[July 03, 2009] Congdon captures 4th pole-climbing title Tweet WENATCHEE, Jul 01, 2009 (The Wenatchee World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Next time you disagree with Chelan County PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon, don't dismiss her by saying, "Aw, go climb a pole." She just might do it. The 62-year-old commissioner captured her fourth consecutive first-place finish last month in the women's amateur pole-climbing event at the fifth annual Andrew York Memorial Lineman's Rodeo. Congdon's fellow commissioners presented her the award during Monday'scommission meeting at PUD headquarters. Donning lineman's climbing spikes, Congdon scrambled 20 feet up a wood power pole faster than her five competitors. Timing begins when the first spike enters the wood pole and ends when the contestant rings a bell installed at the top of the climb. "I do it because I want to recognize the lineman for the hard work they do. But I am competitive," said Congdon on Monday, humbly but with a proud smile of satisfaction. She estimated that some of her competitors were teenagers. The rodeo began at Rocky Reach Dam, but now takes place at Walla Walla Point Park. It's a fundraiser to award scholarships to county students involved in drug-and-alcohol awareness. It commemorates PUD lineman Andrew York, who died in 2000 from injuries suffered on the job when he was hit by a drunken driver. Christine Pratt: 665-1173 [email protected] To see more of The Wenatchee World or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wenworld.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Wenatchee World, Wash. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]