Four records were set, two tied and two established at the 40th Saco Valley Woodmen’s Field day that attracted 107 competitors in the field events and 28 in the truck and skidder events.
Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI and Shannon Strong of Warren, CT tied for the women’s championship while nine-time Champion Woodsman Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT and Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH shared the men’s title. Don Quigley of Lee, NH won the Master’s Championship, Brad Taylor of Porter won the Champion Logger title and Brian Winn of South Effington, NH earned top trucker honors.
“This was a tremendous day for us,” said Toby Hammond, chairman of the 40-year-old Fryeburg Fair event. “We had some of the best competition we’ve seen in quite a while.”
The men's and women's champions changed after the event had concluded based on what was determined to be improper runoffs after ties in axe throwing, which affected two championships.
"The Saco Valley Woodsmen’s Field Day Committee has conducted a thorough review of the 2007 Men’s and Women’s Championship results. We have determined that in both Axe Throwing qualifying events our tie-break rule was not applied,” Hammond wrote in a letter to competitors after the fair. “Since it is impossible to know what the results of a one-throw, sudden death throw-off would have been in these two events and in turn, on the two championships, the committee has made the following decisions:
“Both Axe Throwing results in question will stand as determined that day. The Men’s and Women’s Championships have been ruled a tie and, continuing our tradition of fairness, we will award trophies and pay full championship money to both contestants in both championships.”
The committee has implemented rule changes and procedures to prevent this from happening in the future.
"Only questions and concerns raised during the show will be addressed the day of the show and all results will be final when awards are presented," Hammond said.
In the Master’s Axe Throw, Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT and Charlie Wojtkun of Preston, CT were tied at 23 (out of 25). During two consecutive runoffs, they again tied at 23. It wasn’t until the third runoff that Lessard edged ahead to capture the win. While the record of 25 was tied by Jerry Gingras, no one has been able to throw a sixth consecutive bullseye and claim the $500 bonus. Nine share the record, including Strong, the only woman so far. She hit 25 in 2000.
RECORDS SET
Records set were Men’s Underhand Chop, Arden Cogar Jr. of West Hamlin, WV; Master’s Bucksaw, Don Quiqley; Master’s Crosscut, Don Quigley and Jim Colbert of Winsted, CT; Springboard, Nathan Waterfield of Cherry Valley, NY; Grapple Skidder, Brad Taylor of South Effington, NH; Cable Skidder, Bruce Cox of Peru; and Jack & Jill Crosscut; Andy and Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY and Mike Sullivan and Nancy Zalewski. The Schreiners broke the record first but were then bettered by Sullivan and Zalewski.
There were two new contests this year, the Master’s Log Roll and the 8x8 Women’s Underhand Chop. Quigley and Colbert won the log roll and Zalewski the chop.
Entered in the day’s competition were 56 men, 29 women and 22 masters. Massachusetts had the largest contingent with 18 followed by 17 from New Hampshire, 13 from Vermont, 12 from Connecticut and Maine and 11 from New York. Eleven came from Canada. Seven of those pre-registered didn’t come.
The event ran about an hour longer than normal because Woodsmen’s Day officials honored more than two dozen past champions in front of the capacity crowd in the main grandstand.
Master’s Axe Throw
Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT – 23 points (3 runoffs)
Charlie Wojtkun, Preston CT
Jim Colbert of Winsted, CT
Jerry Alves of Dighton, MA
Dave Geer of Jewett City, CT
Master’s Bucksaw
Don Quigley of Lee, NH, 7.33 secs.
Gilles Levesque of Charlesbourge, Que., 8.36 secs.
Jim Colbert, 8.67 secs.
Dave Stadler of Bermnidji, MN, 9.515 secs.
Jerry Alves, 10.485 secs.
Maurice Molleur of Greensboro Bend, VT, 10.91 secs.
Master’s Log Roll
Jim Colbert and Dong Quigley, 19.125 secs.
Marc Desrosiers of Hay Settlement, NB and Leo Lessard, 21.345 secs.
Bernard Peters of Irasburg, VT, and Matt Sullivan of Lee Center, NY, 22.45 secs.
Dave Stadler and Gus Carlson of Talmonn, MN, 25.175 secs
Gilles Molleur of Derby Line, VT, and Maurice Molleur, 26.15
William Simeox of Ferandsville, PA, and Chip Arthur of South Gibson, PA, 28.44 secs.
