Sharp for world-class event

POWERHOUSE: Bob Williams (left, Masterton) combines with Grant Fawcett in a two-handed saw demonstration

The quality of wood chopping and sawing at the Wairarapa A&P Show at Clareville on November 1-2 will reach world class standards.

A bold statement to make but how can it be anything else when you consider the calibre of the fields which will be lining up there.

The two full days of competition has drawn entries from Auckland, Thames, Rotorua, Taranaki, Manawatu-Rangitikei, Otaki, Upper Hutt and Masterton.

All three of the woodchoppers included in the New Zealand team to compete at the world championships in Austria next month, Jason Wynyard (Auckland), Kyle Lemon (Rotorua) and Mook Hohneck (Rotorua), will be attending a training camp in Masterton on October 31 and will then compete at Clareville over the next two days.

New Zealand have a proud record to defend in Austria, having won the world title three times in the past four years, including 2013.

They were, however, beaten a couple of years back by Australia and, of the 30 nations taking part, they will probably offer the most formidable opposition again.

Wynyard is, of course, a household name in chopping circles, having a number of world titles to his credit, but while he and his two Kiwi teammates will be expected to feature prominently in the major placings, they certainly won't have everything their own way.

Among their rivals will be another to taste success at the world champs in Shane Jordan, Otaki guns Pat Barrett and Hayden Rasmussen and members of the New Zealand under-21 team who recently competed in Australia, including Masterton's Tawhi Lackner and Quintin Fawcett.

They both looked in top shape when strutting their stuff during a Mitre 10 promotion last weekend.

Making up the New Zealand team for the 2014 worlds is Masterton sawyer Faavae Sefo, who won the world single saw title a couple of years ago.

Sefo snapped a tricep muscle back in April and has been working hard ever since then to get back to full fitness but is confident the rehab process will have him back to peak fitness for the trip to Austria.

"It's been a bit of a battle but it (the injury) is coming along well," he said.

"I've been training pretty hard lately and everything seems to be holding together."

Sefo said the quality of the fields at Clareville would make it one of the best chopping and sawing meets ever held in the Wairarapa ... or anywhere else for that matter.

"The two days are going to be something special, it will be right up there with what you'd get at the worlds," he said.