They did it again: Jack Jordan and Anne Paterson defend their titles - Matthew Gower triumphs in the rookie category for the first time. Close decisions, emotional statements and a touch of drama: at the beginning of March, Palmerston North became the stage for the New Zealand STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Championships. As part of the 10th Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, Anne Paterson and Jack Jordan once again beat off the competition. Matthew Gower won the rookie category by just one point and secured his first national title. Jack Jordan has thus qualified for the World Championships in Milan.
Anne Paterson, a New Zealander living in Australia, won her third national title in a strong field of nine. "I'm pretty happy with my performance. This title really means a lot to me - sports logging is a big part of my life," she said after the competition. Second and third place went to Alma Wallace and Raewyn Windley.
Brothers' duel right up to the DQ
In the pros' competition, it was the expected neck-and-neck race between the Jordan brothers. Jack against Shane - until the final discipline, the Hot Saw. There, however, Shane was disqualified because he left the mark. This cleared the way for Jack Jordan, who secured his fourth national title. “One bad day here can ruin your whole season - so I'm all the more pleased that I was able to withstand the pressure and that I will compete with the rest of the world again in October,” explained Jack Jordan after the competition. Cleveland Cherry also put in a remarkable performance: the three-time rookie champion celebrated his debut in the pro category and finished in third place.
A single point decided the title for the rookie athletes: Matthew Gower, runner-up last year, won ahead of Morgan Bolstad. "We've been having close duels all season. Today I had the better end for me," said Gower after the decisive springboard discipline. It is the first national title for the athlete from Whangamōmona. Sam Bellamy from Stratford came third.
