GENERAL
RULES
HEAD JUDGE
A Head Judge is appointed
by the Organizing Committee. The Head
Judge's job is to enforce the rules, and he/she
shall have the final say in all matters
pertaining to the enforcement and interpretation
of the rules. The Head Judge must ensure
that any competitor guilty of rule violations or
poor sportsmanship is disqualified or
appropriately penalized. The Head Judge
must ensure that NO PERSON, other than the
participating competitors or timers shall enter,
or be within, the competition arena during the
actual running of any event. The Head Judge
must ensure that any competitor who jumps the gun
is disqualified.
EMCEE'S CADENCE
The Emcee must attempt to
make his/her cadence ("Timers ready?
Contestants ready? 3-2-1-GO!", or any
variation) as consistent as possible. This
is to ensure that no competitor is advantaged or
disadvantaged.
TIMERS AND OFFICIALS
The Head Judge must ensure
that the Timers are accustomed to timing
Lumberjack events, and that they know exactly
when to start and stop their watches. There
should be at least two Timers assigned to each
contestant, with the average of the two watches
constituting the contestants final time.
Note that if there is a large discrepancy between
the two times, the Head Judge should determine
which time is more representative of the
contestant's actual performance and use only that
time.
The Timers are to judge
time according to the rules of the individual
show. Customarily the commencement of
timing occurs when the Head Judge or Emcee's
cadence reaches the word "GO," and ends
when the "cookie" is severed from the
log. Starting prior to "GO" is
considered "Jumping the Gun" and is
normally grounds for disqualification. It
is under the discretion of the Timers and
Officials if a contestant is to be penalized or
disqualified for "Jumping the
Gun". It should be stressed that no
favoritism should be shown to any competitor, and
that the same rules apply to everyone.
DISQUALIFICATION
Indication of
disqualification for any infraction should be
made to the competitor immediately upon reaching
that decision and should be no later than 5
minutes after the conclusion of the event.
It should be made verbally by the Timer (or by
the Head Judge) directly to the competitor.
NOVICE
The novice classes are
open to:
1: competitors who are
still enrolled in school and/or under the age of
18;
2: new female competitors
3: persons the competition organizers determine
to be novice competitors.
PERSONS IN THE
COMPETITION ARENA
Customarily NO PERSON,
other than the participating competitors and
timers, shall enter or be within the competition
area during the actual running of any event. An
exception is to be made for novice coaches.
SUPERVISION
Novice competitors should
compete under the supervision of an experienced
competitor or coach.
WAIVER
ALL competitors will be
required to sign a waiver before competing.
For competitors under 18, a parent or guardian
must sign the waiver on their behalf. The
Organizing Committee will not be responsible for
any injuries sustained during the
competition.
EVENT RULES
KETTLE BOILING
(1) Contestants will be
provided with a block of cedar, three (3) matches
and a boiling can containing 1 cup (250ml) of
soapy water. The competitor is to supply
his/her own axe.
(2) Competition will
be limited to 16 contestants with preference to
people competing in all events. Other
competitors will be entered in the order
registered.
(3) Lighters or other
accelerants are not permitted. Their use
will result in disqualification.
(4) A competitor will
be disqualified if their can tips over after
“GO”. Before “GO” the
competitor can get a refill for their can.
(5) All contestants
will compete at the same time. The
contestant’s axe cannot touch the wood until
“GO” and time will stop when the water
boils over the side of the can. There will
be one judge/timer per competitor. The
event will end when the fifth can boils
over. Extra matches can be obtained, 3 at a
time, from the Head Judge (or designated match
person).
(6) Slabs can be used
to cover the opening of the can.
BUCKSAWING
A bucksaw will be provided
by the competition organizers; however,
contestants can use their own saw that meets the
following requirements: the blade will be 50
inches or less between the pin holes and will be
secured on each end to a "bow saw"
frame. Saw frames are to be in no way
weighted. Contestants will be allowed
3 inches of wood to make one cut. In case
of a partial cut, another cut is allowable within
the allowable area with the time
continuing. Wood for this event will be 6x6
white pine. Novice: Same rules.
CROSS-CUTTING
(2 person)
All contestants must use
the cross-cut saw provided by the competition
organizers.*
Time begins when the emcee's cadence reaches
"G0", and ends when the second complete
"cookie" is completely severed.
Contestants will be allowed 5 inches of wood to
make two complete “cookies”. In case of
a partial cut, another cut is allowed within the
allowable area with the time continuing.
