Elgan Pugh crowned STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Champion 2017
BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace played host to an action-packed STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Championship on Saturday 5th August.
(L-R) Simon Bond, Elgan Pugh, Glen Penlington
The picturesque surroundings of BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace played host to an action-packed STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Championship on Saturday 5th August, where Welsh local Elgan Pugh came, sawed and conquered to take home the top prize in a nail biting event.
Now in it’s fifth year, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Championship sees the top 16 lumberjack athletes from all over Great Britain compete in a head-to-head race against time across six disciplines; Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Standing Block Chop, Springboard and Hot Saw.
The event saw all the athletes put on a great display of power, technique and precision, with Elgan claiming the top spot by only four points, beating off stiff competition from his fellow Welshman in Simon Bond, who placed second, and Glen Penlington, who finished third. The championship winner was decided on the last event of the competition, testing the athlete’s nerves and keeping a packed out crowd on the edge of their seats.
Spike Milton, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® Global Sports Director and former British Champion, said: “The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Championships began in 2012 and not only does the event keep on getting bigger and better every year, but so does the level of performance from the athletes. As the sport becomes more and more popular within Great Britain, we are seeing a constant new wave of highly skilled athletes competing, which is taking the standard of competition to a whole new level.
“This year’s group of 16 men put in a stellar performance that really highlighted the skill and technique required to compete in this sport and is a testament to the rigorous training programme each one of them complete prior to the event. Every one of them will be hoping to be part of Team GB at the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championships in Norway in November and we have a great pool of talent to choose from.”
Elgan said of his victory: “I am absolutely over the moon to be crowned STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Champion for a third time. I have put a lot of effort into my preparation for this event and to see it all pay off and be viewed as the best athlete in Great Britain this year is something I am very proud of.”
