Wood chopper to compete at world championships

Tom Redmond will represent Great Britain at the Timbersports World Championships

A wood chopper from Dorset is preparing to take on the world in what is often called "the original extreme sport".

Tom Redmond, from Bere Regis, will represent Great Britain at the Timbersports World Championships in Milan in front of 3,000 fans in the Allianz Cloud Arena.

With more than 150 years of tradition, the roots of the sport originated in Australia and New Zealand.

This years contest will see 120 axemen from 20 nations competing in four disciplines - in a head-to-head "fastest team wins" style relay.

Redmond works as a building surveyor and said he got into the sport 10 years ago after a chance meeting with another wood chopper in a pub.

He said the sport is very physically demanding and he took part in the world championships last year in France.

He added: "It is the chopping world's equivalent of a Formula One race, to go and meet up with all of the top people in the world is really, really good, it's great to rub shoulders with some of the best and compete against them."

This years contest will see 120 axemen from 20 nations competing

"If we get a clean run, we'll be in with a shout," says Redmond, who hopes he and his teammates can better their 13th place finish in 2024.

Australia's "Chopperoos" have lifted the World Championship trophy for the previous 5 years in a row.