On the official rule sheet for Powell River Logger Sports, number 11 stipulated, “Absolutely no whining. Everyone must have fun!” From all reports, everyone did.
After an absence of 11 years, people were buzzing about the return of logger sports to Powell River, almost as loudly as the roar of chainsaws that ripped through the newly named Loggers Memorial Bowl at Willingdon Beach.
Everyone in town was talking about the three-day event; those that went and those that did not, but wished they had.
Taking place from Friday, July 15, to Sunday, July 17, logger sports drew lumberjacks from around BC, across Canada and the US and as far away as New Zealand.
Crowd favourites were the youngest competitor, 10-year-old Jake Hewitt from Scotch Creek, BC, and the oldest, 74-year-old Gordie Mauhl from Washington State.
Some of the best loggers in the world competed for Canadian and world championships and a prize purse worth $60,000.
Powell River Logger Sports organizers said they had expected approximately 6,000 people to attend the various events over the three days and, by initial accounts, they far exceeded those numbers.
Powell River Logger Sports winners
Peter Colliver Memorial Chop - Mitchell Hewitt, Scotch Creek, BC
World Championship Chair Carve - Dave MacLeod, Campbell River, BC
World Championship Relay Event - Stirling Hart, North Vancouver, BC, Leo Coudrau, North Vancouver, BC, and Daniell Tkach, Sexsmith, Alberta
Kids Axe Throw - Jake Hewitt, Scotch Creek, BC
Kids Chokerman’s Race - Braiden Coburn, Powell River
Novice Tree Climb, Canadian Championship - Julian Welp, Powell River
Novice Axe Throw, Canadian Championship - Brett Marquis, Powell River
Novice Obstacle Pole - Jeff Coburn, Powell River
Novice Underhand Chop - Brad Laviolette, Port Hardy, BC
Novice Husky Challenge - Anita Jezowski, Nanaimo, BC
Intermediate Double Buck, Canadian Championship - Brett Marquis and Jeff Coburn, Powell River
Intermediate Underhand Chop - Gordon Mauhl, Carnation, Washington
Springboard Chop, two boards - Darren Dean, Courtenay, BC
Intermediate Chokerman’s Race - Allan Knapp, Powell River
Two-Man Springboard, Canadian Championship - Leo Coudrau and Stirling Hart, North Vancouver, BC
Ladies Nail Drive - Allison Briscoe, Port McNeill, BC
Open Axe Throw - Mitch Hewitt, Scotch Creek, BC
Open Underhand Chop, Canadian Championship - Mitch Hewitt, Scotch Creek, BC
Open Obstacle Pole, Canadian Championship - Jesse Whitehead, New Zealand
Open Springboard, Canadian Championship - Mitch Hewitt, Scotch Creek, BC
Open Double Buck - Roger Briscoe, Port McNeill, BC, and Dave MacLeod, Campbell River, BC
Open Single Buck - Nick Russell, Port McNeill, BC
Open Chokerman’s Race - Jesse Whitehead, New Zealand
Open Jack and Jill - Jesse Whitehead and Katelan Steward, New Zealand
Open 100cc PNE Cut, Canadian Championship - Brad Laoughlin, Misson, BC
Open Hot Saw, North American Championship - Stirling Hart, North Vancouver, BC
Ladies Underhand - Katelan Steward, New Zealand
Ladies Jill and Jill - Sarah Mooney, Ucluelet, BC and Katelan Steward, New Zealand
Ladies Axe Throw - Danielle Tkach, Sexsmith, Alberta
Trophy and Jacket winners
Albert Memorial Open Class All Around Logger - Jesse Whitehead, New Zealand
Gordon Wyatt Memorial Sportsman of the Day - Nick Russell, Port McNeill, BC
Liz Marquis Memorial Ladies All Around Logger - Katelan Steward, New Zealand
Bill Marquis Memorial Novice All Around Logger - Jeff Coburn, Powell River
Roy H Lloyd Memorial Intermediate All Around Logger - Gordon Mauhl, Washington State, USA
Chuck Forest Memorial Hardest Working Logger - Leo Coudrau, North Vancouver, BC
Moose Lodge #1667 Open Class Sportsman of the Day - Brad Laviolette, Port Hardy, BC
Celebrity Axe Throw - Dave Craigen, First Credit Union
