Elgan Pugh from Wales has been crowned the best lumberjack athlete in the country for the fifth consecutive time at the 2019 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship. This came after breaking his own national record in the final discipline, the Hot Saw.
Hosted at Blenheim Palace, as part of BBC Countryfile Live, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship saw the top 12 lumberjack athletes from all over Great Britain compete in a head-to-head race against time across six disciplines. Using an axe, crosscut saw and chainsaw, competitors are awarded maximum points for the fastest time in each discipline; Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Standing Block Chop, Springboard and Hot Saw.
In a competition that saw competitors push themselves to the limit, 16 personal best times were set which kept a packed crowd on the edge of their seats. Whilst Elgan claimed the top spot, an ecstatic Johnny Lewis came in a close second reaching the podium for the first time with Glen Penlington taking third place.
Spike Milton, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Global Sports Director, said:
“The British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship pushes athletes to a new level of performance and this year was no different with the competitors showcasing the skill and technique required to compete on the biggest British stage. Each athlete has completed a rigorous training programme in preparation for this event and this was clear to see in what was an action packed and stellar British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship.
“We now look forward to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship in Prague, where we have the difficult decision of choosing Team GB representatives from this great pool of talent.”
Elgan said of his victory:
“To be crowned the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Champion is a fantastic feeling and one I am very proud of. I have been training intensively for this event and it’s great to see that it all paid off in the end.”
To find out more about the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series please visit https://blog.stihl.co.uk/timbersports/
