2008 Rule Book | 2007 Woodsmen's Day | List of Events | Event Records | 2007 Photos | 2008 3-fold brochure

Seven Records set at 41st Woodsmen's Day

2008 results  •  Heartland America episode

      Seven records were broken at the 41st Saco Valley Woodsmen’s Field Day at Fryeburg Fair that attracted 143 competitors and featured some late-day drama in the infield.
      Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH captured Champion Woodsman and Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI again won the Women’s title. Veteran competitor Charlie Woitkun of Preston, CT earned the Master’s Championship while John Wescott of Hollis came away with Champion Logger honors and Dale Mills of Parsonsfield won Champion Trucker.
      Drama and human interest emerged near day’s end in the Hydraulic Loader competition. Mills, a longtime competitor, had just started his run when what were thought to be hydraulic problems developed with the loader he was using. Unable to continue, he shut down.
2008 CHAMPIONS - Champion Woodsman Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH and daughter Madison, 3; Women's Champion Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI; and Master's Champion Charlie Wojtkun of Preston, CT.

      At a meeting of officials, it was learned that the equipment hadn’t broken down. Mills, unfamiliar with the newer truck, had pushed the wrong lever that powers the hydraulics. Truckers often share equipment. After officials discussed the situation, event Chairman Toby Hammond told Mills that normally competitors aren’t given a second chance when equipment breaks down or fails to run.
      “If a chainsaw fails to start, you don’t get to try it again,” Hammond said of the field contests.
But because of the unique situation, Hammond he would leave it up to his fellow truckers to decide if he could try again.
      “But if just one says no, then you’re done,” Hammond said.
      As it turned out, all agreed to let him try again. He finished third, which gave him enough points to win the championship and earned him an additional $320.
      “They knew when they voted that there was a good chance that could happen,” Hammond said. “But to me it was a case of them putting their pride before their pocketbook and I think they knew that he would have done the same thing for any of them. It’s things like that that restore your faith in human nature.”
      Mills said he had been first and second in two events and was posed to win the championship if he had a good time in the loader contest.
      “I was pretty depressed when it happened, especially after I was told that I couldn’t try again,” Mills said. But after Hammond offered a solution, Mills said he felt greatly encouraged.
      “These are really a great bunch of guys,” said Mills of his 16th competition in the event. “We are all pretty good friends and some of us have been doing this for a long time.” Hydraulic loader tests the skill of the operator not only with logs but dexterity by moving a bucket of water and place a stick in a tube.
      Records broken were Nancy Zalewski and Mary Dooley in the Women’s Crosscut at 8.82 seconds; Jerry Gingras in the Stock Chainsaw at 3.72 seconds; Irene Harvey in the Women’s Bucksaw at 10 seconds; Nancy Zalewski in the Women’s Underhand Chop at 21.84 seconds; Charlie Wojtkun and Don Dolliver in the Master’s Crosscut at 6.08 seconds, Mike Sullivan and Rich Jordan in the Men’s Crosscut at 4.865 seconds and John Wescott in the Grapple Skidder, 57.37 seconds. Each contestant receives $100 for breaking a record.
      There were 116 field event competitors and 27 entered in the truck and skidder events. Those numbers included 65 men, 27 women and 24 masters (over 55). New Hampshire posted the largest number of competitors at 23 followed by 17 from Maine, 15 from Vermont and Massachusetts, 12 from Connecticut and New York, seven from Pennsylvania, four from Nova Scotia, three from Quebec and one each from New Brunswick, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Rhode Island. There were 25 skidders competing and nine log trucks.

RESULTS:

Master’s Bucksaw

  1. Gilles Levesque of Charlesbourge, Que., 7.275 secs.
  2. Don Quigley of Lee, NH, 7.86
  3. Bernard Peters of Irasburg, VT, 8.55
  4. Gerry Alves of Dighton, MA, 8.785
  5. Jean Guy Rodrigue of St. Prosper, Que, 8.95
  6. Dave Stadler of Bemidji, MN, 9.8.

