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Lumberjacks battle for Euro title | Lumberjacks battle for Euro title |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Thirty lumberjacks are in Staffordshire for a contest which will give the winner the right to be named the best in Europe. | Thirty lumberjacks are in Staffordshire for a contest which will give the winner the right to be named the best in Europe. |
Climbing trees and using axes, saws and chainsaws to cut logs will be part of the test. | Climbing trees and using axes, saws and chainsaws to cut logs will be part of the test. |
But, unlike Monty Python's Lumberjack song, flower-pressing, tree-leaping and transvestism do not feature. | But, unlike Monty Python's Lumberjack song, flower-pressing, tree-leaping and transvestism do not feature. |
The event takes place at the three-day International Forestry Machinery Exhibition in Cannock Chase. | The event takes place at the three-day International Forestry Machinery Exhibition in Cannock Chase. |
Competitors from six countries have entered while a team competition will be held on Saturday.Men have to climb up 90ft poles in the competition | |
Dave Sands, secretary of the British Lumberjack Sports Association, said: "We're going to have guys cutting 13 in logs today with axes quicker than most commercial guys can do with chainsaws. | Dave Sands, secretary of the British Lumberjack Sports Association, said: "We're going to have guys cutting 13 in logs today with axes quicker than most commercial guys can do with chainsaws. |
"We've got the top guys from around the world practising their axe skills. | |
"It's really sporty and they take it really seriously. | |
"They will be axe racing and climbing up 90ft poles. What they do is very skilful." | |
Ian Millward, form the International Forestry Machinery Exhibition, said every tree they fell during the event will be replaced in winter. | |
"Trees are the original renewable resource," he said. | |
The tree and wood industry is worth £8.1bn a year to the UK economy, employing 140,000 people he added. |