16 January 2019

Woodchoppers back on the block at this year's Show

| Ian Bushnell
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You can expect a full day of this at the Show this year. Photo: George Tsotsos.

The chips are going to fly again at next month’s Royal Canberra Show, with the popular woodchopping event returning after being axed last year due to cost savings.

Organisers say the axemen and women will be back due to overwhelming community feedback that it would not be the Show without the woodchopping.

The event fell to cost-cutting last year and was the hardest decision Royal National Capital Agricultural Society president Michael Kennedy ever had to make.

Woodchopping cost $30,000 to $40,000 to stage at the Show, including prize money.

But Canberra Show CEO, Athol Chalmers said the message from the community was loud and clear. “And we have done it – woodchopping is back,” he said, promising a full day of competition.

Mr Chalmers, and head of woodchopping Andrew Wiseman, made the announcement at an event at EPIC which featured an exhibition woodchopping race.

The race was made up of a junior, a woman and three men, and included two standing blocks and three underhand, demonstrating some of the events to be contested at this year’s Show.

“We are really excited and enthusiastic to have woodchopping back at the Canberra Show and encourage everyone to come along on Saturday 23 February and see the axemen and axewomen in full competition,” Mr Wiseman said.

Events will include junior woodchopping, ladies cross cut sawing and chopping as well as open and championship woodchopping and sawing, and is expected to attract a strong field of competitors from across Australia.

Mr Wiseman said the return of woodchopping to the Canberra Show had been made possible by generous support from several local businesses and individuals as well as ongoing support from long-term sponsors.

This is the fourth major announcement made by the Canberra Show after already announcing parking prices will be halved from $10 to $5 and money raised will go to the local Country Women’s Association, tickets prices will be up to 40 per cent cheaper (online) and a major new community-based initiative, Canberra on Show.

“Bringing back the iconic sport of woodchopping to the Show, fits 100 per cent with community feedback that we need to make the Show more accessible, deliver the traditional Show staples such as woodchopping, rides and showbags, involve the Canberra community, look to the future with innovation and technology and make available a wider range of food and beverage offerings,” Mr Chalmers said.

The 2019 ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show will be held on 22-24 February. Woodchopping will take place on 23 February from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Canberra Show 2019 tickets are available at www.canberrashow.org.au.

 

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How much wood would a woodchopper chop?

Hi John,

Yes, that is correct. There will be one full day of woodchopping and sawing on Saturday 23 February. We have worked hard to get woodchopping back. Hopefully we can extend in 2020. Hope to see you at the show!!!

But they’re only having it for one day – the Saturday. Not the whole 3 days like they used to.

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