Open Chainsaw

  1. Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 3.45 secs.
  2. Moyal Conrad of Nova Scotia, 3.49
  3. Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que., 3.56
  4. Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 3.58
  5. Maurice Molleur of Greensboro Bend, VT, 4.045
  6. Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH, 4.175

Men’s Crosscut (Record)

  1. Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, and Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT, 4.865 secs.
  2. Mike Eash of Coatesville, PA, and Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH, 5.22
  3. Andy Schreiner of Fulton , NY, and Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY, 5.46
  4. Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que. and Moyal Conrad of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 6.2
  5. Sheridan Doyle of Winthrop, ME, and Herb Gingras of 6.245
  6. Gerry Alves and Jeff Pavao of Dighton, MA, 6.825

Women’s Crosscut (Record)

  1. Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI, and Mary Dooley of Winterport, NY, 8.82.
  2. Erica Schreiner of Fulton , NY, and Lavume Mikloiche of St. Vandling, PA, 10.91
  3. Liz Simcoy of Lock Haven, PA, and Kathy Joshua of Nova Scotia, 11.63
  4. Katie Gingras of Errol, NH, and Rebecca Jordan of Oneco, VT, 12.425
  5. Irene Harvey of E. Hardwick, VT, and Laurette Russell of New Gloucester, ME, 14.89
  6. Virgina Foote of Alstead, NH, and Brenda Stevens of Castleton, VT, 17.145

Stock Chainsaw (Record)

  1. Jerry Gingras of Errol,NH, 3.72 secs.
  2. Sheridan Doyle of Winthrop, ME, 4.29
  3. Trevar Molleur of Greensboro, VT, 4.325
  4. Ed Brightman of Assonet, MA, 4.7
  5. Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT, 5.06
  6. Ron Rich of E. Hardwick, VT, 5.295

Master’s Log Roll

  1. Chip Arthur of South Gibson, PA, and Bill Simox of Farnardsville, PA, 19.385 secs.
  2. Gilles Molleur of Derby Line, VT, and Maurice Molleur of Greensboro Bend, VT, 24.94
  3. Bernard Peters of Irasburg, VT, and Bob Doyle of Winthrop, ME, 25.36
  4. Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT, and Marc Derosiers of Hay Settlement, New Brunswick, 29.665
  5. Rudy Dettmer of Deerfield, OH, and Dave Stadler of Bermedji, MN, 29.995
  6. Jean Guy Rodrigue of St. Prosper, Que., and Gilles Levesque of Charlesbourg, Que., 30.315

Log Roll

  1. Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH, and Mike Eash of Coatville, PA, 15.125 secs.
  2. Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que., and Moyal Conrad of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 15.135
  3. Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY, and Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY, 15.18
  4. Ben Rubenfield of Paul Smith College, NY, and Curt Karbowski of Orchiota, NY, 17.20
  5. Gerry Alves and Jeff Pavao of Dighton, MA, 17.305
  6. Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, and Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT, 17.78

Springboard Chop

  1. Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT, 1:07
  2. Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 1:09.405
  3. Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY, 1:11.74
  4. Dan Lambert of St. Gilles, Que., 1:12.405
  5. Mike Eash of Coatesville, PA,  1:29.22
  6. Calvin Willard of Barnet, VT, 1:35.25

Women’s Bucksaw (Record)

  1. Irene Harvey of East Hardwick, VT, 10.00 secs.
  2. Jessica Edwards of Pelham, NH, 12.905
  3. Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, MN, 14.335
  4. Mary Dooley of Waterport, NY, 14.476
  5. Kathy Johnson of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 15.83
  6. Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 16.00

Women’s Underhand Chop (Record)

  1. Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, MN, 21.84 secs.
  2. Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 28.625
  3. Lavonne Mikloche of Vandling, PA, 28.67
  4. Mary Dooley of Waterport, PA, 33.68
  5. Liz Simcox of Lock Haven, PA, 37.03
  6. Alissa Harper of Bar Harbor, ME, 38.05

Women’s Axe

  1. Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, MN, 20
  2. Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 18
  3. Lavonne Mikloche of St. Vandlins, PA, 17
  4. Laurette Russell of New Gloucester, ME, 16
  5. Tie: Marion Colbert of Winsted, CT, Mary Dooley of Waterport, NY, and Rebecca Marston of Oneco, CT, 15.
  6. Sherry Kelson of Stratford, NH, 13

Jack and Jill Crosscut

  1. Nancy Zalewski of Minitowoc, MN, and Mike Sullivan ofWinsted, CT, 9.965 secs.
  2. Erica and Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 7.17
  3. Rebecca and Rich Jordan of Oneco and Sterling, CT, 7.59
  4. Mary Dooley and Paul Pfenniger of Waterport and Scottsville, NY, 7.94
  5. Kathy and Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH, 8.36
  6. Tina Scheer of Ellsworth, ME, and Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que., 8.78

Men’s Bucksaw

  1. Jerry GIngras of Errol, NH, 4.97 secs.
  2. Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que., 5.615
  3. Curt Karbowski of Orchiota, NY, 5.97
  4. Matt Bolton of Canadalgua, NY, 6.17
  5. Moyal Conrad of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 6.45
  6. Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY, 6.725

