Steve McClure

Steve McClure
Personal information
NicknameStrong Steve[2]
NationalityBritish
Born (1970-07-25) 25 July 1970 (age 54)
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Riding of Yorkshire[3]
EducationSacred Heart, Redcar[3] Sheffield University[4]
Height169 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)[5]
Websitewww.steve-mcclure.com
Climbing career
Type of climber
Highest grade
Known forCreating hardest British sport climbs; repeating hardest British traditional climbs
First ascents
  • Rainman (9b)
  • Overshadow (9a+)
  • Rainshadow (9a)
  • Northern Lights (9a)
  • Mutation (9a)
  • GreatNess Wall (E10 7a)
Major ascents
  • Rainman (9b)
  • Rhapsody (E11 7a, 5.14b R/X) (2nd ascent)
Retired2004[1]
Updated on 13 January 2022

Steve McClure (born 25 July 1970) is a British rock climber and climbing author, who is widely regarded as Britain's leading and most important sport climber for a period that extends for over two decades, starting from the late 1990s. In 2017, he created Rainman, Britain's first-ever 9b (5.15b) sport route, and by that stage was responsible for developing the majority of routes graded 9a (5.14d) and above in Britain. Although mainly known for sport climbing, McClure has also been one of the most successful British traditional climbers, and British onsight climbers (in both sport climbing and traditional climbing formats).

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference IFSC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Smith, Abbey (21 February 2008). "Steve McClure – The Full Interview". Climbing. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b Blackburn, Mike (25 November 2015). "Leading rock climber Steve McClure handed honorary degree at Teesside University". TeessideLive. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ^ McClure, Steve (November 2014). "Chapter 10. God's own Rock". Beyond Limits: A life through climbing. ISBN 978-1910240199.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference GR1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).