FIRST OffICIAL COMPETITION:
The initial U.A.A.A. formation meeting was followed by several other meetings and a programme was drawn up for the first official competition for which the champion chopping contest would for all time recognise the First World Champion. Prize money was up to 250 pounds in cash plus numerous and valuable trophies.
The competition was held at Latrobe on the site of Atkinsons Saleyards on Wednesday the 2nd December, 1891 and was reported as one of the most successful to be held in the Colony.John Sykes, Henry Murray and John Henry were the judges and John Sykes, the starter and F. Diprose, timekeeper. Axemen who registered for the "first official chop" consisted of five from Victoria, two from New Zealand, and fifty plus from various parts of Tasmania. Official dignitaries who were present were His Excellency Lord and Lady Hamilton, Governor of Victoria, Lord Hopetoun, P.C.Maxwell P.M. and others.
PROGRAMME
CHAMPION CHOPPING MATCH (5 heats+ final)
DOUBLE HANDED SAWING MATCH
HANDICAP CHOPPING MATCH (by girth)
CHAMPION SAWING MATCH
CHAMPION PALING SPLITTING MATCH
UNDERHAND CHOPPING MATCH
WHIP CRACKING
RESULTS FIRST OFFICIAL COMPETITON 1891:
CHAMPION CHOPPING MATCH: 2 ft standing blocks to be chopped in heats, each heat to be completed in blocks from one tree.
1st - prize- trophy donated by T.Reibey M.H.A.plus 75 sovereigns.
2nd prize- trophy plus 25 sovereigns
3rd prize- trophy plus cash
4th prize- trophy plus cash
5th prize- trophy plus cash
6th prize- trophy plus cash
7th 8th and 9th - trophiesFIRST HEAT
J.Marshall, North Motton 1
C.Thomas, West 2
W.Hodgetts, Burnie 0No time taken
SECOND HEAT
T.Reeves, Barrington 1
M.Richards, Barrington 2
R.Lethborg, Scottsdale 0Time: 5 mins 51 secs
THIRD HEAT
W.Terry, Pyengana 1
J.Mercer, Barrington 2Time: 9 mins 40 secs
FOURTH HEAT
G.Turner, Forth 1
T.Fazackerly, Taranna 2
J.Medcraft, Barrington 0Time: 7 mins 42 secs
FIFTH HEAT
D.Manson, North Motton 1
D.Vince, Huon 2
G.Watt, Zeehan 0
R.Braim, Spring Hill, Vic. 0Time: 5 mins 53 secs
FINAL HEAT
T.Reeves, Barrington 1
D.Vince, Huon 2
G.Turner, Forth 3
D.Manson, North Motton 4
M.Richards, Barrington 5
E.Thomas, West Tamar 6
J.Marshall, North Motton 7
T.Fazackerly, Taranna 8
W.Terry, Pyengana 9Time: 6 mins 22 and a half secs.
DOUBLE HANDED SAWING MATCH: 2 foot logs and prizes from 10 pounds to3 pounds
R.Chatwin and F.Grainger, Kindred 1
J. and C. Diprose, Table Cape 2Time: 42 and a half secs. Won very fast
HANDICAP CHOPPING MATCH: (by girth) prizes twelve, five and three pounds.
R.Lethborg, Barrington6ft 1in 1
J.Cox, Sheffield 6ft 2in 2
R.Chatwin, Kindred 6ft 1in 3
T.Welsh, Stanley 6ft 1in 4The following also competed: R.Brain, Victoria 6ft 1in, Fazackerly 6ft4in, G.Wall 6ft 3in, C.Thomas 6ft 3in, Dechee 6ft 1in, J.Hodgetts 6ft, H.Mercer 5ft 11in, W.Deverell 5ft 10in, W.Medcraft 5ft 10in and T.Smith 5ft 7in. 5 mins 13 secs.
CHAMPION SAWING MATCH: 2 ft blocks. Prizes 15 pounds and Esk Brewery trophy ( value 5 guineas), five, three and two pounds.
R.Chatwin, Kindred 1
J.Williams, Kindred 2
T.Nicole, Penguin 3J.Biddle (Castra), H.Burgess (Table Cape), G.Sushames (Penguin) It was won by several secs.
CHAMPION PALING SPLITTING MATCH: Prizes 1st 12 pounds amd trophy, 2nd 5 pounds and trophy. To be judged by points; time allowance 15 mins for 50 palings, judging possible 20 points, 9 for quality, 9 for time and 2 for booking.
J.H.Williams, Kindred 1 18 and a half points
J.D.Manson, North Motton 2 18 points
W.Henchmore, Barrington 0 17 points
J. Etchells, Penguin 0 11 and a half pointsUNDERHAND CHOPPING MATCH: 2FT BLOCKS. Prizes: 9 pound, 3 pound ten shillings, and 1 pound
T.Fazackerly, Taranna 1
G.Turner, Forth 3
G.Watt, Zeehan 0
R.Braim, Victoria 0Time: 6 mins 55 secs.
WHIP CRACKING
J.McGinnis (90 cracks in one minute) 1st
Three others competed.