Chopping, Feature Of Show

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 7

Chopping, Feature Of Show

There will be more axemen than ever at the Methven show this year. There are expected to be 20 competitors.

Among them will be some Canterbury champions and W. Basher, of Amberley, who is the South Island Ilin willow underhand champion. This year it will be open competition and chopping will be for trophies donated by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association to the value of more than $lOO.

There will also be first, second and third prize ribbons. Nominations will be charged for each event. There will be two standing chops—llin and 13in—and two underhand chops—12in and 13in. Events will be run in heats of eight men and four men from each heat will go on to the final.

This will mean that there will be continuous ehopping from noon and there will be less than half an hour between heats and a final to get the various events off in time. There should be a total of 12 events and if time and blocks permit there will also be a consolation chop for

those who have not won a first, second or third placing. All of these events will be run under the rules of the New Zealand Axemen's Association and there will be official timekeepers and starters. The logs will be poplar and willow and there will need to be in excess of 120 of them. It takes four men a full day to get the blocks, bark them and trim them to