AXEMEN – and women – from throughout the state put on an impressive show of strength and technique at the Rheola Charity Carnival on Easter Monday.
While numbers were limited because many elite axemen were in Sydney for the Royal Easter Show competition, entrants fought out 10 categories ranging from the novice underhand handicap to the Ken Sutton Memorial Underhand Championship.
Gippsland’s Clayton Draper was the star of the day, taking out the main contest as well as other events.
Entrants ranged from teenagers to 86-year-old Doug Hansford from Castlemaine, who took out the veterans’ underhand event.
Dick Johnson, 79, took part in the veterans’ chop, as well as sharing the master of ceremonies role. 
He has been coming to Rheola for 40 years. “It’s a lovely day - a really friendly country show.”
However, Johnson said finding younger people to try the sport was becoming increasingly hard.
“We have the under 18s, but there are only two today,” he said.
“There are not many novices any more, so we’ve created different divisions so they can all have a bit of success.”
The logs were donated by Wimmera Axeman’s Association president David Coffey and his wife Sue, who also provided the memorial trophy for the main event.
And the entrants managed to create some nice firewood as well, with four metres of quality messmate selling for a bargain $200 at the end of competition.
- GARY WALSH