TARANAKI BORN AXEMAN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1929, Page 5

TARANAKI BORN AXEMAN

TWICE WORLD’S CHAMPION J. K “NED” SHREWY; CHOPPER. SOLDIER AND ATHLETE. (By “Physical Cultjnrist.”;—Special to News.) In the backwoods of America and the lumber camps of Canada countless stories have been told of the super-axe-men who were beyond compare. In the woods of Europe there have always been choppers who were exceptionally good. But it was left to Australia and Tasmania to organise chopping contests to decide who were the best of their respective countries. As a natural course New Zealand followed suit, and it was soon discovered that New Zealand born men could hold their own with competitors from overseas. The contests soon became so popular that no sports programme was complete which did not include chopping events on its list. Choppers are agreed that Eltham meetings tinder Messrs. F. Hardy, A. J. Hansen, and secretary Torn Stunners attained the summit of perfection in organisation. Many famous axemen, knights of the cross-cut saw, and world’s champions competed at this centre,. Before the mind’s eye pass in review world’s champions such us Con. Casey, Chas. Miley, Chas. O’Rourke, Geo. McCauley, Dave Pretty, Bill I’eck and Ned Shewry. Other classy men with axe and saw who foregathered at the Mecca of the bushmen's world were Charlie and Len Hutton, Joe and B. Newstreaki, J. E. Richardson, Chris. Miley, Mick Terry (who, as well as being an axeman and athlete, was also a shrewd judge of a good ’tin, and later managed and”trained “Blue Streak,” Jack Donaldson, world’s sprint champion), Other really good axemen were C. Volski, J. larkin, Dave Mather, A. Twining and Arthur Shewry. There were quite a number far above the average, whose names at the moment I cannot recall. While opinions may differ as to who was actually the best of all this lot, including several who in different years were proclaimed champions of the world, there will bo no two opinions that J. E. (Ned) Shewry was one of the most worthy to wear the laurels. In 1915 he won the world’s championship from that great axeman. Bill Peck. Then Ned went to the war, and behind the lines he compete’ in a big chop in France, giving long starts to Ameucan,, Australians and fellow New Zcalanderers The brilliant New Zealander had no'difficulty in winning. After nearly four years on service, during which he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, he signalled his return to New Zealand by again winning the world’s championsiiip at Gisborne. Virtually he held the championship for six years, as during the period he was on service the championship meetings were in obeyance. But he defeated all nations’ representatives several times in France, giving away big handicaps. FIRST STEPS IN A CAREER. Shewry gives Dave Pretty the ciid.t fef being the best axeman New Zealand

has produced, but other axemen, and ‘ f ood judges too, declare that the palm belongs to J.E.S. John Edward Shewry was born at Stratford forty years ago. At an early age his parents moved to the backblocks in the Whaugamomona district, where, there being no schools, he lacked the advantages of education, but became a student of nature far from the madding crowd. Showing early promise with the axe, which had a* fascination for him, lie .started work in the bush on his fathers farm, also doing bush work for other people until he reached man’s estate, when with his brother Archie he took up a bush section. By this date he was very keen on axe work, but lacked confidence, though others saw in him a future champion. At last he was persuaded by an old kauri bushman from the north, Mr. Hugh McLeod, now of Tahora, to enter for the Whangamomona sports, being assisted in his training by Tommy Renowden, an old bushman, now of Inglewood.

Young .Shewry went to the meeting. In the first chop he was unplaced, but in the 18-inch block contest he got second place. This perhaps was not very encouraging, but it was experience. Ho went back the next year, and got second in the 15-inch and first in the 18-inch chop. Of course, ho had the limit handicap, with good local men in Ben Newstroski and Charlie Rodgers on I.2sec and Joe Newstroski, on scratch. The following year ho was advised to beard the lions in their den and try Eltham, - where all the good men used to meet on Boxing Day for the cup and £lOO, hewing at ISinch white ’ pine blocks. That year sixty-four competitors started, including such men as B. Newstroski, C. Volski, J. Larkin, Dave Mather, and A. Twi big, round about the limit. Shewry had 30 seconds, and on seeing the handicaps he did not give himself ft chance.

