Pole Climbing Showdown: Whelan Edges Out Bennett in Warwickshire Thriller

The World 25-Metre Pole Climbing Championship took place in Warwickshire, England.

The fastest climber to reach the top of a 25-metre wooden pole wins the competition.

Pole climbing as a sport began in North America, where lumberjacks used to shimmy up massive trees to lop off branches with their axes.

Eventually, pole climbing was born, giving arborists and daredevils an excuse to defy gravity.

The poles towering 100-foot Douglas Firs were hand-picked from a Longleat Forest and sunk 14 feet into the ground for stability.

The men’s competition saw reigning World Champion Dan Whelan, a 27-year-old tree surgeon from Shropshire, defend his title for a record-breaking third time. He narrowly beat Lewis Bennett in the final, clocking in at 9.9 seconds.