Master’s Underhand Chop
Don Quigley, 21.515 secs.
Charlie Wojtkun, 26.375 secs.
Jim Colbert, 28.2 secs.
Marc Desrosiers, 31.94 secs.
Dave Stadler, 32.5 secs.
Joe Regan of Hopkinton, MA, 39.515 secs.
Master’s Crosscut (record)
Jim Colbert and Don Quigley, 6.515 secs.
Sven Johnson of Jewett City, CT, 8.355 secs.
John Guy Rodrigue of St. Prosper, Que. and Gil Levesque of Charlesbourge, Que., 9.21 secs.
Dave Stadler and Gus Carson of Tallman, MN,10.64 secs.
William Simcox of Farrandsville, PA, and Chip Arthur of So. Gibson, PA, 11.75 secs.
Maurice and Gilles Molleur, 12.73 secs.
Tree Felling
Jim Colbert, 32.11 secs. (direct hit)
Marc Desrosiers, 40.19 (direct hit)
Chris Cicora of Springwater, NY, 57.17 (direct hit)
Troy Harvey, E. Hardwick, VT, 1:01.325 (direct hit)
Mike McGuire of Raynham, MA, 2:38.235 (direct hit)
Scott Gould of Enfield, CT, 35.62
Log Roll
Mark Gould of West Hampton, MA, and Scott Gould of Enfield, CT, 14.640 secs.
Nathan Wakefield of Cherry Valley, NY and Will Roberts of Groton, NY, 14.785
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT and Rick Jordan fo Sterling CT, 14.81
Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH and Herb Gingras of Dover, NH, 15.735
Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que and Gaston Duperre of Shipshaw, Que, 15.735
Ben Motterman of E Hardwick, VT and Charles Rodda of Orono, ME, 16.05
Springboard Chop (record)
Nathan Waterfield of Cherry Valley, NY, 42.11 secs.
Will Roberts of Groton, NY, 46.42
Don Lambert St. Gilles, Que, 53.25
Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY, 58.67
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 59.175
Rick Jordan of Sterling, CT, 1:03.42
Women’s Bucksaw
Shannon Strong of Dighton, CT, 13.315 secs.
Irene Harvey of E Hardwick, CT, 13.42
Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI, 14.59
Mary Beth Dooley of Waterport, NY, 14.92
Jessica Edwards of Pelham, NH, 17.35
Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 18.76
Women’s Underhand Chop
Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI, 22.435 secs.
Tina Scheer of El;lsworth, ME, 30.075
Shannon Strong of Warren, CT, 32.86
Allison Jones opf Mt. Dessert, ME, 32.925
Mary Beth Dooley of Waterport, NY, 34.945
Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 35.195
Women’s Axe Throw
Brenda Gingras of Dover, NH, 19 points
Marion Colbert of Winsted, CT, 18
Alissa Jones of Mt. Dessert, ME, 17
Patty Marcun of Erroll, NH, 17
Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI, 16
Men’s Crosscut
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, and Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT, 5.385 secs.
Jerry Gingras of Errol, NH and Herb Gingras of Dover, NH, 5.685
Don Lambert and Gaston Duperre, 5.78
Arden Cogar Jr. of W Hamlin, WV and Mike Eash of Coatesville, PA, 6.37
Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY and Mike Koers of Attica, NY, 6.515
Paul Pfenniger of Scottsville, NY and Chris Cicora of Springwater, NY, 6.550 |
| Champions - Don Quigley, above left, Master's Champion; Mike Sullivan tied with Jerry Gingras, below, for Champion Woodsman while Nancy Zalewski above tied with Shannon Strong, shown below lining up the target in the axe throw. |
 
| WINNERS - Event Chairman Toby Hammond presented blue ribbons to brothers Scott and Mark Gould, winners of the log roll contest. Below, Toby congratulates Master's Crosscut winners Don Quigley, left, and Jim Colbert, who set a record of 6.515 seconds. |
Women’s Crosscut
Tina Scheer of Ellsworth and Shannon Strong of Warren, CT, 10.42 secs.