PRETTY’S LUCK IN

Tiiers was a Calcutta sweep on the cup. Dave Pretty drew Shewry, and could nut get a bid for his chance, so he- held the ticket, against his wish, but after the chop he collected £42. Tho cup was run off in six heats. Ned was in the second heat, which he won. Ho was lucky in getting a very good block, and the time was 2min 3sec. At last they lined up for the final, Shewry was fully keyed up to do his best—to him in those days £lOO was a lot of money —but he did not expect to win. Anyhow off they went, he thinking of nothing but getting his block off first. On finishing he was surprised when his brother Archie and a pal, Dan Davis, greeted him with, “Aon are the winner.” “Ned” looked round, as he could not believe that all the reef were still chopping. Tn due course the placed men’s mimes were written up. on the blackboard. The time was linin 44sec, and it was only once beaten during the whole time the carnival was run at Eltham, and then by Joe Newstroski, that fine axeman from Midhirst. Shewry say-i this chopper was never given credit for the man ho really was. [ have heard other good choppers speak in similar strain. For winning this event in the time put up Shewry was brought to 12 seconds at Rahotu on New Year’s day in the 18inch block and os. in the 15-inch, both of which he won. His next start was at Taumarunui tip following October in Hie 18-inch block—2s handicap, Dave Pretty being on scratch. George McCauley, the holder of tho world’s

championship, was on ssec, while Shewry was on Bsec, and won.

ON THE SCRATCH MARK. That brought Shewry back to scratch for Eltham, where he chopped into a place, his first win from scratch coming soon after in the two-foot championship at the Auckland exhibition, where he met all the best, including Dave Pretty, Bill Peck, Chas. Miley and Chas. O’Rourke. At the same meeting, his brother Archie won the £BO handicap. From then on Shewry chopped all over the North Island, with varying success, but very seldom returned home without paying expenses. A few of the places at which he won were Taihape, Wanganui, Rangataua, Taumarunui, Matiero (18in blocks four times in succession from scratch), and Kotare (18in blocks four times in succession from scratch). At 1 Matiere, Shewry lowered the record, previously held by Dave Pretty,. to 39 seconds for a 15-inch white pine block, while at Gisborne in 1920 in a trial chop for the purpose of lowering records, on a. not too good 12-inch block, he lowered Mick Terry’s Eltham record, which had stood for years, from 20 2-5 sec to 25 2-ssec. Then followed Uruti, Urenui, Okato, Warea, Rahotu, Te Kiri, Rowan, Matau, Whangamomona, Opaku, Ormondville, Gisborne, Auckland and Dunedin.

At Eltham in 1914 he won the 12-inch championship of New Zealand. He was now in full possession of his power, standing six feet and turning the scales at 14 stone. He had long since outgrown all nervousness, was confident of his own speed and strength and knew no fear.

NED WINS WORLD’S TITLE

The next year he won the world’s title, defeating the redoubtable Australian holder. Bill Peck, in a two foot block chop, Peek finishing second. The same day the now champion won the under-hand, handicap chop and the visitor’s handicap, thus proving that his championship win was no fluke. After this he laid his trusty axe aside, going into camp early in 1916, and he was absent from the bush for nearly four years. White in camp he obtained leave to go to Ormondville, where he won tho championship, also the handicap from scratch, Bill Peck finishing second in each event.

White in Franco, among other things, Ned found time to do a little axe work. At La Mattec Wood, where the British Army had a large saw-mill, the authorities brought off a big chopping contest, open to all comers. There were large entries of Australians, Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders. It became an international affair. There were several events besides the big chop, but, although the Taranaki back woodsman had to give big starts, lie had no trouble in winning.

AGAIN WORLD’S CHAMPION.

