March 30th this year saw the former Editor of The Irish Field, Horseworld Section, Grania Willis leave Ireland for Kathmandu and exactly one week later she reached the the Everest Base Camp, which sits 5,200 metres above sea level.

The expedition then proceeded to the Advanced Base Camp at 6,400 metres above sea level where they had to wait due to extreme weather conditions including high winds delaying the climb until this weekend just gone.

Grania, who is now writing for the Irish Times newspaper is the first Irish woman to scale Mount Everest and did so on the demanding north ridge - this was indeed a great feat for the former International 3 day eventer who now covers equestrian news for The Times.

Forty-nine year old Willis made the decision to make this epic journey some 3 years ago when she saw Everest from an aeroplane window and was "staggered by the beauty and sheer scale of it".

The climb was with the Himex Commercial Expedition under the leadership of New Zealand guide Russell Brice and the aim was to raise €200,000 for St. Luke's and the Irish Hopsice Foundation.

This is not Grania's firstclimb having completed the climb to Cho Oyu summit in September, 2004, which according to the team is the 6th highest mountain in the world.

Confirmation of her success came via a phone call from Willis from Camp 4 to friend and colleague, Tom McCormack and he reports that she was "exhausted, excited and relieved".

Grania will return to homecoming celebrations on Saturday, June 11th, 2005 when she arrives home in Ireland after a rest in Katmandu.