Bendigo Climbers Dominate Regional Competition as Winter Season Heats Up

Bendigo's climbing community delivered an impressive performance at the Victorian Outdoor Adventure Championships on Saturday and Sunday, with local competitors securing five top-three finishes across multiple disciplines at the iconic Hanging Rock venue near Woodend.

The weekend competition attracted over 200 athletes from across Victoria and South Australia, with conditions proving challenging but fair as winter weather settled across the granite formations. Bendigo-based climbers, many training at the recently expanded Bendigo Rock climbing gym on Queen Street, demonstrated the growing strength of the local scene.

The most significant result came in the lead climbing category, where three Bendigo athletes finished in the top ten, with local favourite securing third place in the intermediate division. The performance underscores months of preparation through the winter training season, with many competitors crediting the expanded facilities at the Queen Street gym—which added 800 square metres of climbing wall space in March—as crucial to their development.

In the speed climbing events, which have surged in popularity following the discipline's inclusion in international competitions, Bendigo entries were competitive across age groups. Junior competitors showed particular promise, with several breaking personal records on the standardised 15-metre wall.

The Bendigo Outdoor Adventure Club, which has grown to over 380 members since opening its doors at the Bendigo Community Hub on View Street three years ago, organised transport and support for many participants. Club coordinator noted that membership has increased 45 per cent in the past twelve months, driven partly by growing interest in extreme sports among younger demographics.

Beyond the competition itself, the weekend highlighted Bendigo's emergence as a regional hub for outdoor adventure sports. The city's proximity to climbing destinations—Hanging Rock is just 45 minutes north, while the Grampians lie within a two-hour drive—positions it ideally for athletes seeking consistent training opportunities.

Entry fees for the championships ranged from $85 for junior participants to $150 for open divisions, with proceeds supporting the Victorian Alpine Club's junior development program. Next month, attention turns to the state bouldering championships at Falls Creek, where several Bendigo competitors are expected to contest.

For those interested in joining the climbing community, the Bendigo Rock gym offers introductory sessions at $25 per person, with memberships starting at $79 monthly. The growing local scene suggests the adventure sport boom in regional Victoria is showing no signs of slowing.

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