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99-year-old grandmother scales 20 foot climbing wall in hopes of earning a world record

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This amazing video shows a plucky grandma making her way to the top of a 20-foot-high rock-climbing wall after trying the sport for the first time - at the age of 99.

Greta Plowman is now in line for a Guinness World Record for being the oldest woman to climb a wall of that height.

She had gone to a climbing centre to watch her 70-year-old daughter, Judith, ascend the wall but ended up in the harness herself at the end of last year (December 28).

Judith said: "She’d heard that I had got into climbing, but had never seen me do it.

"When I mentioned I was going to the centre, she wanted to come and watch.

"After a while watching, she asked if she could have a go!”

Greta's grandson, Tim Dobson, guided her up the climb, whilst his mum Judith secured Greta's rope from falling.

The family decided to go climbing after Christmas in December last year when Greta and Judith went to visit Tim in Manchester.

Tim said: “Even though the rope was there to stop her falling, I was a bit nervous.

"The oldest person I’ve introduced to climbing is my mum. At 99, I wasn’t sure Greta would even get off the ground!”

“Most people would be apprehensive before their first rock climb, but the only person who didn’t seem scared was Greta.

"She got onto the wall and she, slowly but steadily, made her way up the climb.”

He added: “There was one point near the top where she said to me, ‘I don’t think I can go on’ and I said ‘you’re nearly there’. To her credit, she pushed through and got right to the top!"

Greta, who had never climbed before, said: “It was marvellous! Really exciting!

"My fingers ached a bit, but I learnt to push more with my feet and that made all the difference.

“It was such a thrilling experience to get the top.

"I’m very thankful to Judith and Tim for supporting me and making this wonderful experience happen.”

Manchester Climbing Centre owner John Dunne said “I think Greta holds the record for the oldest climber in the centre.

"She proves that it doesn’t matter how old you are, what shape of body you have or how strong you feel you are, climbing is for everyone.’

This isn't the first time Greta has shown an adventurous side, her and her husband sailed across the English Channel and then to Poland in a handmade dingy in the 1970s.

Greta is now planning to celebrate her 100th birthday in May by going white water rafting or abseiling.

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