Three men associated with Arbor Care Tree Services of Essex County made a clean sweep of the top three spots in the Mid-Atlantic Tree Climbing Championship, last weekend in Crofton, Md. Pictured above (l-r): Noah Daigle (3rd place), Blaine Bledsoe (2nd place), and James Earhart (Champion).
James Earhart, owner of Arbor Care in Essex County, was the overall winner in the Masters’ Challenge for men’s division at the Mid-Atlantic Tree Climbing Championship (TCC), which was held last weekend at the Crofton Country Club in Maryland.
Sarah Hood of Richmond (Davey Tree Expert) was the winner for the women’s division.
The champions will represent the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Internation- al Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA) at the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) in Atlanta October 24-27.
More than 300 spectators came out to watch the competition in Crofton. The 2-day event brought together some of the best tree care professionals in the region to showcase their climbing skills in a series of competitive events.
Climbers competed in five preliminary events on Saturday to qualify as one of the top contestants to advance to the championship round – the Masters’ Challenge. The preliminary events include Ascent Event, Belayed Speed Climb, Aerial Rescue, Work Climb and Throwline.
The Masters’ Challenge is a timed event that combines four stations: two hand saw stations, limb toss and limb walk. Each station requires the contestant to demonstrate the skills and abilities needed to perform safe and efficient tree work.
Tree Climbing competitions are held by each chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and promote safe working practices, demonstrate improvements and innovations in equipment and techniques and provide industry recognition. It is also an opportunity for climbers to gather and exchange ideas with their professional peers.
James is no stranger to tree climbing competitions. In fact, this year was his 20th year competing. James has won the ITCC, the North American Tree Climbing Competition (twice), and won the Mid-Atlantic Masters Challenge 8 times.
To prepare for the TCC, this year, James began practicing the Masters’ Challenge and traveled to Australia to train with World Champion, Barton Allen-Hall.
On Sunday, James was joined in the winner circle by Arbor Care arborists Blaine Bledsoe and Noah Daigle, who won 2nd and 3rd respectively. Turns out, the practice paid off for the entire crew at Arbor Care.
Leave a Reply