COMPETITION FOR AXEMEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29055, 18 November 1959, Page 22

COMPETITION FOR AXEMEN

Young Contractor Wins Title "The Press" Special Service HAMILTON, November 17. A young bush contractor, W. Shelford, of Tokoroa, won the world championship 14-inch standing chop event at the Maraeroa axemen’s ninth annual carnival at Maraeroa. Almost every competitor in the field of 15 held a New Zealand or North Island title. The runner-up was R. Davidson, of National Park, and J. L. Murray, of Manunui, was third. Shelford completed the chop in the record time of 28 2-ssec, twofifths of a second faster than the winning time last year, which was put up in a heat by I. Davidson, of Tokoroa. The title last year was won by the well-known chopper, R. H. Honey, of Putaruru, in 30 seconds. •

The chop was an outright one, no heats being held. There was an air of excitement in the crowd as the axemen drew and prepared their blocks and gave their favourite axes a final polish. The winner has been chopping professionally for five years and won three New Zealand titles last year. He lost part of his right thumb and first finger in a milling accident about eight years ago and as a result makes his own axe handles to give him a satisfactory grip.