Challenge to all hard climbers: I am offering to sponsor the bolts for the first confirmed all South African 8c sport route. I will also buy a bottle of decent whisky for the climber to celebrate his send with! I would also like to challenge all dealers and agents of climbing gear (local SA only) to match or better my offer. Lets get a nice fat prize together to give the guys incentive, if we get enough money in the kitty there can be a prize for the first SA female 8a+ send as well.

Conditions apply: The route must have been bolted after 1 January 2000 by a South African (or permanent resident) [the idea being to get people to bolt more hard lines]. The climber must also be SA (doesnt have to be the same person as the bolter). No distorted grades, the grade must be confirmed.

I have had my offer of full bolt sponsorship for hardest sport route, over 26, opened after 1 July 2004... opened at any crag in The ECape going for almost a year.

So far its cost me 6 bolts, 2 lower offs and 6 bolts. Almost one year later. Thats sort of piss poor. Your bolts are safe Greg. Very Very safe....its unfortunate.

I will match Gregs offer & add a bottle of rum for every confirmed 8C opened by anyone in SA.

Plus offer a brand new Hilti Drill, one battery & a charger for the first 9A opened in the Eastern Cape. It has to be confirmed.

Its such a pity that all these fantastic offers are so safe.

I have had my offer of full bolt sponsorship for hardest sport route, over 26, opened after 1 July 2004... opened at any crag in The ECape going for almost a year.

So far its cost me 6 bolts, 2 lower offs and 6 bolts. Almost one year later. Thats sort of piss poor. Your bolts are safe Greg. Very Very safe....its unfortunate.

I will match Gregs offer & add a bottle of rum for every confirmed 8C opened by anyone in SA.

Plus offer a brand new Hilti Drill, one battery & a charger for the first 9A opened in the Eastern Cape. It has to be confirmed.

Its such a pity that all these fantastic offers are so safe.

Oh, Yeah, and I offer my life as a slave to the first South African to climb 9A. And half my life to the first to climb 8C (the last half). Beat that!!

Well Im gonna approach people to put in money anyway, once theres a fat wad of cash up for grabs we'll see just how long it stays safe for. Perhaps this could build up to become an anual award for best ascent in a bunch of categories?