David Foster out of retirement for world series
Champion axeman David Foster is making a swinging comeback ... but he won’t be alone...
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TASMANIA’S king of woodchopping David Foster will come out of retirement for this year’s Christmas Carnivals series.
Foster will compete with his daughter Janelle in the Jack and Jill sawing world title at Burnie, one of four world championship events being held in the days ahead.
“I’m making a bit of a comeback,” said Foster, who is the most successful competitor in the history of the sport of woodchopping.
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The Tasmanian tradition of woodchopping, which goes back almost 150 years, will be showcased across the holiday period in Rosebery, Launceston, Latrobe and Burnie.
Foster and his daughter won the Jack and Jill title at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney many years in a row, up until 2012 – when they last competed together.
The multiple world champion will only compete in the one event, with most of his time spent running the series as president of the Tasmanian Axemen’s Association.
He said woodchopping was growing in interest among women, which would help ensure the tradition survived well into the future.
“We’ve changed the format so we are getting more and more ladies involved in the sport these days,” he said.
Foster said the broadening interest meant more families were becoming involved in the sport, which had even branched out into junior events for boys and girls as young as nine.
He said the tradition was gearing up for the 150th anniversary of world woodchopping in 2020.
“Woodchopping has a strong heritage in Tasmania … and the events are still going strong,” he said.
Foster said the Women’s Underhand World Championships in Launceston, being held this coming Thursday, would showcase the up-and-coming female talent.
This year’s Christmas series will also include the Underhand Elimination World Championship in Latrobe on Friday and the Standing Block World Championship and Jack and Jill Sawing World Championship in Burnie on January 1.
The series kicked off yesterday in Rosebery, when axemen tackled the largest block cut in Tasmanian woodchopping – the 400mm title.
Reigning Tasmanian champion Kody Steers managed an unprecedented sixth straight Tasmanian 400mm underhand title, beating a 20-year record previously held by Foster. Steers’ time was 38.63 seconds, breaking Foster’s old record of 40.04 seconds set in 1988.
Tasmanian Christmas Carnival program
Wednesday, December 26: Westbury Criterium (4:30pm start)
Thursday, December 27: Launceston Indoor Carnival
Friday, December 28: Latrobe Carnival
Saturday, December 29: Devonport Carnival
Sunday, December 30: Ulverstone Criterium (12:30pm start)
Monday, December 31: Burnie Criterium (5:30pm)
Tuesday, January 1: Burnie Carnival
Sunday, January 6: Hobart Carnival
Saturday, January 19: St Helens Carnival
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