North America, where she become the first female to ascend the classic Air Sweden route in Indian Creek, Utah.

Winners: open 35 years plus, Mark Lewis; open female, Jo Taylor; open male, Tom Newberry; aged 13-15 female, Charlotte Warner; aged 13-15 male, Luke Dawson; open 12 years and under, Ed Mabon.