Local woodcutters to the fore

Marlborough sawyers and axemen displayed their considerable skills during the South Island Championships, which were staged recently at A&P Park.

Geoff Hocquard won the single saw title as well as the Jack & Jill Saw crown, with Kerry Mahuika from Canterbury. He was third in the underhand chop, fourth in the standing chop and third in the double saw, with Finn Sloan.

Willie Abel won the veterans underhand chop, finished fourth in the underhand chop and third in the axe throw. Robbie Brownlee finished third in the veterans standing chop.

Finn Sloan picked up four wins, taking out the junior underhand, junior standing, junior single saw and junior double saw titles, the latter with his brother Billy. Finn also finished third in the double saw and fourth in the Jack & Jill Saw with Emma Riddell from Nelson.

Billy Sloan won the junior double saw and was fourth in the junior underhand.

Alex Greig won the boys handicap underhand chop and was third in the junior double saw, with Jack Simpson from Buller.

Ollie McKenzie was second in the boys handicap underhand chop, Louie Greig placed third in the boys handicap underhand chop while Charlie Robinson came fourth in the boys handicap underhand chop.

The Nelson/Marlborough team came first in the Interprovincial Teams Race.

Finn Sloan took out the Hateley Trophy for most points in the junior section.

The Nelson/Marlborough axemen’s team that competed against Southland/Otago, and won by over half a block was Willie Abel, Adam Lowe (Nelson), Geoff Hocquard, Finn Sloan, Emma Riddell, Stu Cunningham and Bill Nicholls (Nelson).

The Nelson/Marlborough combination, with Ray Biggs (Nelson) coming in for Nicholls, also took on Canterbury.

The southerners held the lead into the two sawing disciplines where Nelson/Marlborough caught up to draw equal. Eventually Nelson/Marlborough claimed victory on the second standing by a blow, providing a nail-biting finish to the event.