Erica Schreiner of Fulton, NY and Lavonne Mikloiche of Vardlong, PA, 11.735
Mary Beth Dooley of Waterport, NY and Collin Sheperd of Attica, NY, 12.27
Kristy Cogar of W Hamlin, WV and Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI, 12.545
Laurette Russell of New Gloucester, ME and Irene Harvey of E Hardwick, VT, 14.21
Katy Gingras and Crystal Labreque of Erroll, NH, 17.505
Jack and Jill Crosscut
Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, WI and Mike Sullivan, 7.045 secs.
Erica and Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 7.645
Jerry and Katy Gingras of Errol, NH, 8.265
Herb and Brenda Gingras of Dover, NH, 8.34
Irene Harvey of E Hardwick, VT and Trevor Molleur of Greensboro Bend, VT, 8.49
Kristy and Arden Cogar of W Hamlin, WV, 8.66
Stock Chainsaw
Ed Brightman of Assonet, M. Athearn, 3.855 secs.
Jerry Gingras of Erroll, NH, 4.655
Trevar Molleur of Greensboro, VT, 4.715
Sheridan Doyle of Winthrop, ME, 4.825
Leo Lessard of Lyndon, VT, 5.0
Marc Desrosier of Hay Settlement, NB, 5.8
Men’s Bucksaw
Donald Lambert of St. Gilles, Que, 6.015 secs.
Gaston Duppere of Shipshaw, Que, 6.065
Jerry Gingras of Erroll, NH, 6.295
Chris Cicora of Springwater, NY, 6.85
Herb Gingras of Dover, NH, 6.9
Mike Roers of Athica, NY, 7.3
Men’s Axe Throw
Jerry Gingras of Erroll, NH
Will Roberts of Groton, NY
Rich Jordan of Sterling, CT
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT
Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY
Lenny Kaplan of W Hartford, CT
Ed Brightman of Assonet, MA
Men's Underhand Chop (record)
Arden Cogar Jr., W Hamlin, WV, 10.785 secs.
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 12.67
Rich Jordan of Sterling, Ct, 17.53
Mike Eash of Coatesville, PA, 18.43
Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que, 18.83
Adam Stevens of Castleton, VT, 19.37
Open Chainsaw
Herb Gingras of Dover, NH, 3.67 secs.
Mike Sullivan of Winsted, CT, 3.725
Don Lambert of St. Gilles, Que, 3.735
Andy Schreiner of Fulton, NY, 3.87
Brad Stevens of Fair Haven, VT, 4.065
Jerry Gingras of Erroll, NH, 4.125
— Trucking/Skidder events —
Cable Skidder (record)
Bruce Cox of Peru, ME, 57.7 secs.
Arnold Winn of W Newfield, ME, 1:00.41
Jonathan Winn of W Newfield, ME, 1:01.97
Brian Winn of Effingham, NH, 1:08.04
John Paul Grignon of Dixfield, ME, 1:16.06
Keith Larsen of Granville, MA, 1:16.43
Grapple Skidder (record)
Brad Taylor of Porter, ME, 57.62 secs.
John Wescott of Hollis Center, ME, 59.18
Alex Moody of Porter, ME, 1:00.57
Matt Warren of Brownfield, ME, 1:01.47
Ben Sanborn of W Baldwin, ME, 1:06.18
Jason Sanborn of W Baldwin, ME,, 1:09.08
Log Loading
Brian Winn of South Effington, NH, 2 mins., 48.47 secs.
Dale Mills of Parsonfield, ME, 2:52.50
Stephen Verrill of Porter, ME, 2:54.92
Arnold Winn of W Newfield, ME, 2:58.57
Victor Panno of Brownfield, ME, 3:21.83
Chip Howard of Hiram, ME, 3:31.26
Pulp Loading
Brian Winn of South Effington, NH, 4 mins., 43.7 secs
Dale Mills of Parsondfield, ME, 4:59.49
Arnold Winn of W Newfield, ME, 5:12.28
Stephen Verrill of Prter, ME, 5:13.61
Jonathan Winn of W Newfield, ME, 6:29.95
David Howard of S Hiram, Me, 6:38.08
Hydraulic Loader
Arnold Winn of West Newfield, NH, 4 mins., 55.79 secs.
Stephen Verrill of Porter, ME, 5:58.81
Brian Winn of S Effington, NH, 6:03.17
Victor Panno of Brownfield, ME, 7:01.64 |