Wood for this event will be 8x8 white pine.
Novice: Contestants will be allowed 3 inches of
wood to make one cut. Novices can compete
with another novice or an experience competitor.
- * The cross-cut
saw provided for this event is a new Tuatahi
Racing Saw, one of
the internationally famous products made
in New Zealand and used in major
lumberjack competitions throughout the
world. It has been purchased
and donated for use in the 2008 Miramichi
Lumberjack Competition by Councillor
Wayne Fowler of Doaktown.
PULP TOSS
Competitors will start
from behind the foul line and will be required to
throw a 4ft bolt of pulp. The distance will
be measured from the foul line to the point where
the bolt first makes contact with the
ground. Please note the following:
- No part of the
competitor’s body is allowed to make contact
with the ground pass the foul line until the bolt
has stopped moving.
- Any style of throw
(overhand or underhand) is permitted and
welcomed.
- Running starts are
allowed.
- Pulp hooks are
allowed.
RUN-CUT-SPLIT
(2 person)
A bucksaw and axe
(competitors can use their own axe) will be
provided by the competition organizers. A
block of wood, 32” to 36” long and
about 5” in diameter, will be placed
approximately 100’ from the sawhorse.
The block will have a dot painted on each
end. One dot will be one color and the
other dot will be another.
The “runner”
must be touching the sawhorse upon
“GO”. The “runner” must
go and pick up the block and carry it back to the
sawhorse. The “runner” must then
hold the block while the “sawyer” uses
the bucksaw to cut the block in half. Each
competitor takes a block to split into four full
length pieces, each piece must have part of the
painted dot on it. The first competitor
(can be either the “runner” or
“sawyer”) splits their block and then
hands the axe over to the other competitor to
split their block. The axe cannot be
handed back. Competitors are allowed to
use their hands to hold the blocks during
splitting and counting blocks. Contestants
cannot pull the pieces apart by hand.
Pieces must be split apart with the axe.
Time will stop when the
second competitor drops the axe or calls
“Time”. The competitors must have
four (4) full length pieces of wood with each dot
on each. Joined pieces will be considered
one piece. One (1) fault will be accessed
for each missing piece. Placing will be
fastest time with the fewest faults.
CHAINSAW
*** All competitors
must wear safety pants or chaps provided. Restricted
to 18 years and older.***
Stock: All competitors
will use the same saw which will be provided by
the competition organizers. At the start,
the saw will be on the ground, shut off.
The competitor must have
both hands touching the log until
“GO”. On “GO”, the
competitor must start the saw and make 2 (two)
complete cookies. The first cut must be
made in the downward direction and the second cut
must be made in the upward direction. Time
will stop when the second “cookie”
falls away from the log.
Novice: All competitors
will use the same saw which will be provided by
the competition organizers. At the start,
the saw will be on the ground, idling. The
competitor must have both hands touching the log
until “GO”. On “GO”,
the competitor must pick up the saw and make 1
(one) complete cookie. The cut must be made
in the downward direction. Time will stop when
the “cookie” falls away from the
log.
RUN-WHACHA-BRUNG
***Restricted to
18 years and older.***
Competitors will provide
their own saws for this event. The saw must
have originated as a stock chainsaw, must be
manually started by the pulling of a cord and
still appear to be a stock chainsaw although it
may be highly modified "under the
cover". Tuned exhausts and uncovered
carburetors will not be allowed. The saw
must be presented to the Head Judge upon
registration to ensure it is eligible for
competition. Each saw may be used by only
one contestant.
At the start, the saw will
be on the ground, shut off. The competitor
must have both hands touching the log. On
“GO,” the competitor must start the saw
and make 2 (two) complete cookies, the first cut
must be made in the downward direction and the
second must be made in the upward
direction. Time will stop when the second
“cookie” falls away from the log.
AXE THROWING
A selection of throwing
axes will be provided by the Organizing
Committee; however, contestants are encouraged to
practice at home and use their own axe if
possible. The same axe may be used by two
or more competitors.
The center of the bull's
eye is to be approximately 60 inches from the
ground. The foul line is 20 feet straight
out from the bull's eye then down. Points
will be scored in the highest point ring into
which the axe has penetrated. The axe must
stay in the target until the Judge removes it or
instructs the contestant to do
so. Contestants must stand behind the foul
line. The axe must be released before
either foot crosses the foul line.
