If you are interested in honing your axe and chainsaw skills and want to get involved in major league lumberjack sport, why not try your hand at STIHL TIMBERSPORTS?

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS is considered the major worldwide league of lumberjack sports, attracting highly-skilled athletes to compete with axes and saws. As the sport continues to build in Great Britain, STIHL is looking to invite more newcomers to join them at its first-timer 'Taster Weekend', 16 & 17 April 2016. The most promising athletes will then be invited to join ongoing training, with the goal of competing in the Rookie Championship 2016, 4 - 7 August 2016.

Darryn Reilly

After a successful newcomers' camp last year, seven athletes were recruited to participate in the British Rookie Championship, Sunday 2 August 2015 at the CLA Game Fair, in Leeds. The 2014 Rookie Champion, lumberjack Darryn Reilly from Oxfordshire, took the crown on the day, while Adam Martindale from Lancashire smashed the GB record made by pro athlete Chris Pratt the day prior, with a time of 10.94 on the Stock Saw, which was then broken again by Shropshire local and rookie, Alex Laurie.

The 'Taster Weekend' is being held at Harper Adams University, near Newport in Shropshire, with members of the current British Team putting newcomers through their paces. Potential STIHL TIMBERSPORTS athletes are invited to attend just one of the taster days where they will initially be tested to assess their competency, before receiving expert training in the three rookie disciplines - Stock Saw, Single Buck and the Underhand Chop. STIHL is keen to encourage beginners into the sport so no TIMBERSPORTS experience is necessary.

Spike Milton, former British Champion, says STIHL is searching for future champions of the growing sport. "STIHL TIMBERSPORTS is a serious sport in Great Britain thanks to its connection to traditional lumber jacking, a practise that is deeply rooted in this country's heritage. Today it is a fast-paced, highly skilled sport that attracts millions of viewers worldwide.

"Newcomers interested in taking up TIMBERSPORTS need to be prepared to train hard, pick up new techniques fast and be prepared to continuously fine-tune their techniques. I look forward to meeting the budding athletes at the Taster Weekend where we can start to build British Champions," says Spike, now STIHL's Global Sporting Director and British and International STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Trainer.

Below is a video taster of some of the best moments from the 2015 British Championship.

Anyone wanting to attend the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS 'Taster Weekend' must submit an entry form, available online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2016stihlgbtimbersportsnewcomers.