Eltham arborist Nicky Ward-Allen is planning to make it to the top.
Representing New Zealand in August 11-12 at the International Tree Climbing Championship in Portland, United States, she hopes to add the title of the world's best woman tree climber to her name, and to top her current world record in the foot lock event.
She first set a foot lock world record in 2009, but has since broken it twice, with her 13.26 seconds world best,
set at the 2010 world championship in Chicago, still standing. This event requires climbing 12 metres without any mechanical devices - your only foothold being a rope you wrap around your foot. ``It is all your own strength and
technique,'' says Nicky.
She is eager to follow in the footsteps of her role model, New Zealander Chrissy Spence, who won the world title three times. Nicky placed fourth overall at the 2010 international. ``This year I hope to do better.''
Husband Neal Harding, a solicitor, will accompany her to the world challenge. She says though he doesn't
overly enjoy tree climbing, ``he can do it. But, he supports me all the way and organises all the travel details.'' She changed her choice of career while studying science at Waikato university, from a laboratory assistant to an
arborist, on noticing an advertisement in a local newspaper on an arboriculture course at the polytechnic in Hamilton, pitching it as a guaranteed employment choice with travel across the globe and out-of-office work. She later did finish the degree, but as it was the out-of-office spin that reeled her in, she says she doubts that she will ever take it further than having the degree up on a wall. ``I have always been outdoorsy. I grew up on a farm, and with four brothers. I always had to have a go at whatever they did.''
On moving to Taranaki in 2003 when Neal, whom she had met at university, was offered a position with a local
firm, she contracted as an arborist. They live in Eltham where they bought a four-acre property on account of all the mature trees on the section, which now is also her `training ground'. She took up the sport to be true to her
word. ``I played rugby at the time for Palmerston North. And to make it worthwhile travelling there, I decided to
apply for a part-time job. I got the job, but they asked whether I take part in tree climbing events. I said yes,
and then had to do it because I said so.''
It is an unusual sport, she admits, but says once she started, she couldn't stop. ``It is the challenge of it. Always
trying to do it better, faster. I love it.''
She says she got ``an absolute hiding'' in her first national event, in Queenstown in 2004. ``I went there with real expectations, but it showed me how skilled you have to be. It set the challenge for me.'' That is where she met Chrissy, whom she says has been a great mentor, together with training partner, Wellington champion Clay Winter. The 31-year-old says she will keep going forever, if possible, but that tree climbing is a ``young person's game''.
Should you want to take up the sport, Nicky is keen to mentor enthusiasts. If you have a tree you want trimmed or cut down to support the competition cost, phone her (06) 764 7386.