Doncaster’s Laurence O’Toole keeps Australia at cutting edge of the woodchop

LAURENCE O’Toole represents the next generation of a famous Australian sporting clan that made its name with the woodchop on World of Sport.

Laurence O'Toole from Doncaster is a member of the Australian Timbersports team. Laurence is heading off to represent Australia at the Timbersports World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria in early November (the World Championships take place on 14 & 15th November).

NOW a feature of city and country shows, woodchopping was once part of the weekly sporting fixture for Melburnians.

Every Sunday morning during the 1960-70s on the Seven Network’s World of Sport, the nation’s premier axe handlers would display their strength and skills after the famous cry of “Axemen, ready, go’’.

It wouldn’t have been a woodchop event without a member of the O’Toole family, who are to woodchop what the Chappells are to cricket.

The popular show is no longer on air but an O’Toole is still making his mark in both the woodchop and fringe sport of Timbersports.

Laurence O’Toole, 33, of Doncaster, has followed in the daunting footsteps of his woodchop world champion grandfather and father by also being named world no. 1 seven times and intends on winning more world titles.

“I want to go well into double figures,” he said.

O’Toole has just finished a gruelling 50 days of competition across the nation.

He will have little time to catch his breath before flying to Innsbruck, Austria for the Stihl Timbersports World Championships on November 14-15.

More than 100 athletes representing 20-plus nations will compete in team and individual competitions.