Two New Zealanders are the best tree climbers in the world, clambering their way to the top in an international competition.
Chrissy Spence and Scott Forrest won the women's and men's titles respectively at the International Tree Climbing Championships (ITCC) in Parramatta, New South Wales, last week.
It was Spence's third world
ITCC title.
James Kilpatrick also won the footlock event -- a timed 15m ascent up a free-hanging rope.
The sport has its origins in professional arboriculture, with most competitors being practicing tree surgeons. The format is similar in concept to the pentathlon in track and field, with five separate disciplines giving competitors a cumulative points score.
``We had lofty expectations this year, and those expectations have been met -- Scott, Chrissy and James did remarkably well,'' New Zealand Arboricultural Association president Rick Mexted said.
``It's a cut-throat sport that requires skill, agility, courage and extreme fitness.''
The national tree climbing championships -- run by the New Zealand Arboricultural Association -- will be held in Masterton in October.
