To some, Timber Sports is a man’s world. To others, it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman.
At least that’s the view of Catherine Eccles, who is now into her third year of competing within the ‘Original Extreme Sport’, which dates back to the late 19th Century in Australia, where those working the land would literally race to see who could chop through a log the fastest.
For Eccles, having grown up the daughter of a farmer before opting for a career in conservation and then tree management, the decision to take up timber sports came fairly naturally.
‘I followed Timber Sports but I never thought I’d be part of it or on stage competing,’ she says. ‘I always wanted to know how to get into it, whether I could be behind the scenes or just involved somehow. I was then invited to a newcomers’ day and then to a training programme. So it was a kind of natural thing for me as that’s where my background always was.
‘I don’t know if I would say I was naturally pretty good at it. It’s taken me about three years to get to the stage where I’ve mastered the technique. But that’s where it started and I think because I’m passionate about it, that’s enough to want to do better and always improve.’
Though the men have six events compared to the three the women compete in, the majority of the equipment and goals are the same for both.
Eccles competed at the British Championship earlier this year, finishing fourth
Both male and female athletes use the same two-metre saws in the single buck challenge
In the single buck, athletes are required to use a 2metre saw to slice a wooden disc from a fixed block in the fastest time using just their hands to generate the power. Then there is the underhand chop, where men and women are stood on top of a horizonal block, using an axe to chop their way through on both sides. Finally there is the stock saw; where athletes must cut two blocks from a fixed block using a chainsaw – one with a downward cut and one with an upwards cut.
Though this would seem like a sport built for men and strength, Eccles insists anyone can do it as long as they have a solid fitness base and the passion to succeed.
‘The men and women use the same equipment,’ she adds. ‘We both use a 661 chainsaw for some events. We all train, the training camps are there to make sure we’re safe and efficient. It’s only dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
‘When you’re working with the chainsaw, we’ve got the right PPE on. We’ve got taper trousers, visors, goggles, earmuffs. It’s the same with the axe disciplines. We wear chainmail socks and chainmail shin guards on our legs.
‘For me, my business was Lumberjill Tree Care. You would think that the sport is more masculine or a more male-dominated sport. Dating back to World War Two, when men went to war and the women went to work the land. So the women that went to work in the woods, that was where the lumberjills came from as we had to pick up that slack when the guys went to war. So as much as it is a masculine sport, there’s no reason for women not to be involved in it given that for such a long period of time, women did work the land.
‘It’s so much to do with the equipment. I think the women have to work harder for technique. But we all come in different shapes and sizes. Quite a few of the women are very slim built, sot they’ll have to work on a different technique. But there are stronger women who probably have a more natural ability to it.
Through her work in conservation and forestry, Eccles can get her hands on logs to train without any problems
Chainmail is used to protect the athletes’ shins in the underhand buck
‘It’s definitely something for everyone can do if they have an interest in it. There’s a level of fitness involved in it, not so much strength, but you do have to be fit.’
It has not been the easiest of years for Eccles either, however. Despite having broken her neck last December, the 43-year-old from Glasgow was still able to go to the British Championship in June and set personal best times in each of her three events.
Whilst it was not enough to attain a podium place, it was a sign of improvement, something which has always been at the forefront of her goals when it comes to competing.
It’s an attitude she will take to the Czech Republic this weekend, where she will be taking to the stage against some of Europe’s top athletes as a guest competitor at the Czech International Women’s Cup.
‘I had a bad accident at the end of December where I broke my neck, so this year has been a massive recovery process,’ she admits. ‘So just being able to compete again is just brilliant within itself.
‘I want to take another year and improve. Next year I have bigger goals for achievements. I’ll just work hard from here for the next British finals and see where I can go from there.
When it comes to the stock saw, both male and female competitors use the same type of chainsaw
‘This year has just been about finding my feet again. I wasn’t signed as fit again until June. This year has been really good in that it’s meant I’ve taken a back step, slow things down, get more technique involved.
‘Timber Sports was definitely a good way for me to be proactive in recovering from the injury, so there has been a big focus this year just to get over that and it’s helped me improve my fitness as well.
‘I set my times a the British Championship and they weren’t brilliant. At that point, I maybe hadn’t had a full recovery. Whereas from here on in, in the Czech Republic, I just want to improve my times. I’m competing against strong European women and I’m really looking forward to the experience, learn from the other women and it’s just about improving.
‘At the moment, I’m just looking to continue to improve myself. I’d love to be on a podium one day, obviously I’m getting the chance to represent Great Britain and compete in the Czech Republic, so who knows.
‘In October, I’m going to Belgium for a European women’s camp. I would probably like to do more competing abroad, around Europe and see where I go. I don’t look at world champion or British champion goals. I firstly have to look at improving my own goals, so every year I’ll just try and beat my own goals.’