High praise indeed for ropes company (From Worcester News)

High praise indeed for ropes company

9:30pm Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

ONE of the UK’s top mountaineers has given a Malvern business his expert endorsement after its ropes carried his team safely up one of the world’s most daunting climbs.

Andy Kirkpatrick was full of praise for the static ropes supplied to his team by English Braids after his five-man team, including his 13-year-old daughter Ella, made it safely up “El Capitan”, a 7,500ft vertical rock formation in California’s Yosemite Valley.

His team was supplied by the company as one of his fellow climbers, Aldo Kain, had served in the Royal Marines with English Braids employee Christian Thomasson.

Mr Kirkpatrick, who is also well known as a motivational speaker and for touring his humorous one-man show recounting his ascents, reported back to English Braids that its ropes were among the best he had ever used.

He said he could feel the ropes’ quality from the very first climb and was impressed with how smoothly they ran and how they handled the load of a big team without showing any signs of wear.

The acid test of the ropes, Mr Kirkpatrick explained, came on the final day when he and all the team’s kit were hanging free almost 2,000ft up in very strong wind.

“Suddenly the wind picked up and blew me and the bags across the wall, the ropes sawing along above me,” he said.

“As the wind died we blowed back and the ropes sawed back as well.

“To say I was a little concerned about the ropes wearing through is an understatement.

“But, on reaching the edge, I found they showed no sign at all of wear.” He said the whole team agreed that the ropes were “perfect for the most punishing of missions”.

Steve Hayman, of English Braids, which was established in 1972 and is based in Spring Lane, said the company was thrilled to receive his feedback. “It’s fabulous for us. You could not get a higher endorsement of your product,” he said.