Acting

Ron Fawcett

Born 1955-05-06 · Embsay, UK

Ron Fawcett (born 6 May 1955) is a British rock climber known for pushing the technical standards of British rock climbing in traditional, sport, bouldering and free solo disciplines in the mid-1970s to mid-1960s decade. 1980s, and for pioneering a career as a full-time professional mountaineer. From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Fawcett was widely regarded as Britain's best and most outstanding climber. Fawcett is considered a legend of British rock climbing and a prolific developer of innovative new routes which have brought him international recognition. In the early 1980s, Fawcett was considered Britain's most famous climber, with a reputation for high levels of physical fitness and mental toughness. He produced daring routes that embraced both traditional climbing and early sport climbing techniques, and are still considered test pieces for climbers. Fawcett's dominance in British climbing from the mid-1970s was succeeded by British mountaineer Pete Livesey, with whom Fawcett had an unusual friend-rival relationship; Livesey was Fawcett's first mentor and climbing partner. Fawcett's dominance waned in the mid-1980s as emerging British climbers such as Jerry Moffatt and Ben Moon began to push the technical levels not just in British climbing, but in international sport climbing. "In 1986, Fawcett soloed over 100 extreme sandstone bouldering routes in one day (rated E1 and above, with half above E2 5c and 4 to E5 6b) in the Peak District. His free solo extended to highball bouldering, and in 1987 Fawcett climbed Careless Torque 8A (V11) at The Plantation at Stanage Edge, considered one of the very first boulders climbed at this level in history, and which is still one of the most intimidating bouldering routes in Britain. Fawcett, although very introverted, had a strong determination and competitive drive to stay at the top of his emerging professional sport. In 2011, The Guardian told About Fawcett: "As Moffatt rose through the ranks of British climbing, the man who stood firmly at the top was Ron Fawcett - and you could never meet a man less likely to be described as an extrovert. Fawcett was almost pathologically shy. He pr It was a far cry to climb alone, hundreds of feet above the ground, than to have a casual conversation with a stranger." Facwett won the 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature with Ed Douglas, for their book Ron Fawcett, Rock Athlete.

Acting credits

"The last of three films by Sid Perou that trace the story of rock climbing from its simple and accessible beginnings to the exclusive world of today's dedicated rock athlete. In this episode of Rock Athlete, Ron Fawcett puts on an epic first ascent on the famous 'Cromlech' in the Llanberis Pass of North Wales. His phrase 'Come on arms!' became a climbing catch-phrase after the film was transmitted. A TV series by Sid Perou produced by the BBC."

First Ascent

1980

"The first of three films by Sid Perou that trace the story of rock climbing from its simple and accessible beginnings to the exclusive world of today's dedicated rock athlete. In this episode of Rock Athlete, leading Northern climbers in action show how the increasing use of technical aids eventually led back to the primitive contest between man and rock. The film starts with film footage of the Abraham Brothers climbing the Napes Needle in 1915 and ends with Ron Fawcett soloing Tensor on Craig y Castell (Tremadog). A TV series by Sid Perou produced by the BBC."

In Search of New Summits

1980

10.0

In 1984 Ron Fawcett, is one of the most athletic climbers, he takes pleasure in taking up the challenge of climbing "free" without artificial aids, the equipment and rope being used only for safety, a revolution at the time. The documentary is part of "Pushing The Limits", a 10-episode series by Leo Dickinson documenting sporting adventures that push the limits of human endurance. Each episode focused on an extreme sport, ranging from rock climbing to hot air ballooning.

Extreme Rock

1984

Ron Fawcett is one of the world's greatest rock climbers. He is typical of the modern athlete: totally single-minded and committed to to his sport. He trains for up to eight hours a day, seven days a week, and the results of his dedication can be seen in this video. Ron climbs some of the finest and fiercest routes in the English Peak District and the camera is there on the rock with him. A film directed by Chris Johnston in 1985 and produced by Ron Fawcett Video.

Body Machine

1985

7.5

No synopsis available yet.

The Fingertip Phenomenon

1984

10.0

In 1983, the French Mountain Federation (FFM) organized a landmark climbing gathering in Saussois and the Verdon, bringing together generations of the greatest climbers of the time, including Patrick Edlinger, Jean-Claude Droyer, Jerry Moffatt, Jean-Claude Droyer, Robert Paragot, Lucien Bérardini, Ron Fawcett, Jean-Pierre Bouvier, and other major figures. This event symbolized the emergence of modern sport climbing as a practice in its own right in France, with the liberation of legendary routes and the rise of freestyle climbing, notably under the leadership of Droyer and Edlinger. This gathering was a key moment in the dissemination of the freestyle ethic and the evolution of grading, while Saussois and the Verdon were at the forefront of high difficulty in the world.

Verdon-Saussois 1983

1983