The Scottish Open Axe Throwing Championships, staged for the first time at McConnel Wood Products’ Cairnmill Sawmill near Dumfries, attracted 40 competitors from across Scotland. And it may prove the forerunner of an even larger event next year, according to timber merchant and axe-throwing aficionado Archie McConnel.
The sport involves throwing a double-headed axe at a wooden target.
Lothian Timber won the team event for two-handed throwing, while the ‘Blue Riband’ individual prize went to Mr McConnel. Keith Threadgall, a sawmiller based at Woodschool in the Scottish Borders, came first in the single-handed throwing event.
Mr McConnel hopes the competition will have helped prepare Scottish axe-throwers for next year’s event, expected to take place in parallel with the 2002 World Logging Championships in Lockerbie and to attract teams from a number of countries.
