The 20th annual CT Climbing Competition took place this past Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.  The weather was sunny with a slight breeze coming off Long Island Sound.  There were 27 male competitors in attendance and approximately 40 volunteers.  We would like to thank all the volunteers for their time and dedication.  This event could not take place without them.

We would also like to thank the sponsors for their generous donations.

GOLD SPONSORS: Almstead Tree, Shrub and Lawn Company, Shelter Tree/RBI,  Northeast STIHL, Davey Tree Experts, Altec, Rainbow Ecoscience, Vermeer All Roads, Tree Insure by Ferguson and McQuire, Rayzor’s Edge Tree Service, KraneWorks, Bartlett Weston Arborists, Bartlett Tree Experts, Crane Solutions, LLC., Emerald Tree and Shrub Care Company, Tooher-Ferraris Insurance Group

SILVER SPONSORS: Altec Capital, Bart’s Tree Service, Marc Warren, Muench Company, Inc., Newtown Power Equipment, Sawing High Climbers and Eversource Energy.

We would like to also thank the City of Bridgeport for allowing us to hold our competition at their beautiful Seaside Park.  We appreciate all their help with the park and making the day very successful!

And after a 6:30 am start, beginning with gear inspection and a safety briefing, the five events took until 3pm.  The scores were tallied, and three competitors went to the Master’s Challenge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Reynolds, Sam Schunk and Jake Slade were the top three.  At the end of the day Sam Schunk placed Third, Tim Reynolds placed Second and Jake Slade placed First!  Below are the final scores of the competition.

 

NAME OF COMPETITION:			2024 CT Tree Climbing Competition			DATE:	4-May-24
Men’s Preliminary Winners
	Aerial Rescue				Overall Preliminary Ranking
	Name		Score		Name	Chapter	Score
1	Jake Slade	0	46.33	1	Tim Reynolds	0	162.50
2	Nicholas Carson	0	42.00	2	Jake Slade	0	154.08
3	Kyle McCabe	0	35.67	3	Sam Schunck	0	144.45
				4	Val Brito	0	131.25
	Belayed Speed Climb			5	Kyle McCabe	0	121.40
	Name	Chapter	Time (secs)	6	Blake Duval	0	121.32
1	Tim Reynolds	0	18.90
2	Kyle McCabe	0	22.00
3	Jake Slade	0	24.74
	Ascent Event
	Name	Chapter	Time (secs)
1	Andrew Avalone	0	16.79
2	Tim Reynolds	0	18.29
3	Sam Schunck	0	21.02
	Throwline
	Name	Chapter	Score
1	Val Brito	0	31
2	Jake Slade	0	29		Masters’ Winners
3	Sam Schunck	0	28		Name	Chapter	Score
				1	Jake Slade	0	239.33
	Work Climb			2	Tim Reynolds	0	231.67
	Name	Chapter	Score	3	Sam Schunck	0	145.33
1	Tim Reynolds	0	72.67
2	Kyle McCabe	0	64.14
3	Jake Slade	0	62.55

 

 

The CTPA would like to humbly thank Northeast Horticultural Services, Almstead Tree, Shrub and Lawn Care, Emmons Tree Service and Bartlett Tree Experts.  These tree companies donated their equipment and crews to help get the trees for Seaside Park in top shape for the competition.  In addition to getting the competition trees ready, they donated time to pruning an additional four trees.  We thank these companies and their crews for being safe and professional and for supporting this event.

Just a reminder to everyone – Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition will be held next Saturday, May 4th, at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

For climbers and volunteers, the day starts early, at 7 am.  For everyone else, we hope to get the competition rolling by about 8 am.

There is no charge for attendance and parking is free.  Attendees are only encouraged to bring their own food and refreshments, along with perhaps a blanket to sit on.

For those who have not yet attended a CTCC, it is well-worth the time spent.  The preliminary competition begins in the morning and usually runs until the early afternoon.  In the preliminary events, each of the climbers take at turn at each of the skill events:

• Ascent Event
• Throwline Accuracy
• Belayed Speed Climb
• Work Climb
• Aerial Rescue

Competitors are formed into groups.  Throughout the preliminary events, each group circulates among the five events until all competitors have completed the circuit.  At that point, the scores of the individual climbers totaled.  The top three men and women climbers are then invited to participate in the Master’s Challenge.

Throughout the day, the skill, intelligence and athleticism of Connecticut’s tree care professionals, as well as those climbers from other states, is on display, as is their attention to safety, concern for the profession and respect for one another.  The word ‘camaraderie’ is illustrated better at this event than at practically any other event one could mention.  Climbers support climbers, and the attendees support climbers, in a way to shows a true passion for what tree climbing and tree care is all about.

It is a great thing to witness.  You should check it out.

 

 

Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition – May 4, 2024

Seaside Park, 188 Waldemre Avenue, Bridgeport, CT

On May 4, 2024, the Connecticut Tree Protective Association will hold the 18^th annual Connecticut Tree Climbing Championship.  This competition will take place at Seaside Park in Bridgeport.  The competition will run all day, from 8 in the morning until mid-afternoon.  The public is invited to attend at no charge.

The climbers will show their skills in 5 preliminary events, with the 3 top climbers invited to face off in a Master’s Challenge.

All of the competitors are drawn from the ranks of those involved in professional tree care.  Most are from Connecticut, although competitors are also from other New England states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  As the competitors demonstrate their skill, insight, knowledge of technique and athletic ability through their tree climbing. they will also be showing an absolute commitment to safety and concern for the well-being of the tree.

The five preliminary events are the:

• Ascent Event – A timed climb up a climbing line to a specified height (from 40’ to 80’).
• Throwline Accuracy – A timed event in which the competitor sets 2 different lines in specified parts of the crown of a tree.
• Belayed Speed Climb – A timed ‘free-climb’ (climber is belayed) 40’ to 60’ up a selected tree.
• Work Climb – Five work stations are set within a given tree and competitors move through the tree completing assigned tasks.
• Aerial Rescue – Climbers are timed as they ‘rescue’ a dummy set in a tree.

In the Master’s Challenge three work stations are placed in a large tree, and climbers move through the tree completing assigned tasks.  The climbers are both timed and scored, in that only those tasks completed within a specified time are counted and points are added or deducted based on the skill and commitment to safety demonstrated by the climber.

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association is an educational non-profit dedicated to advancing the care of trees in the state.    Currently, the Association has over 780 members, with approximately 580 of those members being licensed arborists.

To sign up as a Competitor please click here:  https://ctpa.org/ctcc-online-registration-form/
The Climber Registration is CLOSED. We are at capacity. If you would like to be on a waitlist, please email: cathy@ctpa.org

To sign up as a Sponsor please click here: https://ctpa.org/ctcc-online-sponsorship-form/

To sign up to be a Volunteer please click here:  https://ctpa.org/ct-tcc-volunteer-registration/

Further details regarding the competition are available through the CTPA office, at 203-484-2512, or by contacting Cathy Dvorsky, Executive Secretary, at cathy@ctpa.org.

Interested attendees are also invited to visit the CTPA website at https://ctpa.org.