She’s a lumberJILL and she’s okay! The world of female Timbersports
For some, Monty Python’s Lumberjack Song is an iconic piece of British humour. But – for British champion ‘lumberJills’ – the sport is so far from the handsome stereotype mocked by the sketch group.
This weekend, the group prepares for the second-ever Women’s Timbersport Championship, where the best in the country go head-to-head with axes and chainsaws.
Thought to be the epitome of a masculine profession, the sport has led to becoming more inclusive – as women are welcomed into the country clubs.
Far from outraged Mounties depart as a husky Michael Palin sings about his exploits in “high heels, suspenders and a bra” – the modern event even sees male and female lumberjacks compete together in combined events.
One – the Jack and Jill – sees a man and a woman on opposite sides of a large, two-handed saw.
Sarah Cox, who first tried the sport two years ago before being taken to her local club by a work friend
The first ever show was held last year and Sarah – who runs the recycling department at a soft drink company – took home the bronze medal
The modern event even sees male and female lumberjacks compete together in combined events. Pictured: Sarah Cox doing the Jack and Jill
Sarah Cox, who first tried the sport two years ago, previously mastered skydiving, aerial acrobatics and boxing – before being taken to her local club by a work friend.
The 42-year-old from Llandinan, Wales, said: ‘It’s quite a masculine sport – people look at axes and chainmail and it’s what you would classically associate with men rather than women.
‘But then I think a lot of people forget a lot of the roots of, for example, during the war, when you let the sawmillers do all that kind of work.
“In a way, it’s a nod to those kinds of people — I’d like to think that women like that aren’t forgotten and that spirit is kept alive because of it.
‘It’s quite a strange environment because everyone is very friendly. It’s not like many sports where people are completely and extremely competitive, and your competitor is your enemy.
‘It’s more like people trying to help each other, giving each other tips. It is a very friendly and inviting sport.
‘You start getting to know people from all over the world – it’s like having a global family. Everyone has that thing in common.
“You get people from all walks of life doing it, but it’s generally people who just like the outdoors and a little adventure.”
Daredevil Sarah previously masters skydiving, aerial acrobatics and boxing
Dee Hardwick at the 2022 British Women’s Championship with fellow carpenter Jill Cat Eccles
Cat Eccles, 42, and Justine Narusa, 33, compete in the Underhand Chop at the British Women’s Championships last year
The idea of a lumberjack is not new – in World War II, the Women’s Timber Corps used the nickname to solve the shortage of imported timber after the German invasion of Norway.
Presented by chainsaw company Stihl, the championship will see this modern woodsaw battle it out in three disciplines: the Stock Saw, Single Buck and Underhand Chop at the Royal Three Counties Show on Sunday, June 18.
The very first show was held last year and Sarah – who runs the recycling department at a soft drink company – took home the bronze medal.
She continued, “To be a part of the first — that was amazing.
“I went into that, I didn’t really care where I came from, but just to be a part of history for the first British Women’s Championship was amazing.
“And to see this year how everyone I’ve competed with has done, how we’ve all grown, how we’ve grown together — and to see the new women coming along and trying it, too.”
“It’s absolutely brilliant to welcome more people.”
The extreme series – which originated in a bet between two loggers in Tasmania, Australia – celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2020 and has locations around the world.
Dee Hardwick, a theater support worker at Kidderminster Hospital, laughed as she described the typical lumberjack who wore plaid shirts and jeans.
Dee Hardwick, a theater support worker at Kidderminster Hospital, decided to give the sport a try after buying and selling chainsaws while on lockdown
The 45-year-old from Reddich, an avid rugby player who has also played hockey and motor racing, says attitudes towards women’s sport have changed dramatically since the 2012 Olympics
She and her friends dress up in style as a prank for her upcoming bachelorette party.
The 45-year-old from Reddich, an avid rugby player who has also played hockey and motor racing, says attitudes towards women’s sport have changed dramatically since the 2012 Olympics – and in particular pioneering campaigns by Team GB’s cycling and hockey teams .
So – when she started buying and selling chainsaws while on leave due to the lockdown – she decided to give it a try.
She said, ‘The guys are so friendly. There are no egos. They want women to participate – they know that’s the future of the sport. They are very supportive.
“We want to prove to the men that we can do it.
‘My partner is great. She’s a policewoman and she thinks it’s absolutely insane, but comes along and supports and actually started doing it herself.
“There are amazing women doing this amazing job. And they are treated as equals. That’s the beauty of the sport.
“I’ve made some great best friends with this.”