THE BRUCE MARSH AWARD
THE PLAYOFFS
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your session to check in, warm up and listen to the briefing. (Briefing @ 9:25am)
JUNIOR CATEGORY – Under 15’s
OPEN CATEGORY – 15 Years & Over
Session 1 begins at 9:30AM, with 3 hours to complete as many problems as possible.
Session 2 begins at 1:00pm, with 3 hours to complete as many problems as possible.
Take on 30 boulder problems across the gym, with scoring as follows:
- 10 points – Flash (first attempt)
- 7 points – Second attempt
- 4 points – Third attempt
- 1 point – Zone (marked with tape)
- 1 point – Top (fourth attempt onwards)
A live DJ on the mezzanine will keep the atmosphere high throughout the sessions.
Set the tone early, put your score on the board and make your push for grand finals qualification! (November TBC)
CELEBRATING THE LIFE, PASSION AND LEGACY OF BRUCE MARSH THROUGH CLIMBING, COMMUNITY AND COMPETITION.
ABOUT BRUCE
Bruce Marsh was born in Glasgow in 1980 and moved to Morpeth in 1984. His parents Alan & Joyce and his brother Chris and his family still live in the town. Bruce went to Morpeth First School (Goosehill) and completed his secondary education at Kings School, Tynemouth. This is where his joint passion of physics and climbing was formed.
He then studied physics at Manchester University and on graduating was selected to study for his PhD in conjunction with the world famous CERN research institute in Geneva. His specialism was laser physics and he ultimately became Leader of the Lasers and Photocathodes section of the CERN radioactive ion beam facility known as ISOLDE. Whilst studying for his PhD Bruce spent periods at an affiliated institution at Jyvaskyla in Finland and on one visit he was the victim of an unprovoked near fatal stabbing. The medical team that treated him said that his fitness through his climbing undoubtedly saved his life.
Bruce became a world expert in his specialist field of physics, co-authoring over 150 publications and travelling extensively to make numerous presentations at international conferences. He also mentored many doctoral students who all benefitted not only from his academic input but also his personality based on openness, integrity and strong sense of humour.
Outside of work, Bruce’s time was mainly spent climbing either locally in Switzerland and France or wherever his world travels took him. Even on his short trips back home to Morpeth a visit to a climbing wall or, when the weather permitted, some of his favourite bouldering locations in Northumberland became an essential part of his schedule.
Bruce and his partner Yisel became proud parents to their daughter Oliana on 4th October 2023 and he tragically died as a result of a climbing accident in southern France on 30th December that year.
The Bruce Marsh Award is dedicated to his memory at a venue he would have loved in his home town.