On his return to New Zealand Shewry again won the world’s championship, 2foot standing, at Gisborne. For the next few years he chopped all over the Dominion, his principal wins being tho North Auckland right and left hand championship, chopped at Victoria Valley, also the cup over the three sizes, 12, 15 and 18 inch blocks, which he won twice in succession. Then there was tho Taranaki championship, chopped at Urenui. He also chopped a private match with J. E. Richardson for £5O

aside at Taihape, the best two out of three 12-inch white pine blocks. Richardson won the first block owing to Ned striking a bit of resin, which could not be seen until ho opened up the scarf, and breaking a gap in his axe when it struck the resin. With an opening lead Richardson was very confident, so Ned asked if he would like to make it £lOO. Richardson said no, but he would make it another tenner, so they each put up another £lO and started on the second block, which Shewry won. He also won the third and collected £6O of “foreign” money. Then came a challenge from Whata Green, who had not been beaten. _ This match took place at Urenui, 15-inch blocks, for £5O aside. . Shewry was once more the winner, with Green close up. Ned’s last appearance on a sports ground was at Dunedin exhibition in 1920, when he won the New Zealand and South Seas Championship, 14-ineh block, against the best in New Zealand and Australia at this time.

AMONG THE BEST

I have had several discussions with Shewry as to who was who amongst’ the choppers of his day, find this is Jiow he sums them up. He considers Dave Pretty, a giant of a man, the best allround ’ axeman .New Zealand has produced, but Peck, of New South Wales, was the best underhand axeman, with J. O’Sullivan close up. Charlie Miley was the best all-round Australian axeman of Shewry’s time. Ji E. Richardson was a plodder, who could always be depended on to put up a fair-performance. George McCauley was one of the best 20 years ago, very consistent on 2-foot block, while Shewry considers What a Green, a big, loose-built, game chopper, Oft 6ins in height, was the last firstrate man and the best New. Zealand born axeman in small soft timber he ever saw. Charlie O’Rourke was perhaps the first of the champions. ’ These are Shewry’s impressions of his follows, in response to my request for .his opin-

ion. Discussing “Ned’s” performances with others who chopped against him, they point out facts which are outstanding. There is not an event on the Eltham programme which he has not won, inchuliim the 2-foot world’s championship, the 12°-inch New Zealand championship, the 18-inch block cup and £lOO, the 18-inch underhand, and the 15-inch visitors* handicap from scratch, white ho won the right and left hand championship of Hu? north twice in succession and the world’s championship similarly. He and hifl brother Archie also won many events with the cross-cut saw. As to who was best readers may decide, but many knights of the axe say J. E. Shewry, twice world’s champion.

A VERSATILE SPORTSMAN

Ned’<s activities were not solely confined to the axe blade and the bush/ Like most Taranaki boys, he played a rrood game of football, representing the eastern districts of Taranaki, and rihile on service he was in demand foi the army teams. White he never claimed to be a runner, he won races from 100 yards to a mite, including hurdles, and several times won medals as points prizes, from which it will be realised he was not a dud. Shewry was present at the tattle of Messines on June 7, when his brother, D. J., made the stipieme sacrifice, but on this I must not dwell. When I last met “Ned” Shewry he looked fit to take his stand in fiont of

a block and give a good account of himself, except that' he 100. . neater Jo stone than 14, and his wi I might not last. These days he lives on a small farm at Kohuratahi, which he has made his own, and carries on stock agency work for the Farmers’ Co-operative Society. With his natural cheery smile ho is welcome on the farms, for he knows most people and most people know him. For exercise he has taken on tennte. While not a Tilden or Licostc, he gets a lot of enjoyment out of the game. He says sometimes he longs for the old days at Eltham, where the organisation under the officials was perfect and where the genial old societary Toni Stanners, used to meet them every year ami give them a kindly welcome. ' But regrets are useless, for time works many changes. The axeman felled the bush, and the Jersey filled its place, and now ’tis butter-fat.