Labour Weekend, Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton, 2011 NZ Arbor/Husqvarna Tree Climbing Championships - only a few days away now! And the weather looks like it will hold out.
Gear check is scheduled for Friday, 21 October (along with the Practical Pricing for Arboricultural Contractors Workshop conducted by Neal Harding and Rossy Ross from Pro Climb.
If you can't make the Friday gear check you will need to text 021 022 87466 to let the organizers know what time you will arrive.
The preliminary events, including the Work Climb, Aerial Rescue and Throwline are scheduled for Saturday, with the Day One prize giving at the Water Mill Bakery, Masterton from 6:30pm.
Day Two, Sunday 23 October, will include the Speed Climb and the Footlock events along with the Masters climbs. According the chief score-keep Neal Harding "there will be four men and two women in the Master's climb. The number of men will be increased to five if one of the four happens to be the current ITCC Champion".
Championship prize giving will be at the Horseshoe Cafe, Masterton on Sunday evening where Jimmy Kilpatrick's dad John, will present some of his famous tree climbing films.
A fun climb is planned for Labour Day Monday in the Mountain Ash at St Luke's Church, Masterton.
This years prize list looks well-and-truly worth turning up for: 1st , 2nd, and 3rd for the preliminaries is a Husqvarna voucher worth $300.00, $200.00 and $100.00 respectively.
There will also be $100.00 vouchers for: Rookie; Helper; Hard Luck Story; and Spirit - along with four other random $100.00 vouchers.
1st Masters qualifiers (Minor Premiers) will get $650.00 Husqvarna vouchers each
2nd Masters qualifiers will get $550.00 Husqvarna vouchers each
3rd Masters qualifier will get $450.00 Husqvarna voucher
4th Masters qualifier will get $350.00 Husqvarna voucher
The 2011 NZ Arbor/Husqvarna NZ TCC should be an excellent tree climbing event for spectators. Reigning world champion Scott 'the legend' Forrest will be in attendance (although not competing), along with current world footlock record holder James Kilpatrick.
Australian champs Kiah Martin and Joe Harris will also be competing (as far as we know).
The NZ women's division should get the heart pumping.
Chrissy Spence has already qualified for the 2012 ITCC as reigning world champion, leaving positions open for Nicky Ward-Allen or Elena O'Niell (both previous ITCC attendees).
nd there are other 'off-the-radar' woman tree climbers who could possibly 'upset the applecart' which would make things very interesting.
Also watch out for on-form Clay Winter representing the Wellington Region and mainlander Toby Kenneally (Christchurch) challenging James Kilpatrick from the Waikato.
And we cannot forget the high caliber Auckland climbers particularly the Climb Every Thing crew, Johno Smith, Zane Wedding and Drew Bristow.
Treescape Auckland is also well represented with some excellent tree climbers: Jawand Ngau Chun, Tony Bennett, David Stejskal and Shaun Hardman to name a few. Another ex-Treescape climber, worth noting, is Tumai Laybourne, currently contracting for Oakwood.
If that is not enough, there are plenty of other 'un-named' kiwi tree climbers who could easily claim fame on the day.
Roll on Labour weekend!
LATEST NEWS! Aussie climber Kiah Martin will not be competing in Masterton after all.
