A cut above at chopping comp

WITH the return of the Ballarat Times News Group 2022 Ballarat Show, comes a sharp, traditional offering.

Woodchopping competitions will be part of the Ballarat Show between Friday, 11 and Sunday, 13 November.

Matthew Coffey is a long-time woodchopping competitor aiming to be a cut above. He said there’s a range of comps attendees will enjoy.

“We’ve got the boys handicap, which is all the real young fellas, then the under-18s championships, which is the best in the state,” he said.

“We’ve got the handicaps, with three divisions ranging from lower to top-of-the-line in Victoria, divisional standing blocks, as well as underhand.

“The championship will be first division and… the prime event before the Royal Sydney Show in April. I’ll be competing in all the events I can… as well as the butcher’s block, and the 15-inch under-18s championship.”

Returning for the first time since 2015 is tree-chopping, where contestants chop a log from three metres high, and new additions include the divisional system, and 15-inch underhand.

Event organiser Jackie Kalogerakis said woodchopping is in the Show’s DNA, with 10 competitions set for Saturday, and a training demonstration on Sunday.

“It always draws an amazing crowd. There’s woodchoppers from all over Australia that come along to compete in this,” she said.

“It’s a very traditional competition and has great entertainment value, but it also provides an amazing competition for the men and women that love to get involved in the sport.”

For more information and entries call David Coffey on 0448 671 483.