WOOD-CHOPPING COMPETITON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2384, 28 December 1908, Page 4

WOOD-CHOPPING COMPETITON.

NEW ZEALAND AXEMEN’S CARNIVAL.

[Press Association.]

ELTHAM, Dec. 26

The axemen’s carnival opeiud today and was well attended, 4000 people being present.. The mam attraction was the world’s championship chop in 2ft- standing logs, in which Milev (Victoria), champion of Australasia, Esau Pretty, New Zealand cliamiiion, D. Pretty, ex-New Zealand champion, and others were competing. In this event, however, and the other in" which he comi>eted, Miley faded to maintain his Australian reputation, ami was not placed during the clay. He ascribes his defeat to bad luck, getting bad timber, and to th slowness of Now Zealand timber compared with Australian. D. Pretty gave a powerful dis23lay of chopping, and won the New Zealand and the world’s championship. The following were the results:— New Zealand Championship.—First Heat: D. Pretty 1, J. Newstroski 2, G. McCauley 3. Second heat: C. Milev 1, Pretty 2, W. Heroic! 3. Third heat: J. Hartnet 1, J. Harrod 2, G. Puklowsky 3. Final: I). Pretty 1, Newstroski 2, E. Pretty 3. Time, 3min 3 2-sscc. Miley (Australian champion) never looked like winning. Double-handed Sawing Championship of Australasia. —Johansen and Johnston 1, Beckham and Osborne,2, Casey and Pretty 3. Time, 2min 3 4-5 &ec. World’s Championship Chop.—D. Pretty (Hamilton) 1, S. Johnston (Gisborne) 2,.J. McCauley (T-aumaru-nui) 3, J. Newstroski 4. The feature of this contest was the powerful chopping of D. Pretty and the excellent performance of Johnston, who, though lie struck a knot and spoiled two axes, chopped into second place. John, ston is a Tasmanian, who won -a few minor events there and started on New Zealand wood two years ago. Miley struck hard wood, and was left behind. Time, 4min 48 2-ssec, which is comparatively slow, owing to the wood being hard. ~ ~ Underhand Handicap.—G. Puklowsky (30scc) -, G. Jolly (40scc) 2, Neale (35sec) 3, J. Decgan (25scc) 4. Time, lmin 19 3-ssec. In tlio third heat Miley was competing, but the handicap was too big, and lie had not finished two feet. Single-handed Sawing Handicap.— A. E. Sullivan (20sec) 1, G. A. Puklowsky (20sec) 2, D. Pretty (15sec) 3. Time, lmin 26sec. Maiden Chop.—J. Richardson 1, B. Newstrosky 2, C. Sturgolier 3.