King Country timbersports competitor Jack Jordan not only defended his world title – he shattered it with a time of 53.65 seconds.
Jordan, New Zealand’s top axeman, won the Stihl Timbersports World Trophy for the second year in a row – smashing the world record time in the process.
The King Country farmer beat a 16-strong field of the best axemen in the world to win the title for the second year in a row in Rotterdam, Netherlands, early Sunday morning New Zealand time.
The Stihl Timbersports World Trophy format is like the rugby sevens of international wood chopping. It is a quick-fire event with four disciplines back-to-back (no rest in-between) suited to competitors with superior fitness and endurance as they make their way through knockout stages to the final showdown.
Jordan came from behind in the dramatic final seconds of the last standing block chop discipline to win the world title against Polish competitor Michal Dubicki.
If it wasn’t for a slight stoppage in the single buck and a small stumble on the way to the standing block chop, his world record time could have been faster.
“He was in front for quite a fair way there. I was definitely chasing the game and got a good block in the last standing block at the end and was able to shortcut it a bit and managed to get back in front.
“It was really tough competition out there. Everyone was pushing me right to the end. I felt like I was chasing the game a bit out there and to come away with a win like that is an unreal feeling.”
Jordan was full of praise for the competition and how difficult they were to overpower.
“All of the races were really tough. Recovering in-between the races was extremely tough. I just think everyone is getting better. You do it one year and you come back and know everyone is pushing everyone to be better.”
It was not just a personal best time for Jordan in the final, it was a new world record of 53.65 seconds – more than a second quicker than the previous record – that he set to hold on to his crown.
Incredibly, this time was also four seconds faster than the time Jordan produced in the first heat of the
competition less than an hour earlier.
“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,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s semi-final was a repeat of last year’s contest against Jason Lentz from the US, whom he beat by the closest of margins, once more to proceed to the breath-taking final.
His Polish opponent Michal Dubicki said Jordan was too good on the day.
“I went up against Jack Jordan. He’s a hell of an athlete. Young, good underhand cutter, great up-and-comer in the sport.
“He beat me last year on this stage and spanked me again this year.”