The axe must be double
bitted of at least 2-1/2 pounds and have an
overall length of no less than 24 inches and no
greater than 40 inches (as measured from the top
of the eye to the end of the handle). The
blade width should not exceed 6 inches. The
single sticking edge of the axe will be the
scoring edge.
One practice throw and a
minimum of 3 throws for score. If the
contestant does not wish to have a practice throw
it is his/her responsibility to inform the judges
before starting his/her first throw.
The area behind the target
must be kept clear of people.
It is up to the judge to
carefully "back-out" the axe head if
the axe is on the borderline of a higher scoring
ring. The contestant should not be allowed
to touch the axe handle until the judge has
scored the throw.
Ties for placement should
be broken by a one throw, "sudden
death" format.
THINNING
A thinning saw will be
provided by the Organizing Committee although
competitors can use their own saw if they
wish. Competitors will be given a thinning
course complete with “crop” trees and
“cull” trees. The
“cull” trees will be hockey pucks on
strings set on top of stumps. At the end of
the course there will be a final full tree which
will have to be felled for accuracy –
between two stakes. The competitor will
start behind the foul line with the saw at an
idle. Time will start on “GO” and
stop when the final tree lands on the ground.
Penalties will be accessed
for the following:
-
Missing a “cull” tree – 10 seconds
-
Marking a “crop” tree – 5 seconds
-
Falling the final tree outside the two stakes
– 10 seconds
WET WATER LOG
ROLLING
(The following were taken
from the ILRA. Note that there are slight
variations in CANLOG's, ILRA's, and ALA's Birling
rules.)
The competition will be
run on a single-elimination basis and is limited
to the first 16 competitors who register. If less
than 8 competitors register for this event, it
may be changed to a double elimination format
(i.e., you must lose twice) event. The
points in this event will be awarded as follows:
1st – 5 points; 2nd
– 4 points; 3rd – 3 points;
4th – points; 5th to
16th – 1 point.
JUDGES:
There will be at least
three judges. The Head Judge will start and stop
the matches. Two will act as pole
handlers. When a fall occurs, the Head
Judge will make his/her decision and then ask
each pole handler separately for his/her
decision. In the event that a match moves
out of the viewing range of judges, the Head
Judge should stop the match and reposition the
rollers and log.
MATCHES:
(1) The Head
Judge starts each match. Competing rollers
grasp pike poles after getting on the log and are
pushed from the platform. The Head Judge
cautions rollers, "steady the log."
When he/she is certain both rollers have equal
control, he/she says, "Throw your
poles." The match is on when the Head Judge
says “GO” and continues until a fall
occurs.
(2) If one or both
rollers fall in before the time starts, they must
get back on the log immediately, without leaving
the immediate vicinity of the starting
dock. A contestant may lose a fall or be
disqualified by the referee for purposely jumping
in the water before the match is started, or for
delaying the start of a match.
(3) A match will be
decided by the best two out of three falls.
CHOICE OF ENDS:
If both contestants cannot
come to an agreement on which end of the log they
want to start on, then a coin toss will be
used. The loser of the next fall will then
have his/her choice of ends.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A
FALL:
A fall takes place when:
(1) The first person to
lose control with both feet and falls in loses
the fall. This often happens in conjunction
with both rollers falling in together. The
judges must then decide who was the first to lose
COMPLETE control of the log. Jumping up to
prolong hitting the water, straddling, sitting,
falling to both shins, and laying across the log
are considered out of control with both feet.
(2) A roller steps
on the center line.
(3) A roller
purposely jumps in the water before time is
started or delays the start of a match.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A
DRAW:
A fall will be ruled a
draw if the judges cannot see specific and
noticeable difference in the fall. A judge
must make a decision after a moment of
recall. No discussion of the fall will take
place between the judges except to the response
as to who won the fall or if the fall was a
draw. If there is the slightest doubt in
the mind of the judge, it should be ruled a
draw. The decision from the judges may be
split in which case the majority call
rules.
OVERALL LUMBERJACK
Points will be awarded for
both divisions, as follows, for the top five
placings in each event (exception is the Wet
Water Log Roll – points for all
rollers):
First - 5 points
Second - 4 points
Third - 3 points
Fourth - 2 points
Fifth - 1 point
The competitor with the
most points at the end of the day will be named
“2008 Miramichi Lumberjack.”
In the event of a tie, the competitor who has
entered the most events will be named the
winner. If a further tie-breaker is needed,
a sudden death axe throw will be held until a
winner is determined.
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