Josh Ibbertson (18) repeats Rainman 9b at Malham Cove

A fortnight after Eder Lomba Lopez de Ipiña made the first repeat of the 9b Rainman at Malham Cove, 18-year-old Josh Ibbertson followed suit with a convincing display of power and technique on Britain's hardest sport climb. First ascended by Steve McClure in 2017, this is the most obvious line right in the middle of the crag and after starting up the uber classic Raindogs combines sections of both Rainshadow 9a and Batman 9a/+.

Ibbertson had repointed Rainshadow in 2020 aged 16, and Batman in 2021, and Rainman was therefore the obvious challenge. He tried the route specifically since the start of March, and regularly throughout the spring. His previous two other 9a's, both climbed last year, are Northern Lights at Kilnsey and Era Vella at Margalef, and his 9b redpoint now is all the more noteworthy as he had to fit his training and climbing around his studies for his final school exams.

TOPO: Malham Cove

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