10 June 2023 – New Zealand’s Jack Jordan shattered the world record to win the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Trophy for the second time in twelve months after defeating the Pole Michał Dubicki. Finishing third was America’s Jason Lentz, securing the final podium position.
Jack Jordan saw off the challenge of Poland’s Michał Dubicki in an action packed final heat, holding his nerve to set a new world record to retain his title. In spite of Dubicki’s strongest efforts, smashing a personal best, the Kiwi was unstoppable. Jason Lentz triumphed over the Netherland‘s Redmer Knol in the Small Final.
The widely anticipated World Trophy displayed an extraordinary level of breathtaking axe-tion in front of a thrill-filled crowd at the picturesque Onderzeebootloods in Rotterdam. Following a preliminary Time Trial, all athletes were ready to rumble in a nail-biting event to take home the title and be proclaimed World Trophy Champion. The defending champion, Jordan made a strong statement in the opening Time Trial, clocking a finish of 57:61 to cement his place on top of the standings heading into the elimination heats. The Kiwi was closely followed by Dubicki and Sweden’s Ferry Svan who rounded up the top three positions.
Dubicki fires out of the blocks with personal best
In the Round of 16, the man to beat, Jordan, was too much for Canada’s Geoff Larkin. Despite setting a personal best of 1:10:42, Frenchman Pierre Puybaret had the renowned Lentz fight for it as the American marginally squeezed through. In further heats, Dubicki demolished the wood, clocking a sensational personal best of 57:89, with ‘Chooperoo’ Laurence O'Toole, Sweden’s Emil Hansson and Ferry Svan, Poland’s Jacek Groenwald and the Netherland‘s Redmer Knol, all progressing through comfortably.
Local hero Knol progresses to first ever international semi-final
As the heat turned up a notch, the quarterfinals saw Jordan easily defeat O'Toole (Australia), and the relentless Lentz (USA) marginally overcoming Hansson (Sweden) by the split of a hit.
In an all-Polish duel, Dubicki was too powerful for Groenwald, and Knol (Netherlands) moved through to his first semi-final after a technical error from Svan, (Sweden) who was subsequently disqualified.
Jordan leaves nothing on stage in statement duel
In a repeat of last year’s contest, Jordan again defeated Lentz in a breathtaking match-up, which saw the formidable Kiwi head into the last ultimate showdown. Despite the partisan crowd behind Knol, Dubicki was too strong for the local hero, leaving him and the American, Lentz to battle it out in the Small Final.
Top chopper Jordan breaks world record to complete stunning back-to-back success
With anger in his eyes, Lentz responded from Semi-Final upset with a time of 1:18:63 to secure third place. Jordan and Dubicki, who had been unshakeable throughout the competition, left the crowd stumped in the final dance. The Pole’s personal best of 55:38 wasn’t enough as Jordan reigned supreme as he set a new incredible world record with a time of 53:65 seconds to hold onto his crown. Jack Jordan, the back-to-back World Trophy Champion said: “It’s great to win it back-to-back, especially after winning it once, you get a feeling of how hard it actually is, so to come back here and win it again is excellent.”
Michał Dubicki, speaking after finishing runner-up said: “The final against Jack was really top class and it was great fun to fight him. In the end he was a bit better, so second place is absolutely okay for me.”
Jason Lentz, who finished third on the podium added: “It was a great atmosphere. I was a bit nervous in the first few rounds, and then I had to go up against Jack Jordan who is just an incredible athlete. But it's always good to compete with the best.