Treetools was unable to attend the Open Masters Challenge in Cornwall Park, Sunday 17 January. By all accounts it was an excellent climb which included traversing three pin oaks. We had planned to publish pictures but the 'stand-in' photographer forgot his camera!
Drew Bristow unofficially won the event. Matt Glen had an unfortunate gear retrieval meltdown that prevented him completing the job, otherwise it would have been very close. According to Craig Webb, one of the judges ( NZAA Auckland Regional TCC co-ordinator for the Asia Pacific TCC), Matt would have been in front if he hadn't lost 20 points due to non retrieval of gear gear. Judges comments were: both awesome climbs in a very challenging set up.
Isao Kayano, a climbing arborist with the Hamilton City Council, journeyed up from the Waikato to compete and Russell VanWinjingaarden, climbingarborist with the Cornwall Park Trust Board also entered the event.Apart form a competitive climb, the Open Masters provides an excellent opportunity for climbers of all levels to trade ideas and techniques.
Check out the video below of the event organizer, Matt Glen in action during the Open Masters from the previous weekend - Sunday, 10 January 2010 in CornwallPark.