Axemen competitors vie to make the fastest cut

Simon Bond, of Otautau, readies his saw for a heat of the handicapped cross-cut saw race at the axemen competition in Cromwell yesterday. Originally from Wales, and having just obtained residency this year in New Zealand, he holds a UK record for this discipline. Photos: Gregor Richardson

Chips and dust flew in Cromwell yesterday afternoon as the Southland and Otago Axemen’s Christmas circuit got under way.

UK record holder Simon Bond, now living in Otautau, said there would be an event in a different town every day until the finale at the Tuatapere sports day on New Year’s Day.

Axewomen compete in the underhand competition.

Mr Bond, who was granted New Zealand residency last year, holds the British speed record in the single saw cross cut with a time of 13.52 seconds which he set in 2016.

Originally from St Asaph, in Wales, Mr Bond said the record was set cutting a 19-inch (48cm) European white pine log which was ‘‘way softer’’ than the logs he was slicing through in Cromwell.

Hokitika’s Kayla Molloy-Jensen assists her husband, Tony, in a cross-cut saw race.

Starting with an 11-second handicap made it hard for Mr Bond in the early stages of yesterday’s events as his competitors were almost done by the time he made his first cut.

However, there was a championship event he had his eye on when the circuit reached Gore. Everyone would have the same start in the heats and the final would be between the fastest four, he said.