Maori giant takes his third STIHL® Timbersports® World Championship

What Tiger Woods was to golf, Michael Schumacher to Formula One, and Roger Federer to tennis, 37-year old Jason Wynyard of New Zealand certainly is in the world of competitive wood chopping. The Maori has just won his third consecutive World title at the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship held in the Netherlands city of Roermond earlier this month.

The highlight and culmination of the world's busy STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series year, thousands of spectators flocked to the World Championship's bustling waterfront setting for a weekend of top quality competition under fittingly warm skies. 

Over 100 athletes from 22 countries took part in the event; the individual World Championship determined on the opening day and World Nation's Cup team event bringing the action to a thrilling climax.

In the World Championship event, 22 national champions battled for honours in a demonstration of top class lumberjack skill. And victory for the third straight time went to the giant from New Zealand: Jason Wynyard. The Maori, who stands nearly 2 metres tall and weighs 130kg, is a professional in the sport, and once again made his mark with an unbeatable combination of power and skill. 

Whilst Wynyard's third win is a clear sign of his dominance, the battle for places was neither predictable nor clear cut. And history was somewhat over-turned this year, with the Europeans making a clean sweep of places over long-standing professionals from the USA and Antipodes. Switzerland's Christophe Geissler took a sensational second place, followed by Martin Komarek of the Czech Republic in third and Germany's Dirk Braun in fourth. Great Britain's own Champion athlete, Spike Milton, battled hard, long and strong, coming an impressive 7th behind the Australian, Brad Delosa and Arden Cogar from the United States; placing him fourth among the Europeans.

Day Two of the Championship event, and the crowds returned to see over eighty international competitors from 21 teams battle for the coveted title of the World Nation's Cup. And unlike in the individual Championship, where the Europeans had been very strong, it was athletes from across the oceans who dominated the relay-style team event. In a nail-biting (and record-breaking) conclusion to the weekend, the Australians beat reigning New Zealand champions into second by the narrowest of margins; the USA team took third and Canada came in fourth. Showing just how tight the margin was, the Australians won the final head-to-head challenge in just 45.85 seconds – setting a new World Record, but finishing only 1.18 seconds ahead of their New Zealand rivals.  

The Great British team, made up of our top TIMBERSPORTS® competitors : Spike Milton (Captain), Rob Chatley, Andrew Evans, Bill Huaki and Andy Wilkinson (Reserve), progressed strongly through the tough early rounds, and were only beaten in the quarter final stage by the New Zealand team – finishing a credible eighth overall.  

For more on the 2011 World Championship including more detailed reports from the individual and team events, visit the "Entertainment" area and browse the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® News.