The weather will not stop us say Timbersports! (From Smallholder)

The weather will not stop us say Timbersports!

6:00am Saturday 21st July 2012 in News

 

 

The ‘Great’ British summer may be playing havoc with many country shows and sporting fixtures, but one exciting Championship is still taking place, despite its host show being cancelled with just one week to go. Planned as a highlight of the CLA Game Fair in Leicestershire (sadly cancelled due to bad weather), the first ever British Championship of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES has found a new home at BUG JAM 26 – a three-day long VW festival taking place at the Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire : 20-22 July.

Ten months in the planning, countless hours of competitor training and thousands of pounds invested. When the first ever British Championship of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES seemed destined to be cancelled just seven days before it was due to begin, event organisers STIHL GB determined to put together a rescue plan. With exactly a week to go before the start of the event, a new home had to be found for the 44 tonne mobile stage, 40 plus people involved in demonstration events, and the 12 Championship contenders due to take part. And today STIHL has announced that with the grateful co-operation of all involved, a full three days of sporting action will now take place at BUG JAM 26 (Santa Pod Raceway, 20-22 July). Considered the major league of lumberjack sports worldwide, the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is furious and fast, with athletes tackling six highly-charged disciplines with an axe and a saw. Each event is highly visual and exciting, and showcases the great skill of competitors as they wield razor-sharp axes to chop through wood blocks in around 20 seconds, hop up a 2.5 metre high ‘tree’ to chop the top off, and then race high-performance chain saws with accuracy and skill, including the infamous 250 cc ‘Hot Saw’. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES has gathered many thousands of followers around the world, and now visitors to BUG JAM 26 will be the first in Great Britain to see an official Championship event. .../...

Commenting on their determination to host the event, STIHL GB Marketing Manager, Sean Larter-Conway said : “As with many outdoor events this summer, the Game Fair fell victim to the weather, and despite their very best endeavours the CLA were forced to cancel the show for only the second time in its 54 year history. This can not have been an easy decision for the organisers and was obviously a great disappointment to the many exhibitors, trade stands and around 150,000 visitors expected to attend. We too were very much looking forward to adding our British Championship event to the many attractions at the show. However, we determined to continue with our Championship plans and to give the public an opportunity to see top lumberjack sports action. As such I am delighted to announce that STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® will be in action on Friday and Saturday 20th and 21st July at BUG JAM 26, with the British Championship taking place on Sunday 22nd July. We hope people will come and support our athletes and promise them a thrilling event.”

Twelve of Britain’s top lumberjack sportsmen will travel from as far afield as Cornwall and Wales to compete at the event. Athletes qualified earlier this year and have since undergone intense training to hone their skills – particularly in use of the infamous ‘hot saw’, a customised (and very noisy!) 250cc chainsaw which demands extreme skill and strength to handle its 60 horse power. The winner of the British Championship will go on to represent Great Britain at the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES World Championship in the Olympic host city of Lillehammer, Norway this September. BUG JAM 26 is a three-day long combined music and VW motor enthusiasts’ festival, which regularly attracts around 35,000 fans and festival-goers to Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire. Visitors enjoy live music, stunt displays, VW Drag Racing, Monster Trucks, car competitions, BMX and motocross displays and more. Now petrol-heads visiting the event will get to see even more high-octane action, including 250cc chain saw races that form part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES events. Information on STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® is available on: www.stihltimbersports.co.uk .

For more on Bug Jam 26, including opening hours and ticket information: www.bugjam.com

 

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