 |
NEW FACES DEBUT, VETERAN FAVORITES DELIVER
ON TIMBERSPORT’S FIRST DAY OF 2004 SEASON
19th Season Kick’s Off in New Jersey
AUGUSTA, New Jersey – The STIHL Timbersports Series kicked off its 19th season here on Thursday, site of the New Jersey State Fair. A fifth of the competitor field are different from the 2003 season, but those new faces still have a way to go to challenge some of the sports most accomplished athletes.
New Zealand’s David Bolstad picked up where he left off from his 2003 championship last year, placing first in four of today’s six events in the first qualifying round. Bolstad dominated in the stock saw, springboard, underhand, and hot saw events. The final event of the afternoon saw Bolstad post the afternoon’s most exciting time of 5.863 seconds for 19-inch white pine in the hot saw. His only stumble was a twelfth place finish in the single buck.
Dion Lane of New Zealand and Justin Beckett from Australia took firsts in the standing block and single buck events respectively, capping a clean sweep for the “Down Under” contingent. But, perennial favorites like five-time Timbersports champion Jason Wynyard and the dean of American axe men, Melvin Lentz, lurked nearby in every event socking away qualifier points. Wynyard placed eighth or better in each of the six events, while Lentz captured second and tenth place to go along with four consecutive eleventh place times.
Early in the Timbersports season, Lentz, Bolstad and Wynyard are bunched together in the point’s race. Top 10 finishers in qualifiers on Thursday and Friday will compete for the ESPN cameras Saturday and Sunday.
Standing Block – Dion Lane’s time of 14.805 sec. edged Bolstad’s 14.840 sec. showing spoiling Bolstad’s fifth chance to finish first in another event. Five-time Timbersports champion Jason Wynyard placed third, followed by Australian Justin Beckett and American Dave Jewett. Perhaps the biggest surprise in this event today was not who placed in the top 10, but who didn’t place better, including veteran Harold Winkel’s disappointing finish at 17th place and Mel Lentz’s near-miss at 11th.
Single Buck – Justin Beckett smoked through his log at 12.670 seconds and nudged Jason Wynyard into second, followed by Dion Lane, Dave Jewett and Matt Bush. Smaller in stature but not in heart, Mike Slingerland, Carson Bosworth and J.P. Mercier demonstrated that technique is as precious as size as the three finished solidly in sixth, seventh and eighth places respectively. Surprises here included David Bolstad’s only top 10 miss (12th), Australian Dale Ryan (13th) and Arden Cogar, Jr. (15th).
Stock Saw – Another strong performance from Bolstad was required to pass Mel Lentz in one of his best events. Mike Forrester, who seems to be fully recovered from back surgery a few season’s ago, turned in a third place time, followed by one of the new competitors this season, Connecticut’s Richard Jordan. Veteran Harry Burnsworth rounded out the top five. Matt Bush and Dave Jewett will have to sit this event out on Saturday, as the two struggled and placed out of the top 10. Four competitors were disqualified because of cutouts on their attempts.
Springboard – No surprises here as David Bolstad, Dale Ryan, Jason Wynyard, Matt Bush and Harry Burnsworth ranked first through fifth. However Dion Lane had some early trouble with a foothold, which slowed his time and dropped him back to 14th place, and Carson Bosworth scored an uncharacteristic time to end up in 15th.
Underhand Chop – The big choppers from Down Under dominated this event today, finishing Bolstad (NZ), Wynyard (NZ), Beckett (AUS), Lane (NZ), Ryan (AUS) and Winkel (AUS). Cecil Starr from Canada, now in his sophomore year in Timbersports showed well in 7th place, ahead of Americans Arden Cogar, Jr., Matt Bush, and Mike Sullivan. A stuck axe in Bush’s head-to-head heat with Jason Wynyard was perhaps the costliest mistake of the early rounds today.
Hot Saw – David Bolstad saved the day’s best performance until last with his masterful 5.863 time, which edged out Wisconsin’s Rick Halvorson for first in the hot saw. Mike Sullivan, traditionally strong in this event, took third, while Canada’s Gaston Duperre finished in fourth just ahead of Jason Wynyard. Nagging mechanical problems or cutouts troubled several top hot sawyers today, including Mike Forrester, Matt Bush, Dale Ryan and Harry Burnsworth. Wally Robarge, Richard Jordan, and Jerry Scutt took advantage of the opportunity and placed in the top 10 and will compete on Saturday.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world’s largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to www.stihlcareers.com. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.
Back to Press Office
|
