Woodchopping & Sawing
Rumour has it that the first ever woodchopping competition was held between two axemen in Tasmania in 1870, betting on who could first fell a tree, but it took almost thirty years for woodchop to make its way to the Agricultural Show in Sydney.
In 1899, more than 8,000 people packed into the cattle judging arena on the last day of the Show to watch standing block competitions, and it has been a mainstay and crowd favourite at the Show ever since.
In 1949, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) formed the RAS Axeman’s Association of NSW, in 1950 team relays were introduced, and in 1988 axe throwing, tree felling, and speed climbing were introduced. Not all events have lasted, but the crowd’s enjoyment of the sheer brute force of man and axe can’t be beaten.
The annual Sydney Royal Easter Show Woodchopping and Sawing competitions attract international competitors and is a place to see world-records set.
Image credit Head First Photos
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Woodchopping & Sawing Competition Day 1
375mm World Championship Sawing Contest (Single handed) Final
600mm World Championship Sawing Contest (Double handed) Final
125 Years Since the First Chop Celebration
Women’s World Championship Sawing Contest (Single Handed) Final
275mm Women’s World Championship Underhand Final
325mm World Championship Tree Felling Final
375mm World Championship Underhand Final
375mm World Championship Standing Block
Woodchopping & Sawing Competition Final Day
Competition Guide
The Competitors Information Guide has has been developed to assist competitors during preparation and during their time at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, follow the link in the block on the right hand side of this page to download the Guide.
2023 Timber Types
The 2023 competition Woodchopping and Sawing Competition will see choppers cutting a mix of Silvertop Ash and Silvertop Stringybark.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW gratefully acknowledges donations, prizes and trophies awarded throughout the Woodchopping Competition at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show from the following:
Sponsors
Ugly Fish
Lawn Solutions
Snow Lockers
Supporters
Brute Forge Axes Racing
Hayden Timbers Pty Ltd
Jo & Mark Chadwick
Ken Olney
Tuatahi Racing Axes & Saws Limited
2023 R. Dowling
2022 B. Delosa
2021 B. Delosa
2019 R. Dowling
2018 R. Dowling
2017 D. McDonald
2016 D. McDonald
2015 D. McDonald
2014 J. Wynyard
2013 F. Sefo
2012 D.J. Foster
2011 D.J. Foster
2010 J. Wynyard
2009 J. Wynyard
2008 J. Wynyard
2007 J. Wynyard
2006 J. Wynyard
2005 D.J. Foster
2004 K. Head
2003 D.J. Foster
2002 D.J. Foster
2001 D.J. Foster
2000 D. Lane
1999 D.J. Foster
1998 D.J. Foster
1997 K. Head
1996 K. Head
1995 D.J. Foster
1994 D.J. Foster
1993 M. Lentz & D.J. Foster
1992 D.J. Foster
1991 D.J. Foster
1990 M. Lentz & D.J. Foster
1989 S. Hateley
1988 M. Lentz
1987 D.J. Foster
1986 D.J. Foster
1985 D.J. Foster
1984 G.A. Austin
1983 M. Lentz
1982 M. Lentz
1981 D.G. Foster
1980 M. Jensen
1979 M. Jensen
1978 M. Jensen
1977 M. Jensen
1976 L. Bolstad
1975 L. Bolstad
1974 L. Bolstad
1973 L. Bolstad
1972 L. Bolstad
1971 L. Bolstad
1970 L. Bolstad
1969 L. Bolstad
1968 L. Bolstad
1967 D.M. Rattray
1966 R. Sherriff
1965 D. Rattray
1964 D. Rattray
1963 E.C. Griggs
1962 J. O'Toole
1961 D.G. Eaves
1960 D.M. Rattray
1959 T. Kirk
1958 T. Kirk
1957 T. Kirk
1956 C. McIntosh
