LOCAL world class climber Leo Houlding is set to raise funds for Appleby Sports Hall with a talk on November 18.

Fund-raising for the £1.2 million sports facility to serve the Eden Valley, on land next to the town's grammar school began in 2001. To release funding for the project, local people needed to raise £60,000 and so far more than £15,000 has been collected through a wide range of fund-raising events such as car boot sales, dances, sponsored challenges and now a talk on mountaineering by local hero Leo.

Leo, 23, is a member of the prestigious Berghaus Team and a rock climbing prodigy from Appleby. He began climbing at the age of ten, working his way through traditional routes in the Lake District, Peak District, Wales and Scotland.

By 1995 Leo was ready to take the climbing world by storm; he climbed Lord of the Flies' on Dinas Cromlech in North Wales, one of the hardest routes in the country - a phenomenal achievement for a 15-year-old, but Leo had to go one step further and climb it at 2am with a failed headtorch! He then went on to climb Masters Wall at Cloggy (grade E7 6B) and gained the respect of many of the world's top climbers. Other successful routes include End of the Affair' at Curbar and Rare Lichen' at Gribin Face, both graded E8. In 1996, Leo became the British Junior Indoor Climbing Champion.

Leo is well known for his climbing challenges and often climbs where others fear to look. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in August 1998, he was on his way to a wedding at Lumley Castle after returning from a climbing trip to Norway. Not able to resist a new climbing challenge, Leo pulled off the A1 in Gateshead and soloed the Angel of the North. On his descent he was promptly arrested but let off with a caution.

In the autumn of 1998 Leo achieved one of his most dangerous and astounding ascent to date - El Nino'. The 2,500ft North America Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite, USA, had never been free climbed until Leo and his friend watched in awe as the Huber brothers achieved this first in rock climbing history. The next day Leo and decided to have a go' and without any planning the pair became the first Britons and second team ever to free climb North America Wall and the route named El Nino'.

During 1999 Leo visited Madagascar, Norway, the Czech Republic, Canada and Thailand. In 2000, he spent some time in South America and also returned to some of his favourite climbing destinations around the world. In 2001, Leo returned to Yosemite and made some more phenomenal climbs, about which you can read elsewhere on this website.

Early in 2002 Leo broke a bone in his foot while climbing in Patagonia. After a year of recuperating Leo proved he was still one of the best when he successfully toured the UK with his story so far and his "My Right Foot" film opened the BBC's new Extreme Lives documentary series.

Local town councillor, webmaster for the Appleby and District Community Sports Hall website and member of the fund-raising committee, Nick Swinscoe said: "Leo's talk is a great boost for the fundraising effort for the Community Sports Hall and we are very grateful to him."

For the latest infomration on the fund-raising efforts check out the Appleby and District Community Sports Hall website at www.sportshall.org.uk.