Matthew Coffey, 16, Nick Jenkins, 17, Jack Carnes, 16 and Frazer Carnes 13, are competitive wood choppers.

The sport is taking them around the country to compete and represent Victoria in the under 21s team –  and they are proving age is not always a factor in strength and ability. 

The young members of the Wimmera Axeman Association have had wins in age group competitions and are showing a competitive edge in the open class too, while representing an association that has one of the biggest numbers of young woodchoppers of any club in the state. 

Five of the Victorian under 21 team are from the Beaufort and Ballarat area, and they are being trained by some of the sport’s best.

Matthew’s father David Coffey is a world championship wood chopper and Beaufort local Dick has been chopping for more than 40 years. 

Matthew first started chopping at nine-years-old under the guidance of his dad and the pair continue to train together in their spare time. 

David says most people in the sport have picked it up from their parents, but as the sport is growing new juniors are starting to pick it up. 

He says he has seen many changes in the sport since he first started 32 years ago and an increasing number of juniors that will ensure the sustainability of the sport. 

“The sport is definitely going ahead as far as I can see,” he says. 

“There are more juniors wanting to chop, and more shows catering for juniors which is great to see.

“I know when I was a kid chopping the novice event was something that was very short lived because there wasn’t enough of us around. In the under 18s there might have been one or two competitions a year, whereas every show we go to now the boys have an under 18s event and it is good for them to learn to chop.”

Veteran woodchopper Dick Johnston has been involved in the sport for more than 40 years. 

The 74-year-old continues to compete and is passing his knowledge and advice onto the sports younger competitors. 

He introduced 16-year-old Jack to woodchopping four years ago.

Jack has gone on to win Junior Axeman of the Royal Adelaide Show in September and Victorian Under 18s Junior Axeman Champion of Champions for the past two years.

Matthew won two open competitions at the Brisbane Show and the Under 18s Underhand Championship. 

Nick won Open Handicap Aggregate at Adelaide Show in September. 

Each of the young axemen have their own achievements to celebrate, but some horror stories to look back on too. 

Jack’s younger brother Frazer, 13, has a scar across his leg where he cut it with his axe at a competition two years ago.

Jack has kept a shoe that is cut right through the sole on Boxing Day, but he escaped injury because of metal chain socks. 

But all the boys say the risk of injury does not worry them, they simply love the sport and the mateship that comes with it. 

“It is a great family sport,” David says. 

“That is something we have tried doing in this club to make it the kids grow up together as mates not enemies and work together and help each other.”

Tash Carnes, mum of Jack and Frazer, says she enjoys watching the boys compete and meet new people. 

“They have got friends from all around the world now,” she says.

“At a Royal Show, to see them all catch up and have fun is so great. The mateship is just awesome. If Jack is rigging up a log the next minute there are 10 or 15 people there catching up while he is doing it.”

Travelling around the country to compete in woodchopping comes at a cost. 

The boys and their parents have been fundraising with pub nights, demonstrations and raffles to support the team at competitions. 

The cost of travelling as far as Tasmania, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, accommodation, axes and competition entry fees adds up for the families to support the boys in the sport they love. 

The young woodchoppers will compete at the Lyonville Woodchop on February 9. 

Visit the Wimmeran Axeman Facebook page or call Tash on 0419 352 883 to get involved or support woodchopping in the region.