Shane Jordan beats brother Jack to claim Stihl Timbersports national title

Jack Jordan (left) came second to his older brother Shane Jordan, while Quintin Fawcett came third in the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.

Reigning world champion axeman Jack Jordan has been denied the opportunity to defend his world title in Europe later this year after being beaten by his older brother at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals at the weekend.

The winner of the national title at the Rural Games in Palmerston North determines New Zealand’s sole representative at the World Championships.

This year, 39‑year‑old Shane Jordan pipped his younger brother Jack at the final hurdle.

In a repeat of the 2025 competition ending, it all came down to the last of six Timbersports disciplines, with the two brothers again locked level on points after five rounds heading into the hot saw (super‑charged chainsaws) event.

“All I knew going into the hot saw was that I had to put up a really good time and try and put the pressure back on Jack, and lucky enough for me, it all worked out pretty good,” Shane said.

“Jack’s pretty hard to beat at the best of times, so [it was] definitely...good yesterday to get one over the top of him.”

Now Shane looks forward to representing New Zealand at the Individual World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, in October — doing what Jack did to him at last year’s Nationals by snatching victory in the final moments.

“I could see he was hurting at the end of it all, and I felt his pain, so I didn’t talk to him too much,” he said.

“It’ll take him a day or two to process it all, but he’ll certainly be on my side when our NZ Team heads over to try and get that world championship.”

Jack, who had been chasing a fifth national title in a row, will still compete at those championships in the international teams event as part of the New Zealand side.

He is also confirmed to defend his Stihl Timbersport World Trophy in June in Hungary – a short-form, high-intensity format that he’s won the last three years in a row.

However, the weekend’s result was still a tough one for him.

“It’s a lot of pressure that comes with this single today that qualifies us to go overseas,” he said.

“If you have a bad day here, it can really muck up your Timbersports season.

“But that’s what also gives you the competitive edge to make sure you are up for it.

“There’s a fair bit on the line. This year it went Shane’s way – and I’m really happy for him."

The younger Jordan didn’t leave the Rural Games empty-handed, though.

He was crowned the Supreme Rural Sports Award winner for the second time at the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards last Friday night.

Stihl Timbersport events for rookies and women were not held at this year’s Rural Games.

Selection events for the Rookie World Championship and the first-ever Stihl Timbersports Women’s World Championship (both being held in Hungary in June) will take place next month in Australia.

Four New Zealand women and four rookies will head to Australia for Oceania competitions from which the top-performing Kiwi woman and rookie will be chosen to represent New Zealand at their respective Timbersport world championships in Budapest, Hungary, in June.

Stihl Timbersport Nationals Men’s Competition results

1st: Shane Jordan - Taranaki

2nd: Jack Jordan - Taumarunui

3rd: Quintin Fawcett - Masterton

- Supplied by Stihl Timbersports