Only way is up for climber Annabelle,12

Tall order . . . Annabelle Simister is hoping for success at the regional youth climbing competition

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A SADDLEWORTH youngster will scale dizzy heights and take on some of the region’s brightest indoor climbing talent this weekend.

Saddleworth School pupil Annabelle Simister (12) has already taken podium places in the first two heats of the British Mountaineering Council Regional Youth Climbing Series in Rochdale and Preston.

Now she is hoping to become a regional champ as she prepares to compete at the Manchester Climbing Centre in Ardwick tomorrow.

Annabelle, of Buckton Close, Diggle, has been climbing since she was seven after her dad took her for a taster session.

Proud parent Judith Simister said: “When she was a toddler she was always climbing over things. We’re so proud of her, she’s incredible to watch and she gets up those walls at such a speed.”

If she finishes in the top three at the event she will go through to the British finals in Wolverhampton in June.

She hopes her speed and agility tackling the man-made climbing walls and frightening overhangs will give her the edge.

Judith said: “She has done so well to get to the stage that she has, if she gets any further it will be fantastic. It really is her passion.”