Hours of training and blade sharpening will be put to the test when a field of 70 axemen from all over Australia and the world slog it out at the nation’s richest handicap woodchopping event, the Eric Reece Memorial Tasmanian Government Thousands, to be held at the Launceston showgrounds wood chopping arena, Invermay on Saturday, January 6.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The $10,000 prize was won last year by Mark Hillman, from Carrick, who in just his second year of chopping proved too strong for a high calibre field.
The Tasmanian Government Thousands Woodchopping Carnival is in its 57th year and has been sponsored by the State Government since its inception in 1962.
There have been 55 winners of the Thousands, with Dale Beams being the only person to win it more than once, the first time being in 1985 from near the front of the field, then as a backmarker in 2008.
In the family-orientated sport there have been several father and son combinations who have won the Thousands:
David Rowe and his son Nathan were the first and then later Dale Beams and both his sons Zack and Daniel.
Brothers have also won - Gerald and Kelly Oakley and Luke and Daniel Gurr.
Grandfather Vernie Nicholas and his grandson Joshua Adamson are also both on the winners’ list.
Northern Tasmanian Axemens Association secretary Amanda Beams said that the excitement and momentum builds throughout the day as the heats of the Thousands progress towards the final.
“Competitors all have the opportunity to cut a slightly smaller log being the 250mm Standing Block Handicap, which gives them the chance to try their axes in the wood and determine which one they may use for the next one, being the big one.”
The axemen have to cope with the fatigue, pressure and endurance required to take home the prize and join that exclusive club
- Amanda Beams
The program starts at 10am at Invermay (Thousands final at 3pm) and entry for spectators is free.
Also on the program is the The Harry Mulcahy Tasmanian 375mm standing championship, a 250mm Standing Handicap and the 275mm Don Langdon Junior Underhand Championship.
- Related article: Stan Sainty to chop in 50th Thousands carnival