CHOPPING BIG STAKES OFFERED MAKE CHOPPING ATTRACTIVE SPORT

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 6

CHOPPING BIG STAKES OFFERED MAKE CHOPPING ATTRACTIVE SPORT

Few sports pay better than wood-chopping at the present time, and prizes up to £5O for championships are common. The men qualified to compete in these events can hew through a 14inch log with razor-edged* axes ip about 40 seconds. They are capable, for a brief' period, of furious exertion, to earn some? thing over £1 a second, which, of course, must be considered a good rate of pay.

Only a man of stamina can swing an axe with the champions, and time has proved that the men who have the men who have the stamina and strength to go on with it, are made for the most part on the West Coast or in Southland. 0

Any bushman who fancies himself as being able to use an axe with perfection, must use it continuously to become accustomed to its weight and balance, so .that when he goes into action, the keen blade will work in harmony with the well-timed action of the muscles of man in command of the tool. In view of the good apprenticeship bush work provides, it is not surprising that a large number of champion choppers have come from the West Coast. Among those at the top of the sport on the Coast are: the Nolan brothers, Eddie, Bob and Bill, of Okuru. In the big chop at Greymouth last year, Bob carried off the major honours’ for a stake of £5O in the 14-inch under-hand chop, his time being 43sec. These three brothers collected £2OO between them in three meetings at Hokitika, Greymouth and Tuatapere (the centre of the chopping world in Southland). At a contest in Greymouth Eddie conceding starts up to 11 seconds, won the standing chop for £2O. He and Bob then went to Tuatapere where the latter won the 14-inch underhand chop. Another axeman of note is Cecil Mitchell, of Ross, who on St. Patrick’s Day at Greymouth, last year, collected £5O and first place in the 14-inch underhand, his time being 43 seconds. He also could concede starts up to llsec and had previously given away 17 or 18sec in the 14-inch chop. These experienced logmen can cut throdgh a 14-inch log of white pine in a little over 40 seconds, but they usually take three or four seconds longer to sever the red pine logs which are slightly tougher in texture and grain. HEAVY HANDICAPS It seems incredible that axeman can give away up to 18 seconds in about 45sec and still win, but good men have done it, and those who have had the opportunity of seeing it have® not been slow to express their admiration of the feat. Early Coast, an axeman severed two toes. The accident was not noticed until the man stepped down at the end of the event.

Among other champions of the past were the brothers Jim and Dave Bannister. Jack Murray, ex-champion of Australasia, won the premier wood-chopping event at the centennial exhibition at Wellington in 1940. Another legendary figure in the axe world was Dinny Hoey, a Maori expert. Hoey weighed the best part of 20 stone but found his bulk no deterrent to chopping, as those who chopped against him will testify. Chopping is still a popular sport on the West Coast, and with more sports meetings to be held before the fall of winter, more men may yet chop their way into the top classes of the chopping world.

starters may be about ready to turn when the back markers get going, but the latter, with clean and powerful strokes', soon make up the leewav.

Charlie O’Rourke, a resident of Hokitika, who was at one time champion of the world at a meeting took a 171 b chip from his log. This feat is reputed to be' a record.

Several men have met with accidents while standing on their logs and during one meeting on the West