Rotorua axemen Ivor Thomas and Kyle Lemon will be making an appearance at their sport's greatest event later this year.
The pair were yesterday named in the New Zealand A team to take part in Sydney's annual Easter Show following chopping and sawing trials at Rotorua's Agrodome during
the weekend.
The 10-man New Zealand side will be managed by David Bolstad, who will also compete, and also includes Charles Hall from Tokoroa and Taupo's Shane Jordon.
Rotorua's Terry Wilkins was selected in the New Zealand B team but trials spokesperson Martha Wilkins was unsure what event that combination would be competing in.
The Easter Show will see the Kiwis in action against Australia's best choppers. About 10,000 spectators daily watch the woodchopping equivalent of tennis's Wimbledon.
While the weekend's weather made footing a little slippery than normal about 26 of the country's best, including multiple world champion Jason Wynyard, competed in Rotorua.
There was a heavy touch of sadness to the weekend with competitors and supporters spending a moment in silence in honour of Rotorua and past New Zealand sawyer Allan Salter who passed away on Friday evening.
* Axemen 2007 teams: New Zealand A: David Bolstad (Taumaranui), Charles Hall (Tokoroa), Shane Jordon (Taupo), Stephen Knowles (Napier), Dion Lane (Auckland), Kyle Lemon (Rotorua), Pouri Rakete-Stone (Napier), Aiden Strother (Napier), Ivor Thomas (Rotorua), Jason Wynyard (Auckland). New Zealand B: Rangi Bowen, John Gower, Chris Harris, Hoot Knowles (captain), Mark Lelievre, Nat Mathews, Jack Torrington, Terry Wilkins.
