Wanganui women get wood on rest of NZ

Wanganui Axemen's Club hosted the best women's competitors in the country last month and now count four of their own in the national side.

The New Zealand women's woodchopping and sawing trials, in conjunction with the Makirikiri Horse Sports, were held at the MacNab Domain on Kaiwhaiki Rd in mid-January.

Club spokesman Peter McKay said as well as competing in the open events of the wider meeting, the women also had four hours of trialling the next day to make the New Zealand team of eight to take on Australia in Sydney next month.

Julie Rowan, Rochelle Molan, Jackie Brown, along with new member Maria Needham made the squad.

"The women had plenty of competition by way of championships and handicap events in the three disciplines - women's double hand saw, women's single saw and women's underhand," said McKay.

The New Zealand team will face Australia in a three test series at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

"It was at this show last Easter that the New Zealand women were victorious in winning the series against Australia 2-1, along with placing in their individual events," said McKay.

The other members of the team are captain Sheree Taylor Te Aroha and Darcell Apelu (Auckland), Otaki's Alma Wallace and Riverton's Karen Corbin (reserve). Christchurch's Paula Poasa is the manager.