Men’s Underhand Chop

  1. Moyal Conrad of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 15.905 secs.
  2. Matt Bolton of Canadalgua, NY, 16.27
  3. Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 16.65
  4. Curt Karbowski of Orchiota, NY, 18.26
  5. Mike Eash of Coatesville, PA, 18.56
  6. Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT, 18.655

Men’s Axe Throw

  1. Dave Kilson of Stratford, NH, 24 pts. (tied at 22 - decided after throw off)
  2. Kevin Lessard of St. Johnsbury Center, VT, 21 (after throw-off)
  3.  Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 21
  4. (3-way tie) Jerry Gingras, Herb Gingras and Sheridan Doyle, 20.
  5. (5-way tie) Don Lambert, Mike Eash, Jon Preston of Paul Smith College, NY, Brendon Bliss of Hudson, NH and Ron Rich of Sterling, CT, 19.
  6. (3-way tie) Josh Edwards of Pelham, NH, Paul Pfenniger and Vincent Maciel of West Tisbury, MA, 18.

Master’s Underhand Chop

  1. Don Quigley of Dove, NH, 20.615 secs.
  2. Charlie Woitkun of Preston, CT, 21.765
  3. Jim Colbert of Winsted, CT, 22.23
  4. Don Dolliver of Starksboro, VT, 26.825
  5. Bill Simcox of Farrandsville, PA, 29.43
  6. Gib Engel of Brooklyn, CT, 31.31

Master’s Crosscut (record)

  1. Charlie Wojtkun of Preston, CT, and Don Dolliver of Starksboro, VT, 6.08 secs.
  2. Jim Colbert of Winsted, CT, and Don Quigley of Lee, NH, 6.91
  3. Chip Arthur of South Gibson, PA< and Bill Simcox of Farrandsville, PA, 7.915
  4. Jean Guy Rodrigue of St. Prosper, Que., and Gilles Levesque of Charlesbourg. Que., 8.755
  5. Gilles Molleur of Derby Line, VT, and Maurice Molleur of Greensboro, VT, 10.98
  6. Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT, and Marc Desrosiers of Hay Settlement, New Brunswick, 11.64

Tree Felling (all direct hits)

  1. Jim Colbert of Winsted, CT, 25.151 secs.
  2. Moyal Conrad of Greenfield, Nova Scotia, 28.37
  3. Herb Gingras of Dover, NH, 30.14
  4. Robert Doyle of Winthrop, ME, 36.485
  5. Sheridan Doyle of Winthrop, ME, 38.90
  6. Dave Geer of Jewett City, CT, 49.71

Cable Skidder

  1. Allen Higgins of Brunswick, 1:03.28
  2. Jon Winn of West Newfield, 1:07.27
  3. Brian Winn of East Effinham, NH, 1:09.54
  4. Arnold Winn of West Newfield, 1:09.63
  5. Bruce Cox of Peru, 1:12.65
  6. John Paul Grignon of Mexico, 1:13.7

Grapple Skidder (Skidder)

  1. John Wescott of Hollis, 57.37 secs.
  2. Heath Taylor of Cornish, 1:00.09
  3. Alex Moody of Porter, 1:02.36
  4. Shaun McLucas of Porter, 1:05.09
  5. Ryan Mills of Parsonsfield, 1:06.29
  6. Maya Lary of Cornish, 1:06.76

Pulp Loading

  1. Dale Mills of Parsonsfield, 4:25.61
  2. Steve Verrill of Porter, 5:00.42
  3. Brian Winn of South Effingham, NH, 5:45.74
  4. Arnold Winn of West Newfield, 5:47.43
  5. Chip Howard of Hiram, 6:26.65
  6. Jon Winn of West Newfield, 7:13.76

Log Loading

  1. Brian Winn of South Effingham, NH, 2:40.24
  2. Dale Mills of Parsonfield, 2:57. 99
  3. Steve Verrill of Porter, 3:15.05
  4. Arnold Winn of West Newfield, 3:15.03
  5. Chip Howard of Hiram, 3:19.81
  6. Jon Winn of West Newfield, 3:39.22

Hydraulic Loader

  1. Arnold Winn of West Newfield, 5:00.37
  2. Steve Verrill of Porter, 6:03.09
  3. Dale Mills of Parsonfield, 6:18.27
  4. Brian Winn of South Effingham, NH
  5. Chip Howard of Hiram, 6:31.39
  6. Jon Winn of West Newfield, 7:01.84
Top - Home