Nicky Ward-Allan has prepared the trees in Stratford’s King Edward Park ahead of the Taranaki Open Tree Climbing competition. Source: Fairfax NZ News, Stuff NZ
A world-class field will descend on Stratford to compete in the Taranaki Open Tree Climbing competition.
And for the first time in the four-year history of the event, a film festival is to be added to the bill.
Organiser Nicky Ward-Allen, who is the female world champ in the sport, hoped the public would come and support the event.
She said the films, some of which had never been viewed before, had come from places like America and Africa, as well around New Zealand and provided a unique insight into the tree-climbing world.
”There’s so much footage but no forum for it,” she said.
More than 30 climbers are expected to compete, including competitors from Italy, Austria and Japan.
”It’s a fair international swag,” said Ward-Allan, who will also take part.
She said a top panel of judges would be on hand with prizes up for grabs for the winners.
Ward-Allen said she had her fingers crossed about the forecast for the day-long event and only hoped the rain stayed away.
”It literally puts a dampener on things,” she said.
