Woodchopping career notes: circa late 1890's on-

  Extract from THE AXEMAN'S JOURNAL AND SPORTING NEWS JULY 1901

  "Thomas Pettit of Sprent, Tasmania, who holds the World's Championship in the 2 foot standing blocks, is also the holder of the championships of New South Wales and Queensland, recently returned to his home at Sprent after a successful trip to New South Wales and Queensland where he upheld the honour of his island home by winning the two championships. Pettit appears to be in perfect health, and none the worse for his exertions, and he speaks of the treatment he received at the hands of the axemen in those distant lands in the very beat terms. During his trip, he fell in with E.Terry, the ex-  Tasmanian, and found that this chopper had grown considerably during the last two years, and had improved in the use of the axe, in fact, Terry gave Pettit a "good go" in the championship at the Highland gathering at McLean, and is a manthe Tasmanians will have to watch closely when he appears once more on Tasmanian soil.

                                                                AXE AND SAW RECORDS (Up to 1903)

World's Championship Chop, Standing Blocks 6 ft 4 ins girth
1899    Ulverstone,Tas             third    
1900    Ulverstone,Tas             winner              4 mins 48 and quarter secs
1902    Burnie, Tas                   winner              4 mins 21 secs

  Champion Sawyer of the World 2ft blocks and 6ft 4ins girth
1899    Ulverstone,Tas             winner              1 min  49 secs
1900    Ulverstone,Tas             winner              2 mins 18 and half secs
1902    Burnie,Tas                    winner              2 mins 42 secs
1903    Devonport,Tas             winner              1 min  59 secs|
Handicap Sawing
1895                                        winner              2mins 52 secs

  Double Handed Sawing
1896    Melbourne,Victoria       Pettit Brothers  35 and a quarter mins
1902    Burnie,Tas                    Pettit and P.Doyle         49secs

  Thomas Pettit               Height 5ft 10 ins

  J.Pettit (father) won the World Championship Sawing Match at Deloraine, Tasmania in 1896 in a time of 1 min 25 and three quarter secs. The fast time was possible as the logs were 3 inch under size.

  P.Doyle won Handicap sawing match at Deloraine, Tasmania in 1904 off 10 secs in a time of 1 min 42 secs

  Extract from press:
"Ulverstone Carnival, November 3-5 1928, Tom Pettit will present, on behalf of the Plumb Axe Co of U.S.A., the cup and Gold Medal for Event 1.(Hopetoun Cup- World's Championship Chop. Standing block 4 ft girth."

  In the 1930's and 40's he travelled to America 9 times to give chopping exhibitions.