The woodchopping finals always provide a rush of excitement and adrenaline for fans and competitors alike. However for one family it was more of a connection to their family history, after father and son took our first and fourth place respectively. This happened 40 years after their family originally won the event.
Tree Felling is a fascinating and exciting event in the woodchopping showcase of events. Competitors are tasked with creating ‘notches’ in the side of a vertical log, placing boards in the notches to get higher before chopping a designated block of wood on top of the log. It’s a case of balancing brute strength and agility.
For one family however, this event seems to run in their genes. Mitchell Hewitt was the ultimate winner of the 325mm Tree Felling event at the Royal Easter Show this year, ending the reign of five-time winner and reigning champion Daniel Gurr (who finished in third). Mitchell’s son, Jake Hewitt, made his first appearance in the final of the event this year and also placed in fourth position. It was a full circle moment for the family, originally hailing from British Columbia, Canada, as Mitchell’s dad, Kerry Hewitt won the same event 40 years ago.
Woodchopping has always been a tight-knit community, but for the Hewitt family, they’ve taken it one step further, passing the torch on to Jake, with a bright future ahead of him.
