JIM FOSTER
16.12.1901 - 6.4.1977
Written by Ron Davies M.H.A. May 1967
Jim Foster was born at Tarleton, Latrobe. At the age of 16 he competed in his first chopping contest at Waratah. Two years later in 1919, he had his first start at the Henley-On-Mersey Regatta at Latrobe and he did not win an event at this popular carnival in his home town until 30 years later in 1949, when he won the Carnival Foot Handicap and he retired the following year. Jim Foster had little success as a youth and was advised to give up the sport. However, he loved it, and decided to carry on. He won his first big chop at Ulverstone in 1925. This was the "Mecca" for axemen from all parts of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and for the first thirty years of the twentieth century, conducted the blue ribbon event for chopping in Australasia. This premier event was allocated to Deloraine in 1931, and it was here that Jim Foster won his first World Title, in the time of 60 seconds. There was a classy field of local axemen but no mainlanders competed because of the depression. On 26th November, 1932, Foster successfully defended his title at Ulverstone in the record time of 44 and 4/5ths seconds. It was a gathering of champions as every competitor: J.Foster, R.J.Richards, A.C.Smith, J.Walker, C.Weston, R.G.Cotton, W.Weston and R.Radford (who had won three World Titles previously)were all men of high repute in the sport. Foster was presented with a special axe by the Plumb Axe Co. of America. This axe was a wonderful piece of craftsmanship, specially made and tempered. The axe bore the name of the event and the winner in black on a gold background, above which was an embossed Union Jack In colour. This Carnival marked the return of the mainland competitors with seven Victorians and three Queenslanders and only one failed to be in the money. For the next few years, Foster was the backmarker in handicap events in Tasmania and won events in Latrobe, Ulverstone and Launceston. On the 1st November 1937 he was to win his third World Championship at Deloraine in the time of 1.31 and 1/5. The field included W.Johnston, the Victorian champion and R.Radford a former World champion. Other starters were J.Foster, M.Parker, F.Sullivan, H.Woods, W.Delanty, R.Rowe, F.Cassidy and A.C.Smith. Foster's and Radford's blocks fell almost simultaneously, the judges verdict being in Foster's favour by a short blow. The slow time on this occasion indicated the toughness of the wood. On the 6th of November, 1939 in Deloraine, Jim Foster successfully defended his World Title for the fourth time and won by 7 blows in the time of 45 seconds. Foster was fourth to turn, but with a great exhibition of power cutting, finished well to win comfortably.
Jim Foster can rightly be classed as one of the greatest axemen of his time.
He won the blue ribbon event of chopping, the 15 inch World Championship on four occasions. He also won the 2 ft State Title three times and annexed the 1ft Tasmanian Title at Deloraine in 1937 and in 1931 at Cairns gained the 1 ft Championship.
MOST NOTABLE SPORT OF WOODCHOPPING ACHIEVEMENTS
1931 Ulverstone,Tasmania 15inchStanding World Championship
1932 Ulverstone,Tasmania 15inchStanding World Championship
1934 15inchStanding World Championship
1935 15inchStanding World Championship
1936 15inchStanding World Championship
1937 Deloraine,Tasmania 15inchStanding World Championship
1939 Deloraine,Tasmania 15inchStanding World Championship
Jim with Joe Lyons Latrobe Recreation Ground 1933 Jim - Austin Robertson Plumb to Jim 1932
