Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

Well. I'm done for another year.
Funny really, me judging. I mean, who would let me judge anything???

Once again a great weekend. As always, the main aim of this comp is to show off to joe public with the aim of raising the local profile of arborists and climbers. This is real back to basics stuff. If we can show people what real climbing or real chainsaw work looks like, they may think twice when the ubiquitous cowboys rock up with the mcculloch and the stepladder.

As a side benefit - we get to test our talents in a friendly, open and cooperative environment. Oh, and drink too much beer and goad our mates into going on the reverse bungee after a night in the beer tent!

I've attached the final and overall results as an excel spreadsheet for those out there who are interested in such things.

So what were my highlights of the weekend as the head judge??

• Realising that the event organisers had made a mistake and given me a proper tent, big enough for my landrover!!
  
  
• Nick Potts turning up and happily doing the commentary (cheers mate). Nick's experience on the mike showed in his ability to actually make talking about ropes sound interesting to the layman!
  
  
• Ross Kite, a kiwi working in the big smoke, jumping from green target 3 to target 4 and making it look ridiculously possible (it isn't!)
  
  
• Last years winners faces after watching Ross Kite!! Gutted!
  
  
• Watching Tully King (who's been climbing for 4 months) bust out a redirect and show everyone else how its done.
  
  
• Alex Laver having a laugh (even if he was the only one ha ha ).
  
  
• Andy Campbell doing his traditional karaoke stint in the beer tent - Johnny B Good careful mate, people will think its a regular thing!
  
  
• Pressuring Mr Bullman into doing two climbs (Sorry mate, that's what you get for being too good).
  
  
• Meeting all those new people and seeing the faces behind the usernames!

Congratulations to Daryl Platton for winning the Open. Well earnt mate, all that training paid off! Also to Oli Husar who took home more prizes than he could handle, HUSAR!!! And finally to Tully - what can I say mate, except you're in the open next time!

Many thanks to all the competitors for putting on a good show.

Thanks to my fellow judges; Glen and Jim for trawling through all the gear and running the paperwork, and to Nick for helping me score and for doing the commentary for two days.

Thanks to the comp sponsors; Arbtalk & Arbjobs. Cheers Steve and Nick. And thanks to all the companies that dug deep into their pockets for the prize fund including Martin at MJ Tree Services, Rob at R Bell, Spider & Kev at Rouses, and many more (apologies if I've forgotten anyone).

Thanks to all those who helped Andy out on the Cutting Side as well; Alex, Andy, Colin, Woody and many more.

Finally a HUGE thank-you to Chalky & Gillian for organising and managing the whole thing. Good job sir.

We'll take your word for it your Honour

thanks again for your work tony....any more pics going to surface?

cheers for all the setting up and organising. although i was the slowest i still enjoyed it and was glad i took part. will be back next year and hopefully be a bit quicker.

thats the spirit jay

Yer cheers for organising it all was a real good laugh and enjoyed and the climbing. I didnt think i would come any where near the top 3. Cheers.

First time at the event, not been climbing long but got a warm welcome,well worth the journey, cheers and thanks.

It was really enjoyable, big up to everyone who got stuck in.

First Competition i've ever done - felt very welcome and had a great time! people had lots of good advice and happy to talk and answer questions.

What a great couple of days ! This is the second time I've attended (and helped sponsor) the East of England. All the lads were great fun and very supportive of each other always nice to see.

Sorry if I bored you all to death with the running commentary only so many ways you can explain tree climbing! I hope it gave the crowd an insight in to our very specialist industry and why you are all worth the money they "should" be paying.

Thanks to Chalky, Gillian, Andy, Tony and everyone else who helped organise and set up this bloody fun event!! Long may it last that way.