For the second time in two years, 12-yearold Aidan Doyle is a national champion. Doyle repeated as the national speed climbing champ for the 12 and 13 age group with a victory at the Allez Up climbing gym in Montreal on the May long weekend.
Doyle said had a good feeling after the first run of the competition, "Because [he] was six seconds faster than anybody else."
At the same competition, Doyle, a Grade 7 student at École Cobble Hill, finished sixth in the difficulty competition. He is the reigning provincial champion in the speed, difficulty and bouldering, and his younger brother, Brennan, holds all three titles for his age group, which does not have a national competition.
Doyle has been climbing for six years, introduced to the sport by his dad, Jaime, who leads the climbing academy at Cowichan Secondary School.
"I like the difficulty aspect and that it requires you to think about it," Aidan said.
Aidan's next goal is to make the junior national team next year and attend the world championships.