The inaugural Ellalong Woodchop Miners’ Challenge has been hailed a success after more than $8000 was raised for the families of Jamie Mitchell and Phillip Grant.
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Four months on from the Paxton mining tragedy that claimed the lives of the two fathers, their colleagues banded together on Saturday for the Jamie Mitchell/Phillip Grant Memorial Cup.
Incorporated in the annual event’s regular woodchop program, Austar employees Heath Jurd, Chad Law, Dave McLean, Troy ‘Bubba’ McAlister and Sharif Burra were teamed up with local woodchoppers Noel Marsh, Phil May, Blake Marsh, Don Brown, Steven Kirk and Justin Beckett to compete in a cross-cut saw event.
Prior to the challenge, the teams formed a guard of honour and held a moments silence for the fallen miners.
They were also joined by Mr. Grant’s son Shaun who held a picture of his father.
Held over two rounds, the Millfield’s Blake Marsh and Austar’s Sharif Burra were the winning team after the first event, narrowly beating out Blake’s father Noel and his partner, former Austar general manager Dave McLean.
But in the second round it was Marsh senior and McLean who came from behind to take win the cup ahead of Marsh junior and Burra by just one point.
Event organiser Kevin Gilbert said that the miner’s challenge and woodchop competition was a wonderful success and a testament to everyone involved.
“I was just blown away by all of the support we received on the day,” he said.
“The calibre of the people that turned out on the day, it really was a full field competition.
“We got nothing but high praise.”
This year’s Ellalong Woodchop was by far the biggest event ever staged in the area, with 44 of the world’s best woodchoppers competing.
The Cessnock area was well-represented with Millfield’s Justin Beckett and Kurri’s Steven Kirk winning the NSW double-handed handicap event and Noel and Blake Marsh finishing third.
Brendan and Cameron Marsh also placed second and third respectively in the under-18 boys woodchop event.
Noel said that the event served as a great warmup competition for the Adelaide Royal which will be held in September.
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