GoatFest 2026 Brings Elite Youth Climbing Talent to Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port welcomed some of the UK’s most promising young athletes this weekend as GoatFest 2026 returned bigger and stronger for its second year.

Held at Climbing Hut Ellesmere Port on Saturday 9th May, the national youth bouldering competition attracted 217 competitors aged 7 to 17, with kids selected for GB Climbing’s performance pathways competing across most categories.

Now firmly established as a standout event on the youth climbing calendar, GoatFest delivered a full day of high-intensity competition across five age groups, drawing spectators, coaches, and families from across the country.

Young climbers tackled a series of innovative and physically demanding bouldering problems designed by an expert setting team led by two-time UK Champion and National Setter Nathan Phillips, alongside Sammy Oakes and Climbing Hut head setters Tom Lloyd and Finlay Rogerson. The routes earned widespread praise for their creativity, technical challenge, and competition-level quality.

The event followed international IFSC competition format, with an open qualification round culminating in a dramatic grand final featuring the top six climbers in each category.

The competition also received a civic boost with a visit from Mayor of Ellesmere Port, Katie Kendrick, who was given a tour of the facility and spent time watching the competition unfold. She expressed how impressed she was by both the scale of the event and the remarkable skill, composure, and determination shown by the young climbers throughout the day.

GoatFest was originally created to address a gap in the UK climbing calendar, offering young athletes a chance to compete at a national standard outside of official series events.

Ami Whitford-Stark, Centre Manager and Director of Climbing Hut Ellesmere Port said:

“GoatFest was created to give young British climbing talent the platform it deserves. Seeing national competition athletes competing alongside local climbers in every category is exactly what we set out to achieve. The standard this year speaks for itself, and that's a credit to everyone who's helped build this event in Ellesmere Port”.

Competitors received exclusive GoatFest 2026 T-shirts and sponsor prizes, with podium awards presented across all categories. A packed venue and lively atmosphere throughout the day underscored the event’s growing popularity.

With momentum continuing to build, organisers have confirmed that GoatFest will return in 2027, further cementing Ellesmere Port’s reputation as a hub for youth sport and climbing excellence.

Climbing Hut in Ellesmere Port is a leading indoor bouldering facility located at:

Unit 1, Olympic Park, Poole Hall Road, Ellesmere Port, CH66 1ST.

The centre offers over 850m² of climbing walls, including a dedicated Boulder Zoo for young climbers and a 44m competition wall used by GB athletes.

Pictured - Ami Whitford-Stark, Centre Manager and Director of Climbing Hut Ellesmere Port; Katie Kendrick, Mayor of Ellesmere Port; Samantha Oxford, Director of Operations Climbing Hut.