1955 C. McIntosh
1954 C. McIntosh
1953 D.G. Eaves
2023 N. McDonald & D. McDonald
2022 J. Head & B. Meyer
2021 J. Head & B. Meyer
2019 R. Dowling & B. Turner
2018 N. Marsh & J. Beckett
2017 J. Lentz & M. Cogar
2016 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2015 D. Foster & J. Head
2014 J. Wynyard & A. Lowe
2013 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2012 J. Aitken & A. Lowe
2012 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2011 J. Aitken & A. Lowe
2010 R. Dowling & J. Wynyard
2009 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2008 D. Lane & J. Wynyard
2007 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2006 D. Lane & J. Wynyard
2005 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2004 S. Kirk & J. Beckett
2003 D. Lane & J. Wynyard
2002 D. Lane & J. Wynyard
2001 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
2000 D. Lane & J. Wynyard
1999 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1998 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1997 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1996 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1995 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1994 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1993 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1992 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1991 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1990 D.J. Foster & P. Foster
1989 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1988 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1987 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1986 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1985 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1984 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1983 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1982 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1981 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1980 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1979 D.J. Foster & D.G. Foster
1978 M. Jensen & R. Hartill
1977 B.J. Youd & D.G. Foster
1976 R. Chalker & P. Windley
1975 L. Bolstad & J. O'Toole
1974 L. Bolstad & D. Lamberton
1973 L. Bolstad & D. Lamberton
1972 L. Bolstad & D. Lamberton
1971 L. Bolstad & D. Lamberton
1970 L. Bolstad & D. Lamberton
1969 E.C. Griggs & L.J. Caldwell
1968 R. Chalker & C. Johnson
1967 R. Chalker & C. Johnson
1966 D. Rattray & C.J. Lavis
1965 E.C. Griggs & M.A. Youd
1964 E.C. Griggs & M.A. Youd
1963 E.C. Griggs & M.A. Youd
1962 E.C. Griggs & L. Griggs
1961 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1960 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1959 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1958 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1957 C.J. Lavis & A.E. Lavis
1956 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1955 C. McIntosh & J. O'Toole
1954 D.M. Rattray & G.W. Rattray
1953 C.J. Lavis & C. Winkel
1952 L.R. Boote & D.G. Eaves
1951 J. McCutheon & M. Youd
1950 R.G. Breton & L.H. Stevens
1949 C. McIntosh & V. Mann
1948 C. McIntosh & V. Mann
1947 T. Kirk & E. Kirk
1941 C. McIntosh & V. Mann
1940 C. McIntosh & V. Mann
1939 T. Kirk & E. Kirk
1938 M.D. Hansson & G.R. Hansson
2023 D. Gurr
2022 D. Gurr
2021 D. Gurr
2019 M. Hewitt
2018 M. Hewitt
2017 M. Hewitt
2016 M. Hewitt
2015 M. Hewitt
2014 M. Hewitt
2013 M. Hewitt
2012 M. Hewitt
2011 M. Hewitt
2010 M. Hewitt
