Elite axemen set to come out swinging

The chips will be flying at the annual Nelson A&P Show in Richmond this weekend.

More than 60 axeman and women, from around the country and Australia, will be competing across 15 events each day.

“It will be huge. The biggest national woodchopping event of the season so far, which began at Labour Weekend,” declares Nelson Axemens Club president Ross Birchfield.

There are nine Australians coming and the highlight will be a Trans-Tasman showdown with three tests over the two days.

The Aussies chose to come to Nelson rather than compete at the revamped Canterbury A&P Show last weekend.

“A South Island team will be taking on New South Wales which has phenomenal woodchopping depth,” says Ross who has been competing himself for more than 50 years.

“Each test will have two standing chops, two under-hands, one skill saw and a Jack and Jill.”

Nelson’s Adam Lowe will manage the seven strong South Island team which includes former Nelson axeman Pete McEwen who is now based  in Canterbury.

“The Jill” will be multiple Jack and Jill champion Raewyn Windley, an Axe Fern from Canterbury.

The first test will start around lunchtime on Saturday when the A&P crowd is expected to be at its biggest and most vocal. The other two internationals will be held on Sunday.

The other woodchopping contests will begin at 9am at Richmond Park and include the always popular jiggerboard where axemen make their way up trees using wooden boards.