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Axes will be swinging at lightning speed in Puhoi again in January, when the annual woodchopping carnival is held in the grounds of the historic Puhoi Pub.
More than 20 classes in 14 separate events will take place from 9am on Saturday, January 13, including the ever-popular Jigger Board, where competitors cut their way down from the top of a ‘tree’, and an Axe Throw.
Puhoi Axemen’s Club secretary John Sanderson says he is hoping a highlight will be an appearance by Nick Fredericksen, who completes literally single-handed after losing an arm in a farm accident when he was eight years old. However, he had yet to definitely confirm as Mahurangi Matters went to press.
“We’ve got three competitors from Australia, a group coming up from Taranaki and a good selection of young guys coming through,” John says. “We’ll have ages ranging from 14 through to 70-plus.”
Puhoi has had a woodchopping group of some kind for decades, according to John, and the Axemen’s Club itself was established in 1962. There are currently 12 regular competing axemen, a juniors group of six boys, plus four or five men who compete “every now and again”.
“We’ve got members from Kaipara Flats, Ahuroa, Woodcocks, Wellsford and Whangaparaoa,” he says.
“It’s good to see the juniors coming through. A few of them are sons of men who are already chopping and some are friends of friends who’ve heard about what we do and want to give it a try.”
He says the Puhoi carnival is always a hit with both competitors and spectators, thanks to its location in the grassed amphitheatre-style arena below the pub.
“As long as the weather is good, we’ll have a great day,” he says. “It can get a bit wet down there in front of the pub if it’s been raining.”
How many blocks can a wood club chop?
The Puhoi Axemen sawing and shifting their latest haul of wood.
It takes a stand of at least 20 pine trees to source all the blocks needed for the annual Puhoi Woodchopping Carnival, according to Axemen’s Club secretary John Sanderson.
That amount is needed to ensure they can find enough smooth, top quality blocks that will cut easily, something which both competitors and spectators appreciate.
All the wood is sourced locally, donated to the club when a sub-division is being made, for instance, or trees felled for the new motorway.
“We want to make sure we present good wood to the axemen who have travelled a long way to come to our carnival,” John says. “If you can do that, it keeps guys coming back again.”
Woodchopping classes (and 1st Prize)
Underhand 275mm ($100)
Single Hand Sawing 350mm ($50)
Standing 250mm ($100)
Double Hand Sawing ($100)
Championship Standing 325mm ($200)
Axe Throw ($40)
Novice Underhand 275mm (-)
Jigger Board Open 275mm ($100)
Standing Open 300mm ($200)
Underhand Open 325mm ($200)
Jack & Jill Sawing 400mm ($100)
Championship Underhand 325mm ($200)
Boys Underhand Chop 275mm (TBA)
Teams Race – Puhoi v Visitors (-)
