Climbing comp in Hampshirre

Good Afternoon Folks,

Last Friday & Saturday saw the start of this summers full house of tree climbing championships organised by members of the ISA. Sparsholt College in Hampshire was the venue for the English Open where a handful of mature ash & oak were chosen to test the ability & nerve of those climbers brave enough to venture out. By now the ISA competition format is well known by many as it has not changed dramatically for the past 10 or so years.

It has been said in the past that these events can be elitest but I feel that there is so much potential to watch & learn that anyone put off from attending should really just turn up, hang out & find out for themselves what's on offer. Even those who feel the're seasoned climbers may see possibilities not previously encountered. There's normally a plethora of individuals more than keen to share their experience & knowledge.

The preliminary events on Friday went off in good spirits. Some were overjoyed at their results whilst others hadn't done as well as they'd hoped. I guess that the ideal way to compete is to enter without expectation; this way means disappointment is a rarely experienced factor & there are normally more smiles to be had.

Seven climbers were asked to be ready for the Masters Challenge to take place on Saturday & by all accounts a challenge is exactly what it was!!

Nod