Axemen's revival planned

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 436, 12 May 1992, Page 2

Axemen's revival planned

BY

R.I.

C.

A group of Raetihi axemen are hoping to revive the sport of wood chopping in the area. Mike Chaytor is organising an open day,

on a date as yet to be set, which is to be a family day, to be held at his residence, 47 Queen Street Raetihi. A bar-be-cue is to be held and children are welcome to come along with Mum and Dad. If enough interest is shown, an axemens' club will be formed. "If you don't have an

axe, don't be put off, as axes will be available for you to use," said Mike. "Also there will be experienced axemen to show you how easy it is." Woodchopping was a very popular sport a few years ago in the area, and Raetihi had a strong axemens' club. At the

A.&P. show, the chopping was a drawcard. Chopping meetings were held at a number of venues close to Raetihi and nearly every weekend there would be a meeting somewhere. Some of the choppers who belonged to the Raetihi club were the late Arthur Wamer, Jim Haitana and Alf Timmo

who were the NZ winners of the 1952 relay chop. Also the late Sonny Bolstad, who was a New Zealand and world champion axeman, The logs, supplied for this open day by Winstones and peeled by Bonky Vaughan, are to be transported to the venue by McCarthy Transport.