SOUTHLAND axemen finished strong at the final woodchopping competition in the Southland and Otago Axemen’s Society Christmas circuit last week.
The final, part of the Tuatapere Sports Day on January 1, attracted a huge following, with axemen from Wales, Switzerland, Australia and the United States joining Southland competitors.
The circuit started on December 27 in Cromwell and made stops in Gore, Otautau, Riverton and Colac Bay, before finishing in Tuatapere.
New to the blocks was Southland axeman Ben Egerton (17), who won the 325mm underhand final, placed second in the 300mm final and first in a restricted event. Egerton also sawed with his mother Christine to take out the Jill and Junior sawing competition.
Karen and Wayne Corbin, of Riverton, won the Jack and Jill sawing.
Wayne then teamed up with son Nicholas to win the double hand sawing.
Steve Unahi held off a strong field in the single sawing, beating Danial Clissold, of Australia, Simon Bond, of Wales, and Nicholas Corbin, of Riverton.
The big championship standing block was won by axeman Blair Jones, of Canterbury.
The Welsh axemen Glen Penlington, Ozzie Morris and Simon Bond peppered minor placings throughout the day, while Oliver Reinhard, of Switzerland, also cut well. Southland and Otago back markers Adam Finlay and Bobby Dowling had to contend with big handicaps, but cut with amazing ability.
– Tuatapere Axemen’s Athletic Society president Peter Templeton
RESULTS
Southland/Otago Axemen’s Association
Tuatapere – January 1, 2019 Results
Small Underhand – Final
1 Ozzie Morris
2 Ben Egerton
3 Bobby Baird
4 Oliver Reinhard
Big Underhand – Final
1 Ben Egerton
2 Simon Bond
3 Glen Penlington
4 Oliver Reinhard
4 = Ozzie Morris
Restricted Underhand – Final Only
1 Ben Egerton
2 Debbie Clissold
3 Jack Richards
4 Adrian Smith
Small Standing – Final
1 Mike Simpson
2 Oliver Reinhard
3 Nathan Heads
4 Andrew Cox
Big Standing – Final
1 Mike Simpson
2 Oliver Reinhard
3 Adam Finlay
4 Robert Dowling
Championship Standing – Final Only
1 Blair Jones
2 Simon Bond
3 Adam Finlay
4 Daniel Clissold
Jiggerboard – Division 1
1 Andrew Cox
2 Glen Penlington
3 Ramon Biggs
4 Rangi Bowen
Jiggerboard – Division 2
1 Ozzie Morris
2 Simon Bond
3 Neville Curtain
Single Saw – Final
1 Steve Unahi
2 Daniel Clissold
3 Simon Bond
4 Nicholas Corbin
Double Saw ( Peg ) – Final
1 Wayne Corbin & Nicholas Corbin
2 Ben Egerton & Bobby Baird
3 Andrew Moran & Nigel Mc William
4 Daniel Clissold & Oliver Reinhard
Jack and Jill Double Saw – Final
1 Karen Corbin & Wayne Corbin
2 Simon Bond & Karen Richards
3 Nicky Morris & Ozzie Morris
4 Julie Mc William & Nigel Mc William
Jill and Junior Single Saw – Final Only
1 Debbie Clissold
2 Ben Egerton
Jill and Junior Double Saw – Final Only
1 Ben Egerton and Christine Egerton
2 Debbie Clissold & Karen Corbin
3 Katie Hobday & Karen Richards
Axe Throwing – Final Only
1 Terry Rice
2 Ben Egerton
3 Rangi Bowen
4 Oliver Reinhard
