GB JUNIOR team climber Alex Waterhouse's preparations for the start of the international competition season are progressing well with a recent win and second place at national level competitions.

Alex recently won the British Mountaineering Club Leading Ladder Final, and was the only climber to top all the routes, including a sustained 25metre 8a+, at the Lakeland centre in Kendal.

Last weekend he made the long journey to Glasgow for the second round of the Junior British Bouldering Championships where he gained second spot. This puts him in second overall after two rounds and he is looking forward to the final round being held in Leeds at the end of July.

This year Alex, 16, is being supported by University of St Mark and St John, where the sport sciences support team have done extensive testing and devised a strength and conditioning programme to help compliment his current training programme.

Alex said: 'It's great to have Marjon involved. Their testing showed up some weaknesses and the programme they have given me will help address them. Staying injury free is really important and this will help.'

Alex's first European event is in Edinburgh at the beginning of June. He then goes to the European Youth Championships in Austria in July, followed by the World Youth Championships in Canada in August.

The Horrabridge youngster, who is a pupil at Devonport High School, is waiting for a decision from the IOC, to see if climbing will be included in the 2020 Olympics games. The shortlist is expected to be trimmed to three sports on May 29, with the final decision being made in September, when the host city for the 2020 games is announced.

Alex trains at the Barn Climbing Centre in Milton Abbot and The High Sports Wall in the Life Centre, Plymouth