Cliffhanger 2009

Report by planetFear

Monday 15th June 2009

Cliffhanger, the UK's biggest open air outdoor pursuits festival, is now less than one month away. The event will take place on the weekend of July 11th-12th, and is based in one of Sheffield's biggest green spaces: Millhouses Park covers an area of 100,000 metres. There will be over 100 exhibitors.

A competitor takes a leap in the PlanetFear dyno competition at Cliffhanger 2008

Last year, 15,000 visitors enjoyed the festival , which aims to inspire and involve its visitors with adventure sports. Sheffield was the UK's first National City of Sport, a title Cliffhanger enhances through numerous free events for the general public. There will be professional competitions and demonstrations in rock climbing, orienteering, kayaking, mountain biking, running, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, free running, scuba diving, angling, kite flying and caving. Visitors will be able to watch elite sports people of all ages competing or demonstrating, and have a go at some of the sports themselves.

The British Bouldering Championships will once again be taking place at Cliffhanger - around 200 of Britain's top boulderers will be battling for titles - juniors on Saturday, Seniors on Sunday. New for this year are an adventure race, an urban fell race and a Trailquest (orienteering on mountain bikes).

The dyno competition is a spectacular event attracting many visitors

Ordnance Survey will be bringing the largest map of England and Wales in existence. Walk around and spot your house on it! For full details of confirmed events, exhibitions, demonstrations and freebies, see the full listing below. And keep your eye on the event's official website http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102584090165&s=1&e=001dRbtSs_CaJYz3s5AAvimMvogpD2rMXQtBW5Vp9S_fM3VPYe9_iFvnAB01N0-VuYO9wzxWHd6tPsOeJhF3f-3R3TF8TKjBQSRlvo3IGhoTCvQOeWtasuSDw== for more updates on events and exhibitions.
For a video taster of what to expect, click here: http://cliff-hanger.co.uk/gallery/?year=2008&id=56

Venue Address:
Millhouses Park, Sheffield
Millhouses Park is located approximately 3 miles south-west of Sheffield City Centre Abbeydale Road South, S8. It is close to the main bus station, a number of Supertram stops and plenty of pay and display parking.

Confirmed Cliffhanger Events

Adventure Race

Angling - Free

Bargain Area
A massive bargain area for all things outdoors.

Bowling
The Millhouses Park Bowling Committee are very pleased to offer Crown Green Bowling coaching for beginners from 10am - 1pm on both Sat and Sun.

Bushcraft Sessions - Free
The Sheffield Ranger Service will be exhibiting at Cliffhanger with independent instructor Paul Moseley from Fallow Way Forest School to provide free Bushcraft skills sessions and demonstrations on their stand (including firemaking!).

Caving Obstacle Course - Free
Speleo Olympics - A caving based obstacle course, Single Rope Technique demonstrations and a squeeze board! Organised by the British Caving Association & Sheffield Speleological Society.

Climbing - British Bouldering Championships - Free to Watch
Bouldering is, for some, the ultimate expression of climbing. No ropes, no gear - just the joy of pure movement, in relative safety, not too high above the ground.

Climbing - Come-And-Try-It Climbing Walls - Free
Come and try out rock climbing on one of the mobile walls at Cliffhanger. Full instruction and equipment will be provided free of charge. Open to all ages. Walls will be provided by:Foundry Mountain Activities Upper Limits (Sunday Only)

Climbing - Professional Coaching - Free
The Climbing Works will combine efforts with 5.10 at Cliffhanger this year to provide a comprehensive programme of free coaching sessions. Coaches will include 5.10 athletes Steve McClure and Gaz Parry (Gaz will also be competing in the British Bouldering Championships.

Trailquest - the art of orienteering on mountain bikes - makes its debut at Cliffhanger. Organised by Dark and White events the two-hour discipline will leave Millhouses Park on the Saturday and travel through the nearby Peak District. A roadworthy bike, cycle helmet, watch, the event map (supplied), a first aid kit, 2 x £1 for phone and substantial clothing, including quality waterproofs, are compulsory kit for this events. Dark and White are also organising a mini-mountain marathon, a fell race and an adventure race for the Cliffhanger weekend.

More about Dark and White events: http://www.darkandwhite.co.uk/

Demonstration Events - Free
Mountain Rescue Single Rope Technique (Derbyshire Caving Association) Parkour / Freerunning Mountain Biking Juggling (Sheffield Kite Fliers) Kite Surfing & Kite Flying (Sheffield Kite Fliers) Kayaking (Sheffield City Kayak Club).

Film & Lecture Marquee - Free
A free film and lecture marquee will be on offer once again at Cliffhanger. There is no registration, simply turn up and find a seat.

Food & Drink
Plenty of good quality, locally sourced food and drink, plenty of picnic areas, and a craft / farmers market.
Give Blood
The National Blood Service will be encouraging people to give blood.

Kayaking - Free
Sheffield City Kayak Club will be putting on a whole host of activities and taster sessions on the boating lake.

Kite Flying - Free
Sheffield Kite Fliers will be at Cliffhanger displaying all the equipment they use from buggies and boards to stunt and inflatable kites. They will also be allowing people to have a go.

Market
Locally produced crafts, arts and produce. Organised by Sheffield City Markets.

Mountain Biking - Stunt Demonstrations & Coaching - Free
Ben Slinger and his team from Trials Display (the UK's leading Bike Trials display team, having won British, European and World Championships between them) will provide 3 incredible 30 minute shows each day at 11.30, 13.30 and 15.30.

Orienteering Ultra Sprint - Free
The UK's first ever Ultrasprint orienteering event will return to Cliffhanger this summer. A high intensity, high speed form of orienteering, the Ultrasprint starts and finishes in a specially constructed labyrinth.

Parkour (Free Running) - Free
The Sheffield Parkour groups will be on-site throughout the weekend performing on whatever they can lay their hands on. Come along and have a go if you like what you see.

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