CHOPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 304, 19 December 1908, Page 6

CHOPPING.

THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP. PRETTY ON HIS CHANCES. (By Telegraph,—Special to "News ''),. Hamilton, Friday. A special representative interviewed Dave Pretty (who contests tlie world's championship chopping at Eltham carnival on Boxing Day) at his home it Kirikiriroa, last evening. He found the great axeman ready for a preliminary canter at the two-foot log, which is the championship size. Tlie trial wis most successful, the block falling in three minutes eighteen and one-fifth seconds, Pretty finishing freshly. This is the first lime Pretty ever trained for an event in the whole of his successful career, and even then only started yesterday. Asked us to his form, he said lie never felt better than at present, lie sealed Hist 21b, but expected to be down to lost 81b by the day of the event. Asked as to his chances of securing the championship of the world, Pretty said he was out to win. "Tonight's trial," lie said, "proved that i am in my old form, and you must remember 1 have just started training. I have never chopped since winning the New Zealand championship and putting up tlie world's record time with 2ft block in 1!)00 at Eltham. I am confident that, taking all things into consideration, that if Miley (who is the Australian champion) wauls to win he must cut out in 3.31) to carry off the honor. For my part, lam out to win and judging by to-night's effort I am convinced I will carry the day. Anyway, if Miley cuts out first i will immediately challenge him to chop with [licked timber, which, after all. is the fairest test. My time in 100(1 was 3inin 3-1 2-ssec, and then 1 did not exert myself." Asked as to what he thought of Miley, Pretty said Blanc was the best of the Australians. Miley had beaten him, but he (Pretty) had challenged Blanc for lain, ISiu and 20in blocks for £IOO to £3OO, but the Australian did not produce the money. After all, money talked. With regard to the New Zealand Cup I2in log, Pretty remarked that was his first flutter.' That size seemed to him like chopping a candle after tlie 2ft logs, but he could do it under 20sec, which was good enough in a lOOsov. event, He said it was the first time lie had tackled an ISin log, and reckoned all had a fair chance, but. he would win if lie could, although lie reckoned it might be anyone's, as he might strike a knotty log, "and it's all in the wood," lie added. Quinn, Pretty's trainer, says lie as confident his charge will pull off the world's championship, although he deplores the fact that he did not start training earlier. (Pretty, who stands Oft Oin in his socks, is of solid muscle and swings an axe evenly a nd gracefully, although he says that he requires a high standing block to give him perfect ease on account of his height. He expects to leave for Eltham on Tuesday. He, considers 'his strength is a, great thing, and intends to go in for rowing afterwards, lie added, when saying good-bye to his interviewer: "Arnst is a big, strong man, and there is no reason why 1 should not do as well in a boat as lie, Anyway, I will give it a go, but I must annex .tlie world's championship chopping first."