Axemen return to block

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 19

Axemen return to block

The wood chips will be flying at the Mayfield showgrounds tomorrow when the axemen will be competing there for the first time in about 15 years.

And if the some of the local entries in the closed sweepstake meeting look a little nervous during the day’s proceedings, it is because it is the first competition to be organised by the newly-formed Mid-Canter-bury Axeman’s Association. A former organisation was disbanded several years ago but a revival in the sport in Mid-Canterbury has led to the formation of the new organisation. The association’s president is Mr Ross Spicer, of

Winchmore, himself an axeman, who, with several other members, has spent the past couple of weeks in preparation.

“Untold,” was his reply when asked if many hours were required to prepare for such an event.

They spent three nights last week getting the suitable blocks from the Bowyers Stream Plantation, they then had to be carted back to the Spicers where they were peeled, and from then they were stacked, regularly watered and kept covered to be in good shape for tomorrow’s events and for the following week’s at the Methven Show.

They have about 500 blocks stockpiled and about 120 of them will face the axes tomorrow.

The competition is open to members of the Canterbury Clubs only — North Canterbury, Motanau Beach, Ferrymead, Aorangi and Mid-Canterbury.

About 20 axemen are expected to compete. Four jiggerboards will be in use and among the Canterbury axemen expected are some who rate with the best in the country.

There will be underhand and standing cutting events and double and singlehanded sawing events. The programme will start at 10.30 a.m. and the chips are expected to fly through to about 3 p.m.

The day is an excellent one, followed by Methven, for competitors to hone up for the national championships which are to be held at the Canterbury Court on March 30 and 31.