Sport
6 April, 2024
Dennis excels in wood chopping
Dennis Howard has achieved some excellent results while competing in New Zealand and Sydney recently.
Gilgandra wood chopper Dennis Howard has used all his experience to achieve some excellent results while competing in New Zealand and Sydney recently. In a great warm-up for the 2024 Gilgandra Show later this month, Howard has collected a second place and two third placings at “The Wimbledon of Wood Chopping”, Sydney’s Royal Easter Show. He finished second in the 275mm Veterans Underhand Handicap and third in the 500mm Veterans Sawing Handicap (Double Handed) with team-mate Lyndsay Parnell. He was also a finalist in the 250mm Veterans Standing Block Handicap. Various events were held at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show from March 22 to April 1.
Last month, Howard toured New Zealand with the Australian Veterans Team at Waimate on the South Island. The Australians and New Zealanders have three races against each other. Australia won three-nil. Howard achieved one first placing, two seconds, and two fourth placings while in New Zealand. He also attended other events while in New Zealand and found time for some sightseeing.
Howard, 67, grew up at Trunkey, south of Bathurst and has called the Gilgandra area home since around 1990. His late father Henry was a wood chopper and Howard followed him into the family sport. A young Dennis first competed as a 10-year-old and continued until his mid-20s. He then had a break as family and business commitments took over. He returned to the sport almost 30-years-ago. Howard has represented NSW and Australia at various events and even won an NSW title in a combination event.
Wood chopping is a thinking person’s sport, he revealed. While on the surface it would appear that brute strength would be a key attribute, he revealed wood chopping is a sport where many people do not peak until they are 40. “Your head needs to be in charge of your body,” Howard said. Meanwhile, the Midwest Association Team that he was a part of also took out third place in a relay at the Royal Easter Show. The midwest area extends to Gunnedah in the north, Young in the south, Condobolin to the west, and Blackheath in the east. The association’s most famous current wood chopper is Blackheath’s Brad De Losa who is an Australian Chopperoo representative.
Underhand and standing block events are likely to be contested at this year’s Gilgandra Show. Gilgandra has one other regular competitor in Ross Stockings while Steve Greentree, who now resides at Bourke, was a star axeman locally.
