A chopping carnival, hosted by the Southern Tasmanian Axemen’s Association, was again be a major drawcard at the 2008 festival. 

In 2005, the association held a chopping exhibition at the festival, but due to popular demand, they held their first competition carnival in 2006.  With over 10 chopping events scheduled for the day, including a club championship, the carnival attracted some of the best axemen the sport has to offer.

The Southern Tasmanian Axemen’s Association and the Tasmanian Forest Festival committee installed eight permanent bases to allow chopping dummies to be bolted securely into the ground to provide ideal conditions for the choppers. 

With the assistance of local businesses J Phillips and Mals Excavations and a donation from Hazell Brothers of the concrete, installation of the bases occurred just a few weeks prior to the 2006 event by local representatives of the Association.   

With the installation of these bases, Heritage Park will now open other opportunities for the axemen to run further events in the park in the future.

Events scheduled for the day include, but not limited to;

·        250mm Novice Handicap

·        250mm Standing Handicap

·        300mm Standing Handicap

·        300mm Underhand Handicap

·        250mm Golden Years

·        450mm Double Handed Sawing Handicap

·        375mm Jack and Jill Sawing Handicap

·        375mm Coach and Nobice Sawing Handicap

·        Restricted Boys Chop

·        300mm Hardhitting club championship

Events commence around 10am and further information can be obtained by contacting the Associations secretary, Mrs Sheila Rumley on
6249 3485.

PHOTO: HUON VALLEY NEWS