'Rocky' on road to worlds

Wanganui's "Rocky" Molan proved too sharp for rivals in the single-saw at the Melbourne Royal Show earlier this year. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wanganui axewoman Rochelle "Rocky" Molan is rapidly cutting a track to the highest level after yet another stunning performance in Australia.

A regular at the Sydney and Adelaide royal shows over the past few years where she has dominated her favoured single-saw event, Molan added the Melbourne Royal Show to her programme this season for the first time and came up trumps.

Molan won the single-saw event, beating nine-time World All Round Lady Jill champion Nancy Zalewski from the US in the process.

"While Sydney is the Wimbeldon of woodchopping, Melbourne featured some tough competition and I managed a a win in the single-saw," Molan said yesterday.

"I won the same event in Sydney and Adelaide and then added Melbourne beating a world champion. The plan is to head to America next year and compete in the World Lumberjack Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin in July where I'll probably come up against Nancy again.

"Winning the single-saw at three major Australian shows this year has given me the confidence to have a crack at the worlds. I'm working hard on my technique, so there's room for improvement."

Molan proved a cut above the Australians in Adelaide last year and proved her Sydney Easter performance the same season was no fluke.

Molan and fellow Wanganui axewoman Jackie Brown were competing at the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society South Australian Show and while they teamed for several combined podium finishes, Molan's performance in the Jill single-saw championship event was impeccable.

Molan won the event, then teamed with Brown to take top honours in the Jill and Jill handicap class and third in the Jill and Jill championship. Each competitor started on an equal footing in championship events, while axewomen in the handicap events were on staggered starts, depending on their seeding.

"Jackie came to Australia again this year and finished fourth in the single-saw, but we had some success in other events."

While competition at the world championships will be her biggest test to date, beating Zalewski suggests Molan will not be out her depth.

Zalewski is the current world record-holder for the women's underhand chop and last season won the All Round Lady Jill title at the World Championships in Wisconsin for an unprecedented ninth time.