Josephine Hedger

There is on site camping :-)

There is also a climbers meeting being held on the Saturday night, to discuss how next years competition will be run, and any ideas anyone has. Everybody is welcome. We hope to see you there. Josephine

Here are some details that have been forwarded to me, for those who are entering the comp. Gear check on Friday night, from 7-9pm, and Saturday 7-8:30am. Group rotations and Walk round 8:30. Start 9:30 If you are intending on competing please complete the form below, including the waiver, and return. Due to the time scale I would suggest you email it to [email protected], if you can't scan the form then please send an email stating you want to enter......this helps the organizers get group rotations sorted before the day. Payments can be made in cash or cheque on the day and paid before competition starts. http://www.isa-arboriculture.org/cgi-bin/adminfiles.cgi?fa=download&from=site&fileid=412&gname=cmfiles Please also print off the gear check form and have it filled in before hand to save time on the day. International Tree Climbing Championship - History DIRECTIONS TO WAUNFAWR PARK CROSSKEYS If travelling in a westerly direction on the M4, exit at junction 27 and follow the B4591 (signposted Highcross) on to Glasllwch Crescent for 1.96 miles. AT Travelling roundabout take 2nd exit on to Cefn Road – B4591 travelling approximately 1.21 miles. At roundabout take 1st exit on to Cefn Road - B4591 travelling approximately 0.31 miles. At next roundabout take 2nd exit on to Risca Road – B4591 travelling for approximately 0.19 miles. At next roundabout take 2nd exit on to Commercial Street, continue along Commercial Street for approximately 1.72 miles, then turn left on to Blackvein Road for 0.08 miles, Then turn right on to Waunfawr Park Road

I like reading this thread to actually see what climbers opinions are. Things can only improve if people give us feed back. If your reading these comments and have a view please post it, as everyones ideas will help. As far as thr comp its self, it will take time to get the support of both climbers and sponsors back on board. It has slipped over the last few years, and a lot of it is due to the lack of direction. I have been fortunate to travel to many comps all over the world, and I always come back wishing we could improve on our events. For anyone who has not seen or been to any other chapters competitions, we have an amazing talant of climbers, which cannot be lost. People who say there is nothing for novices have missed the bigger picture. I have been a novice and a female climber, no prizes, no money, but what i get out of it is the leanring experience and personal gain of improved techiniques and cimbing. I would pay the entry fee any day, which is a small amount for the massive amount of knowledge there is available. Friendship and networking is the other major attraction. I do think it is important to encourage new commers, for example like the UK final last year with goodie bags when you entered. Having one comp combined with the students and novice catorgory is a good idea...no need for lots of trees and judges, same trees, same set up just drop bells on work climb for example, drop the foolock... I must stress though that the UK final does need to keep the same 'ISA set up' for the main competitors, dont over bogg it with team events etc, this event must keep the same format as the International competitions, for whoever gets to go and represent us. Keep the commments comming, Jo

If one large UK final competition can be organised I would pay anything from £50 - £100. More effort can be put into one good event than lots of smaller ones. These competitions take a lot to organise, and it needs to be done well in advance. If any one wants to hold jamboree style comps, which are relaxed, and help encourage 'new blood' then these can be organised independitly of the ISA. I think that people like to see where their money goes. Goodie bags are a good idea, not everyone gets placings in the prelims, so there are many people that are regular climbers, and its a nice supprise to turn up and get stuff before you've even climbed! Some evening entertainment to get everyone together is a must. I am a big fan of the fancy dress idea!

The scottish tree climbing competition has been cancelled. All efforts are being put into the Welsh which is the 4th and 5th September. This is a winning place for the european team 2011. Any one who is keen to enter or help out at this competition please post your names so we can get an idea on numbers. Details on exact location and how to enter will be posted in the next couple of weeks. There has also been a poll posted.

Easiest way to find the climbing site - From north come down M27 and carry on and it turns into the A31, take the Burley exit and carry on through the village of Burley following signs to Brockenhurst. The site is between Burley and Brockenhurst on the left, marked Wilverley Inclosure, and little arrows when near. From South Take the A31 North and Take The Burley turning and follow above directions. If coming from Lyndhurst, take the A35 south towards christchurch. Take the exit for Burley and Brockenhurst. Homsley campsite is on the A35

The English Tree Climbing Competition is this weekend 26, 27 June. Wilverley Inclosure, New Forest, Hampshire Forestry Commission - New Forest - No camping onsite, but nearest with decent facilities is Holmsley Holmsley | Camping & Touring Park | Christchurch | Dorset Dogs welcome. Gear check sat morning 8am -9am. Walk round starting at 9am, we want a prompt start so please be here in plenty of time. Gear check forms can be printed off and filled in, which will help save time on the morning International Tree Climbing Championship - History Entry forms returned to simon at [email protected], entry fees need to be paid before you compete. Entry Forms :: ISA TCC :: ISA UK&I Chapter Hope to see some regulars and some new faces, to compete or just to watch and support. Winning place is open for a place in the europeans 2011.

