GREAT Britain junior climbing Team member Alex Waterhouse, continues to improve in international ompetition with another impressive result at the European Championships held this month in France.

It also proved to an emotional one for the 15 year-old from Horrabridge, who learned of the death of his grandfather while travelling out with the team.

Phil Waterhouse, his father said: 'Alex showed immense maturity to cope with the news and was calm, composed and 100% focussed when his turn came to climb.'

After producing of his best ever climbs on the Saturday he finished eighth of of 10 qualifiers third for a place in the finals the next day.

He moved up the field to finish seventh which, in a field of 43 of Europe's top climbers - an outstanding result.

Alex, who trains at The Barn Climbing Centre at Milton Abbot, said: 'The weekend was all about my grandpa. He would have been pleased with seventh, so I am too, but next time I plan to do better!'

He is now ranked 15th in the world despite only competing in three of the possible seven qualifying events and hopes to further improve at the last European Youth Cup round in Slovenia at the end of November.

To help fund his climbing Alex makes and sells a range of chalkbags through http://www.TinyClimb.com">www.TinyClimb.com

He also has a blog so people can keep up with his progress on alexwaterhouse.blogspot.com