2009 M. Hewitt
2008 M. Hewitt
2007 M. Hewitt
2006 M. Gurr
2005 M. Hewitt
2004 M. Hewitt
2003 M. Gurr
2002 M. Gurr
2001 M. Gurr
2000 M. Gurr
1999 M. Gurr
1998 M. Gurr
1997 M. Gurr
1996 M. Gurr
1995 M. Gurr
1994 M. Gurr
1993 B.J. Youd
1992 M. Gurr
1991 M. Gurr
1990 M. Gurr
1989 B.J. Youd
1988 M. Gurr
1987 M. Gurr
1986 K.R. Hewitt
1985 G. Quigg
1984 B.J. Youd
1983 B.J. Youd
1982 B.J. Youd
1981 G. Quigg
1980 G. Quigg
1979 D.L. Youd
1978 D.L. Youd
1977 B.J. Youd
2023 L.M. O'Toole
2022 B. Meyer
2021 B. Meyer
2019 G. Gillam
2018 L.M. O'Toole
2017 G. Gillam
2016 B. Meyer
2015 J Jordan
2014 L.M. O'Toole
2013 L.M. O'Toole
2012 L.M. O'Toole
2011 D. Coffey
2010 L.M. O'Toole
2009 D. Bolstad
2008 L.M. O'Toole
2007 L.M. O'Toole
2006 D. Bolstad
2005 J. Wynyard
2004 D. Bolstad
2003 L.M. O'Toole
2002 D. Bolstad
2001 D. Bolstad
2000 D.J. Foster
1999 D.J. Foster
1998 L. O'Toole
1997 D. Ryan
1996 D. Bolstad
1995 L. O'Toole
1994 D.J. Foster
1993 D.J. Foster
1992 D.J. Foster
1991 D.J. Foster
1990 D.J. Foster
1989 D.J. Foster
1988 D.J. Foster
1987 D.J. Foster
1986 D.J. Foster
1985 M. Lentz
1984 L. O'Toole
1983 D.J. Foster
1982 G.W. Lovell
1981 G.S. Hewitt
1980 G.W. Lovell
1979 N.K. Baxter
1978 L. O'Toole
1977 J. Alexander
1976 J. Alexander
1975 M. O'Toole
1974 G.L. Hocquard
1973 L.A. Slee
1972 L.A. Slee
1971 G.R. Smith
1970 J.M. Alexander
1969 G.L. Hocquard
1968 J. O'Toole
1967 L.J. Caldwell
1966 L.J. Caldwell
1965 E.C. Griggs
1964 J. O'Toole
1963 J. O'Toole
1962 J. O'Toole
1961 K. Smith
1960 J. O'Toole
1959 C.J. Lavis
1958 J. O'Toole
1957 C.J. Lavis
1956 J. O'Toole
1955 J. O'Toole
1954 J. O'Toole
1953 J. O'Toole
1952 T. Kirk
1951 J. O'Toole
1950 L.H. Tagg
1949 T. Kirk
1948 T. Kirk
1947 G.E. Parker
1941 M. McCarthy
1940 L. Cadwell
1939 C.R. Winkel
1938 M. McCarthy
2023 L.M. O'Toole
2022 J. Adamson
2021 M. Argent
2019 M. Argent
2018 M. Argent
2017 G. Gillam
2016 B. Rees
2015 G. Gillam
2014 A. Lowe
2013 J. Wynyard
2012 A. Lowe
2011 D. Beams
2010 A. Lowe
2009 B. Delosa
2008 D. Staib
2007 J. Wynyard
2006 D. Staib
2005 D. Staib
2004 J. Beckett
2003 D. Bolstad
2002 D. Bolstad
2001 M. Hewitt
2000 D. Bolstad
1999 D.J. Foster
1998 J. Wynyard
1997 J. Wynyard
1996 J. Wynyard
1995 D.J. Foster
1994 D.J. Foster
1993 N. Parker
1992 B. Winkel
1991 B. Winkel
1990 D.J. Foster
1989 B. Winkel
1988 B. Winkel
1987 D.J. Foster
1986 D.J. Foster
1985 D.J. Foster
1984 G.S. Hewitt
1983 D.J. Foster
1982 G.S. Hewitt
1981 G.S. Hewitt
1980 G.W. Lovell
1979 G.W. Lovell
1978 I. Duggan
1977 L. Bolstad
1976 G.R. Smith
1975 G. Hewitt
1974 L. Bolstad
1973 L. Bolstad
1972 N. French
1971 J. O'Toole
1970 G.S. Hewitt
1969 G.L. Hocquard
1968 J. O'Toole
1967 R. Sherriff
1966 J. O'Toole
1965 J. O'Toole
1964 J. O'Toole
1963 D.L. Youd
1962 J. O'Toole
1961 D.L. Youd
1960 D.L. Youd
1959 J. O'Toole
1958 J. O'Toole
1957 J. O'Toole
1956 D.L. Youd
1955 J. O'Toole
1954 T. Kirk
1953 M. Youd
1952 T. Kirk
1951 T. Kirk
1950 T. Kirk
1949 T. Kirk
1948 T. Kirk
1947 J. O'Toole
1941 T. Kirk
1940 T. Kirk
1939 C.R. Winkel
1938 C.R. Winkel
To view all Sydney Royal Woodchopping & Sawing Competition results please click on the button on the right hand side of the page.
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Newington - local regular bus service (approx. 5 minutes from the Showground)
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Wentworth Point - local regular bus service (approx. 5 minutes from the Showground)
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