N.Z. AXEMEN WIN AT SYDNEY SHOW

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 16

N.Z. AXEMEN WIN AT SYDNEY SHOW

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY. New Zealand beat Australia convincingly in a Hallstrom international teams’ relay wood-chopping contest, underhand and standing cut on 13 inch timber, at the Sydney Royal Easter Show last evening.

The injured New Zealand axeman, G. Hocquard, was a half blow ahead of L. Calwell, of Victoria, when the teams began the event. Each succeeding New Zealand axeman put his country further ahead. The key man in steady gain was I. Davidson who pushed the advantage to three or four blows over T. Bartel (Victoria) on the standing block. The next New Zealand axemen, W. Curtain, L. Bolstad, and M. Carran, increased the advantage with each block. When the captain, D. Lamberton, began the final block New Zealand’s win was already well in sight ’ Lamberton started his final block before the second last Australian axemen, J. O’Toole (Victoria) had turned to cut the second half of his timber. The final Australian cutter,

C. Stewart (Tasmania), had no opportunity to show his skill. Although the Australian team accepted New Zealand's

win, wood-chopping timber experts said that as long as pinus radiata timber was used it would always favour New Zealand.