Chopping, sawing and slicing at speed will be on show on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Stage at Countryfile Live which is taking place at Blenheim Palace this weekend.

The 2016 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS British Championship is the major league of lumberjack sports worldwide. The high-octane sport sees highly-skilled lumberjack athletes chop, saw and slice at speed in the country’s fourth annual Championship event.


GB Champion Elgan Pugh

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS started 30 years ago in the USA and arrived in Britain in 2012 with the country’s first British Championship.  Lumberjack sports origins go back to 19th century Australia where foresters would compete with each other outside work, putting their forestry skills to the test.

Spike Milton, former STIHL TIMBERSPORTS British Champion and British Team member, says the athletes are ready to put on a rip-roaring show for visitors.

“Both technical and physically demanding, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS is a marvellous sport to watch. The lumberjack athletes are remarkably quick and precise as they chop and slice their way through the disciplines,” says Spike.

“The six STIHL TIMBERSPORTS disciplines test the athlete’s ability to deliver both explosive power and accuracy while retaining total focus to ultimately win the British title and make the British team. The British team will then compete in Germany at the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS 2016 World Championship in November. With stiff competition this year – competitors will need to be well-oiled machines to make the cut,” says Spike, who is now STIHL Global Sporting Director and British and International TIMBERSPORTS Trainer.

The 2016 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS British Pro Championship will be held Saturday 6th August and the British Rookie Championship will be held Sunday 7th August.

As well as the TIMBERSPORTS demonstrations visitors to the STIHIL stand can enjoy wood carving demonstrations, a rugby tackle game for the kids, STIHL and VIKING product displays and talks from STIHL experts such as Jane Moore – a former Chelsea Flower Show medal-winner.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke is at the show today and has sent in some pics. He says, "The STIHL stand is really impressive and the TIMERSPORTS demonstrations are thrilling."