World champs in Raetihi?

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 November 1992, Page 10

World champs in Raetihi?

Raetihi celebrates its centenary next year and to mark the occasion longtime residents have put pen to paper to produce brief histories of the town 'as they see it\ Believe it or not - Yes.

The story of Wood chopping in the District. There is reason to believe that wood chopping contests may have been held in Raetihi prior to 1908. However confirmation of this has possibly been lost in the mists of history. There are records that next door, the first of famous Rangataua Axemen's Carnivals was held in 1910. Following the 'Great War' a group of Raetihi personnel felt the local environment could support a major annual axemen's carnival. The Raetihi Caledonian Society had held minor sports days with reasonable support. These sports were to be the medium for launching an axemens' carnival of national importance. Tom Shout and Bert Cummings had negotiated with the controlling bodies of the sport for permission to stage prestigious events. With an unbelievable stroke of luck (plus some good string pulling) Raetihi was granted permission to hold the World Championships of 1922. Staged on Wellington Anniversary Weekend not a great deal of information remains about the carnival. Local newspaper files have since been lost by fire. In addition official Caledonian Society records of the sports were destroyed a few years later when the Society was wound-up. However, a programme of events can still be viewed in the Raetihi Museum although it is known that prizemoney was increased to that advertised. Other information that has come to light, indicates that the championship meeting did not have a large number of competitors but the quality was superb. Eight events were held including three World Championships. Several local axemen and sawyers took part in the supporting handicap events. The 2-ft Standing World Championship saw the great Dave Pretty take the title for the fifth time for which he received £40. A big prize in those days. The large 'Raetihi Caledonian Cup' awarded to Pretty for his win is now in Trentham with family desendants. Second was Jack Larkin who had been placed third

in this event in 1915. Larkin retumed to Raetihi in the 1950's as a sideshow operator. Third to Pretty and Larkin was the ex-Australian champion Bill Peck who himself had won the World title in 1913. Jack Neal the winner of the World 2ft doublehand sawing championship in 1921 with W Gregory, retained his share of the title with a new partner in Ted Torry from Taihape. They also won the handicap event at Raetihi. Second in the championship were the local West brothers Tom and George. Tom had chopped second to Pretty in the World standing championship away back in 1910. Volzke and 'partner' from Taranaki were third at Raetihi. World title The 2-ft single-handed sawing World title was retained by Sam Woodward. J Neal as in the previous year again filled second place. Volzke was third. According to a committee member, the late Tom Shot, money was raised among local bush and mill workers to sponsor the 15-inch standing handicap chop to the tune of £200. Of this £160 was allotted to first-prizemoney. To take this prize home was one of the Volzke brothers. Second in this 'Big Chop' was Ailie Hitchens with the evergreen Johnnie Richardson filling third place. Richardson was one of New Zealand's great axemen of all time. The 16-inch underhand handicap was won by A Herkt from Mat Williams and Larkin. In this event Larkin 's time broke the New Zealand record but with only two official time-keepers the performance could not be considered for record purposes. Williams won the Rangataua Cup in 1926. The third handicap event a 14-inch standing was won by Ted Dickinson (Mangaweka). Woodward and a local, W Heaney, filled the minor placings. The Raetihi promotion didn't receive widespread publicity but for the sport as it tumed out, a major milestone was passed. The 2-ft standing World event was to go down in history as being the last time this title was ever contested for in New Zealand. The event Turn to page 1 1

Woodchoppers

From page 10 had first been held in Tasmania in 1891 and had been contested for every year since with the exception of 1916-19. Of the twenty-seven titles Pretty and the great Australian Tom Pettit won eight times between them. Except for about three occasions during the next thirty years, the prestigious World Championships were contested for overseas, mainly in Tasmania. After staging less than six further fairly minor carnivals the Raetihi Caledonian Society was wound-up. Left over funds were used for the beautification of the Recreation Ground and possibly providing some of the children's amusement apparatus. In 1956 a reunion was held in conjunction with the Raetihi Athletic Sports of those who had competed at the World Championship Carnival. Among those present were J Neal, J Larkin, E Torry, M Williams, G West and Wand G Warner. Chopping continued to be held during the 1920's in the Raetihi area. Ruatiti Sports drew axemen from a wide area. The Waimarino Show was another promoter. It was during this time that Tom West lived in the district. He is considered to have been one of the greatest axemen of the period. Tom also represented King Country at rugby. Brother George farmed for most of his life in the Ruatiti. The World Championships returned to New Zealand in 1926 and were held at the Dunedin Exhibition. Third in the 2-ft World double-handed sawing championship were R Neilson and R Newman from Horopito. Newman had partnered S Woodward the previous year to win the title. Other locals to perform particularly well around that time were Tom Dobson, W Heaney, C Parks, P Curtis, A Flaherty, J Dobbs and W Zohs. However, it was in the late 1940's and early 1950's that chopping re-

ally boomed in the Waimarino area. This was certainly brought about by the organising abilities of such men as Norm and Albert Scarrow, George and Walter Warner, Bill Dempsey and 'Curly' Eades (Rangataua). It was Walter Warner who invented the relay chop, today so popular throughout the world with the viewing spectators. The first exhibition of this event was given at the Show Grounds in the early 1940's. Two of the team members were Walter himself and Eric Lovell (Pokaka). There are some doubts as to who the third member was, W Dempsey, J Marriner or A Timmo. Jimmy Haitana, Arthur Warner and Alf Timmo won the New Zealand relay title in 1952. Various combinations of these three plus Harry Haitana and Claude Hancox won the North Island title on several occasions. Jimmy and Alf also won individual National titles. Top locals Other prominent local competitiors who competed around this period were Les Bolstad (senior), Tom Parker, Ross Martin, Bill West (junior), Charlie Rawiri, Joe Thompson, Bill T apaw ai, Gus Voelkerling, Vic Meyer, Jim Howard and W Baker. During this era, thousands of blocks were used in training and competition Kawaka blocks came from Horopito. Local farmers provided Lombardy poplar. However the most popular timber was kaikomako colloquially called wiri by axemen. Littlewood's farm on the Parapara Road is conser-

vatively estimated to have provided over one thousand of these blocks. More came from Mangaeturoa (Fordell Mill bush) and Pukekaha (Western Pokaka/Erua bushes). International Among the competitiors in latter years were the Scarrow brothers Eric, Allan and Ron, Jack Timmo and the late 'Sonny* Bolstad. Sonny was born in Raetihi and started his sporting career in the district. He went on to become one of the worlds greatest axemen. He won many world championships and international events in Australia and Canada as well as New Zealand. He won far more New Zealand titles than any other axeman: approximately 66. He tragically lost his life in a logging accident in 1987. His grand-parents were original settlers in the Ruatiti district. A & P end By the early 1960's those who had supported the sport so much during the previous 20 years had moved on or retired. No young axemen were coming on. Interest waned as district sports meetings ceased to be held. When the Waimarino A & P Show dropped chopping from its programme it was the final nail in the coffin. Important part Nevertheless, Raetihi had certainly played an important part in the history of the sport. Some of the worlds very best have competed in Raetihi, and over the years the district has also produced its own crop of top axemen and sawyers.