BARRINGTON - The wood chips and sawdust were flying fast and furious on the banks of the Barrington River on June 16 and 17 as hundreds of people gathered for the third annual Nova Scotia Lumberjack Championships.
Hosted by the North Nova Lumberjack Society at the Wild Axe Park, competitors came from as far away as Quebec took up the challenge in the Open, Women’s, Juniors and master’s divisions. More than 50 lumberjacks and jills from as far away as Quebec and Ontario compete in four divisions for a piece of the $18,000 in prize money pie.
Burlin Nickerson, a local organizer of the event, said leading into the weekend that community support and sponsorship for the event has been “amazing.” Seven-time world log rolling champion Darren Hudson of Shelburne County was the emcee for the event.
Taking the overall Open title was Marcel Dupuis of Memramcook, N.B. The overall women’s championship was won by Caitlin Carroll from Truro. In the master’s division, Donald Lambert from St. Jilles, Quebec topped the competition. In the junior division local competitors Lukas Nickerson and Aiden Weeks tied for first for the championship.
In individual events in the open division, New Brunswick’s Nathan Cumberland was the winner of standing block chop, springboard, underhand chop, single buck, and butcher block with Donald Lambert, while his brother Ben Cumberland was the winner of the endurance competition. Winning the axe throw was Paul Woodland, Benton, N.B.
Marcel Scott of Barrington was the winner of logroll, Marcel Dupuis was the winner of hot saw and kettle boil with Burlin Nickerson of East Pubnico. Nova Scotia competitor Connor Morse was the winner in stock saw. Winning the double buck was Paul Woodland and Donald Lambert.
In the Women’s Division, Jessie Swinamer won the axe throw; Brittany McLean, ladies stock saw; Caitlin Carroll; single buck; and Kelly Bowness underhand chop and bow saw.
