Log chopping, hotsaw and chainsaw racing coming to Deanmill on weekend

The Log Chop and Hotsaw Competition will return to the Deanmill Workers Club on November 2, featuring popular categories and a new racing category. The returning categories include underhand chopping, standard block chopping, butchers block and novice competitions, while two chainsaw racing competitions will make their debut. The chainsaw competitors will be divided into categories of chainsaws 140cc and less, and chainsaws 100cc and less. The aim is to be the quickest to chop three parts off a log. Last year’s 250mm standing block champion and log chop committee member Luke Giblett said the log chop was significant in Deanmill, given the town’s history as a timber town. “The reason the log chop is really important is because it’s a heritage sport and it’s been around for 140-odd years,” he said. “It was first originated in Tasmania, when two bushmen put a week’s wage on who could cut a tree the quickest and that’s where it began. “We’re in a timber town and the heritage of it is really important.” He said the event had grown since he began his competitive log-chopping career 12 years ago in Deanmill and said the organisers had gone “above and beyond” with the event since. “Deanmill was my first ever competitive log chop, when I started log chopping 12 years ago,” Giblett said. “It’s gotten huge and it’s one of the most unique sports, and Deanmill is all about the chopping community, because that’s what’s based out there. “They’ve got an arena out there and done such an awesome job of going above and beyond and cleaning it up and making it feel welcoming. “They’ve brought heaps of axemen from across the State for this event over the years.”