FORESTRYJOURNAL.CO.UK MAY 20 18 53the event.
John Tunstall of Cheshire subcontracts as a climber
but also spends part of his time providing arboricultural
training services. Newton Rigg was to be his third
UK Loggers competition. “The experience definitely
improves your general work standards,” noted John. “It
was Alun Jones that first persuaded me to try the axe-
throwing competition. I would like to improve all those
sorts of skills but the time factor and setting everything
up tends to be a bit taxing. I think my climbing skills are
better than my chainsaw work.
“I rarely now get the chance just to fell and sned out
trees but the UK Loggers events are forestry-based so
I really like the experience. I’d love to get out into the
woods and cut timber... if the money was right.” John
also recognises that he sees climbing work as a young
person’s game. In his view it is worth being ready for
Top: Support from
Husqvarna, Tilhill and
Euroforest allowed the
UK Loggers to take
to the road and visit
Newton Rigg College,
Penrith. The 26
competitors registered
for the competition
included professionals,
novices and students.
Mark Edwards
top-scored amongst
the professionals and
Connor McDonald took
the student title. It was
evergreen arborist Chris
White’s first appearance
and he took the title for
the best newcomer.Left: (l to r) Lecturer
Richard Hunter, students
Jonathan Hogg, Robert
Albion and Oliver
Newhouse and Connor
McDonald, lecturer
Martin Davies, student
Adrigh Cole. Students
Jonny Robinson and Tom
Haynes also competed.
Supported by their tutors,
the lads were eager to
improve their chainsaw
competence, encouraged
by advice from forestry
professionals.every available opportunity to stay ahead.
Mark Giddings moved north with Dewi Williams and
now has a home in the Cumbrian town of Wigton. He is
currently working as a harvester operator and loves the
forests of the Lake District. He even thinks the climate
is great... although his opinion of this may be enhanced
by the air-conditioned and heated cabin of a modern
forestry machine! Having competed in four or five UK
Loggers events, he took a break from the competition
circuit when his two young children arrived. Now they
are older he was unable to resist ‘having another go’ at
the Penrith meeting.
Maddy Parkin completed her forestry course at
Newton Rigg a few years ago. She is now an apprentice
Environmental Conservation Ranger with the Lake
District National Park. While much of her work in the
summer months now consists of general maintenance