Amelanchier

Sorry no Veterans category... Novice = New to climbing / comps. Intermediate = Competed before but not finished in the top three of previous years category / not competed before but climbed for a while (I'll decide on the day!!!). Open = The rest and the best! (and steve ) All categories flexible and based on my (limited) estimation of your talents!

Its not all about speed. The way we score the climb allows for skill over speed. Too many climbers thrash their way up and out, swinging about, crashing into branches, forgetting to lanyard in at suitable points. The best climb will be a safe, steady, smooth, fluid movement through the tree. Admittedly if you can do that and do it quickly, you have the advantage. However, its not a race - its a climb!

You'll be fine mate. We give the kit a once over for any issues before you climb. There's plenty of gear about if any problems arise. As for the nptc bit - I'm not to fussed about having proof. It'll show if you're not qualified plus you'll have to sign a standard hold harmless waiver! I realise you're not sure about whether you'll make it or not but booking a place is the only way you'll get free entry to the game fair (we're just a small part of the fair). Same goes for anyone else really - If you just turn up, you'll be allowed to compete but you may have to wait for those who booked and you'll definately have to pay to get in. Booking also helps us know how many climbers to expect and on which days. Sunday will be busier generally speaking. Firstly because of Capel and secondly because we don't limit the number of attempts competitors have! As you can imagine, everyone wants another chance to improve their standing!!! Fundamentally, its a fun event to show the public what we do. So we try and have a few basic rules and lwet everyone just get on with doing what they do...

Aye. Top Kindling

I had a similar situation on a large site in the centre of Norwich. We turned up to clear some windblow that had fallen into the site in question. I went round to the site office to request access to complete the job. Met a chap that knew everything. Told me that the law required everyone who works at height needed a first aid certificate. "What law's that then mate?" "Its in the health and safety at height law son" "Do you mean the health and saftey at work act 1974 or the work at height regulations 2005?" "...errr" "Neither of which require people working at heigt to ave a first aid certificate. Do you employers know that you don't know what you're talking about?" "...ummm" "I'm going to go and cut a tree up now, you carry on running the health and safety of hundreds of people. Bye." Very gratifying. Builders in my experience see themselves as socially/mentally superior to tree people. Most of them ain't!!

Mark Chisholm has an article on the buzz that has pretty pictures in it relating the the rope angle and its effect on the loading of the rigging point... http://www.treebuzz.com/pdf/treeremoval.pdf

I had to rig 12 of those little beauties down once. down a narrow alley with a new surface. The sawdust doesn't half burn the back of your throat... cough cough

TPO's were part of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947.

Bump...

Bumpetty bump...

Guy I know started his company up with this landy. Spot the deliberate mistake...

I'd take some pics but i'd have to dig the kit out and blow the cobwebs off it. I don't have any evidence of damage but y'know one part is moving and one isn't... Hmmmm

I have a spliced eye and a long vt but I'm concerned about the degree of contact between the edge of my eye and the movinf line through the vt. Anyone else see this?

BS 5837: 2005 NJUG Vol. 4 Your client should ask to see the contractors Arboricultural Implictions Assessment as per BS5837.

Do either of you have any experience with PocketGIS?

Sounds to me like they reviewed and revoked the 1968 area order in line with best pratice and made individuals to cover significant trees... I assume they didn't consider your trees to be under threat so didn't bother including them in the modified order. How old would you say they were anyway? Less than 40 years old?

Go with alder.

Microblakes. They are bang on the spec I was issued. However, what they wanted was 6ft length with a 6 inch eye at each end. They put each eye over a post and pull it til it fails. As you can see, the old microtails were doomed from the outset... yep no whipping, i'd just done the 'blister' stage of the final bury.

I once spent a day splicing four xtc+ and four blaze to send off to Yale for certification/destruction testing. Only problem was... the spec was wrong. They all went in the bin. B*ll*cks.

Your tenex splices are way neater than mine!!

Yeah ignore long words. That way you can absolutely sure you never learn anything.

Imagine the stick you get from builders. One guy kneeling down in front of another. They think you're weird anyway but that just tips the scales.

The oldschool buckingham spikes we used to have at my last job were just as bad. If you did them up yourself they'd move around so we had to adjust the buckles for each other. Which can look a bit gay.

It was expected.

This is jaaaam hot.