Special event proves a big winner for woodchopping

TEAM EFFORT: Sam Betteridge, Upper Hutt and Amanda Rice, Australia, saw off against Brendan Bellamy, Marton, and Tania Candy, Masterton, at the start of the relay event.

It was a win-win situation for everyone involved in a special woodchopping day hosted by Wairarapa Services and Citizens Club in the Essex Street carpark on Saturday.

The special invitation competition and display gave woodchoppers from throughout the country an opportunity to hone their skills prior to the start of the show circuit woodchopping events and the club, by combining the day with a club open day, signed up some new members.

Club manager Kerry Hannah said the day had gone "extremely well".

Even the weather gods supported the event with a rare good day tucked in between rough weather.

About 70 people were in the club at any one time and the chopping went so smoothly that the planned 10am to 4pm event was finished by 2pm.

Mr Hannah said the special guest of the day, Paddy Rice, who is not in the best of health, was thrilled with the way the day had panned out.

"He and his wife Liz were very impressed and we were so pleased with the day we are thinking about making it an annual event in years to come," Mr Hannah said.

During the day Tui Breweries came to the party with "liquid sponsorship" and Mr Rice, a fervent supporter of woodchopping, donated an axe set to a young woodchopper.