Thanks for posting, great to watch after viewing your poplar pictures. Looking forward to the product becoming available!!

just 2 foot acenders i'd guess, have used that set up with double hand acenders on long hauls, makes it a lot easier! :-)

yeah it was on ascent on some double hand ascenders that were'nt backed up. I think it was about 2 or 3 years ago and I seem to remember the guy recovered ok. Was in an article from ISA. Good picture to wake us all up though.

Sorry to hear your bad news Drew, thats nasty! Hope your back climbing soon. Like you said, something to learn from, but sounds like everything was right, just one of those things!? Take it easy.

Have just started playing with it so will see which one I get on better with.

This is the set up I have been using for a while now. Similar to John's set up. Have moved double attachment back to single carabina attachment to bridge, just because i prefer it. Have changed hand ascender to another croll as I found the bottom of the hand ascender was opening the bottom croll on each movement. This is a new set up I have just started using. Have got the petzl croll chest harness from the sequoia, replacing the elastic cord around neck...just to try and due to the fact I have lost items to co-worker! And then put a petzl shunt as back up....hand goes through sling and onto rope for support...I've found this very smooth. Also if you needed...like forgot rope for example you can decend.

Havent got any new cs38's till the end of the month. Not sure it will take a lot longer but then always depends on candidates. I dont think a lot of them will be that confident on the spikes. I'm sorting out a dummy to be used during the assessment, so if they do slip then only a patch needed not an ambulance! I agree that the site will be tricky on verticle sections of cs39, as we use a lot of field side trees for crown lifting. Glad to see that they have removed the section propossed in cs41 of felling the stem. No major changes throughout though, which is good.

There will be comps but dates, sites etc wont be available till april/may time. Keep an eye on the ISA website as stated above. Only TCC dates i know are sorted are EuropeanTCC June 12 – 13 and InternationalTCC July 24-25

Marc, If its the CS 30 and CS 31 you hold then you do not need to be re-assessed, even if done in 2001. If this was the case then you would not have been able to be registered for the other units, like the CS41. They are probably batting on the '5 year update' door. ?? All this is, is a 1 day update training day to cover changes since 2001 and issued a certificate. cheers, Jo

Changes are to kick in from 1st January. If you are registered with NPTC for an assessment before 1st January you will be assessed to old criteria, after 1st then new critiria. You have up to 2 yrs to take the assessment that you are registered for. So if you know the old criteria, get your registrations in now! Hope that helps.

I've had a pair since the summer. They are a little more chunky than the scarpa's but not so painfull after hours of wearing. Wet weather is a problem for nearly all boots but I found these to be a lot better than the scarpa's in the wet. The soft soles do seem to wear a lot though. I'd buy another pair.

A space has become available on the following course: LANTRA chainsaw and small tree felling training and NPTC CS30 and CS31 Date:30th November - 5th December Location:New Forest, Hampshire. PM me with your email for course details if interested. Thanks, Josephine Hedger Arbor Venture Training Ltd

Just an ISA member

Have a wicked weekend. Good luck to Drew, Chrissy, Scott, James and everyone else competing. Looking forward to some pics.

We run a lantra chipper and NPTC assessment course, one day if needed. Can be run on a weekend, but sepends on numbers. Is it just you? Refresher training is not the same as first time training.Just attend a one day update every 5 years...one for ground, one for aerial. Thats what we offer...just to keep it as simple as it can be.

Looks good...not sure about the 300 euro per month though...unless someone has no ties and wants a really good experience.

Rupe you were on it.....it was some random rec climbing thing on the isle of wight, but was trying to talk about ISA TCC's!!! Didnt mix in too well.....they also chopped in a bit from the UK and I finals when the local BBC filmed, So thats where your bit comes in Rupe. It did seem a bit rushed together and it was a shame that they didnt really portray the competitions as well as they could have, but at least i can say on was on the national news!! Good to get some coverage on our trade though.