JIM MARSHALL

10/11/1870 - 08/09/1949

THE TASMANIAN "LIGHTNING AXEMAN"

Jim Marshall of Sprent, south of Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia was fondly and respectfully known among the Sport of Woodchopping fraternity as the "Lightning Axeman" He was about 6ft1in in height and weighed over 14 stone. His statue was superbly proportioned and he combined artistry in his work with terrific power and speed. A competent and shrewd axeman with an inquiring mind . He was the first to

experiment with different types and weights of axes and applied them to various native timbers in order to find the best axe blade for the particular task. He also tried various sharpening techniques and was the first Tasmanian axeman who perfected the art of grinding axe blades. He won the World 30 inch Standing Block Championship in 1892 in 6 minutes, 3 and a quarter seconds and again in 1893 in 4 minutes 45 and a quarter seconds. At these chops the events were not handicapped and all the axemen started on the word "go'

In a handicap in 1902 Jim Marshall competed against another chopper named Bingham, who beat Jim by 10 seconds in the heat, semi-final and final. However it is of note that Bingham had a 75 second start in all events.

Jim Marshall's chopping career ended when he broke down in the thighs and couldn't continue training. He trained several great axemen, including Tom Pettit of N.S.W. who went onto win Championships and become known as the only axeman to hold World chopping (1900 1902 1905) and sawing championships at the same time.

An quote often featured in written reports at the time was" Jim Marshall is the Tasmanian champion and his own country fellers of trees tremble at his doughty deeds".

MOST NOTABLE - SPORT OF WOODCHOPPING ACHIEVEMENTS

1892 Latrobe,Tasmania 2ft.Standing World Championship

                            1893 Latrobe,Tasmania 2ft.Standing World Championship


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