Competitive tree climbing a cut-throat sport

Spectacular action is guaranteed at the national tree-climbing championships to be held in Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton, on Saturday and Sunday.

Run by the New Zealand Arboricultural Association, the event has attracted an overall entry of 35, including two competitors from Australia and one from Sweden.

NZAA secretary Neal Harding, a former Times-Age delivery boy now resident in Taranaki, said the viewing public was in for a treat with many of the participants being world class.

Something proved by the fact that at the last International Tree Climbing championships held in Parramatta in New South Wales, Kiwi competitors won both the men's and women's world titles, seeing off competition from the likes of the United States, Europe, Australia and beyond.

"New Zealand have always done well in sports which have their origin in the work environment, and tree climbing is like shearing and woodchopping in that regard," Harding said.

Most of those who participate in tree climbing are practising tree surgeons and the format is similar in concept to the pentathlon in track and field, with five disciplines giving competitors a cumulative points score.

The top-scoring climbers then go on to contest a "climb off" (known as the Masters event) in a particularly challenging tree to decide the final placings.

It is a cut-throat sport which requires skill, courage and extreme fitness and, importantly, the ability to respond to high-pressure situations.

Three-times world women's champion Chrissy Spence of Gisborne will be attending the championships but in a non-competitive role.

She signalled her retirement after winning at Parramatta and will be part of the judging panel in Masterton.

Australian Joe Harris is expected to make a bold showing in the men's event, having placed second at the last world championships behind Kiwi Scott Forrest, who could also be among the starters this weekend.