The news

Tomasz Olesky and Anna Saoulevitch win the fourth stage of the Speed World Cup 2003 in Lecco

British climber Steve McClure has made the first ascent of the extension to Raindogs, 9a at Malham Cove, England. The new sports climb is called Rainshadow.

The fourth Mountaineering - Grignetta d’Oro Awards Ceremony gets underway in Lecco, Italy this weekend. The two-day meeting marks the start of the highly anticipated, week-long mountaineering festival, which includes the World Cup Difficulty, Speed and Bouldering competitions.

On 17/06 Denis Urubko, Dima Chumakov, Maksut Jumaiev and Vassilly Pitsov, members of theInternational Pakistan Expedition 2003, reached the summit of Nanga Parbat 8125m.

Salavat Rakhmetov and Sandrine Levet win the second stage of the Bouldering World Cup 2003.

On 16 June Tomaz Humar departs for the immense Rupal Face, Nanga Parbat, Pakistan

n Wednesday 11 June the week-long Mountaineering Festival, due to take place in Lecco from 21-29 June, will be officially presented in Milan.

Alexandre Chabot and Chloè Minoret win the second stage of the World Cup Difficulty 2003 in Yekaterinburg, Russia

In just 5 hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds Pierre Gignoux and Stéphan Brosse climb Mont Blanc from Chamonix

The Comune of Domusnovas, Sardinia organised a meeting a few days ago to promote the Iglesiente area, its 600 routes and the enormous San Giovanni cave.

Mauro Bubu Bole repeats Strelovod, 8c at Misja Pec, Ospo

Mount Everest was first climbed 50 years ago today by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Clebrations are mared by a helicopter crash at Base Camp in Nepal, killing 2 and wounding at least 7.

Alexandre Chabot and Muriel Sarkany, winners of the World Cup Difficulty 2002, won the first stage of the World Cup 2003 in Imst (AUT) on Saturday 24 May.

Il 20/05, Silvio Mondinelli, Merelli, Pauner, Kuntner and Reichen reached the summit of Cima del Kangchenjunga.

Josune Bereciartu’s short trip to Switzerland at the start of May resulted in a repeat of Fred Nicole’s 1994 “E la nave va”, an 8c traverse in the Lindental.

On 23/05 Manuela Di Centa becomes the first italian women to climb Everest, while Jean-Christophe Lafaille climbs Dhaulagiri on 20/05