FENCE POST CUTTING & SPLITTING
A sensational team competition of speed, accuracy and skill you have to see to believe!
Cutting & Splitting!
Saturday 27th March 2010
5:00 pm to 7:00pm
In the Woodchop Ring, situated adjacent to the Show Administration Building (Curley Road entrance).
Working with chain saws, wedges, sledge-hammers and axes, competitors work in tandem to cut and then split 1.9 meter long timber billets within the shortest time possible. A 1998 Stroud Show record of cutting 8 posts in an incredible 1 minute 58 seconds is still held by Dungog dairy farmer, Rodney Barnes.
This year there will be two rounds of time based individual competitions and one round of team events which are made up of four teams comprising of two competitors, the first saws and the second splits. One member must complete the sawing to cut the billets before the second member can take over to split the billets and finish. Each competitor indicates completion of the billet by raising both hands above his/her head. Competitors’ times are recorded and totaled to decide the final placing.
Immediately prior to the events, a period of two minutes is allocated for saw warm up. The competition is a hot start, that is, with saws operating.
Timber billets are allocated by ballot. They are of a straight grain and as even as possible. Each billet is of a size to allow the cutting of eight normal fence posts with a head measuring 150mm x 100mm. Before the competition commences, each billet is chalk marked 100mm from the outside surface at each end.
The timber billets are cut from the same tree, or similar trees, on the same day from trees growing in the area.
For safety all competitors must wear approved eye and ear protection, a helmet and cut-proof trousers.
Competitors are permitted to use:
A chain saw, fitted with an operating chain brake, with all safety features of the saw working.
Steel wedges
A sledge-hammer and axe
A crow-bar or log roller. Chocks can be used to keep the billet steady.
If you love skill, speed and precision Fence Post Cutting & Splitting is a must see!
Entry fee is $10 per entry ($5 per team member in two person team events)
All Entrants MUST complete an Indemnity Form prior to competing which can be obtain from the Show Office on 02 4961 2085.