STUDENTS from East Durham College’s Arboriculture team have been enjoying some great success in a couple of unusual sports.

The students proved they all had a great head for heights by taking part in two different arboriculture-related events, with climbing being the aim of the game in both.

The team’s first success came when the college came first in The Arboricultural Association’s Arborist Tree Challenge at Kirkley Hall College in Northumberland.

The team of three - Josh Dixon, 17, of Murton, Jack Murray, 16, of Sunderland and James Blades, 20, of Shildon, came out on top against other teams from all across the country to claim the national title.

Each of the students faced the challenge of a tree set up with four different stations, with each station featuring a different challenge.

The Houghall team completed the challenge in 12 minutes 36 seconds, which was a full five minutes ahead of second place.

The students then travelled to Scotland to take part in the Royal Highland Show, competing in the novice category of the Pole Climbing competition.

The competitor had to race up a 100ft pole and the East Durham College team took seven of the top ten places including first, second and third.

Ben Richmond, 19, of Bishop Auckland, took first place in 13.95 seconds, John Burton, 16, of Sunderland, come in second with a time of 14.27 seconds and Josh Dixon third in 14.43 seconds.

Lois Milburn, 30, of Darlington also added to the team’s prize haul by winning the ladies category.