Laurence O’Toole
Komatsu Forest congratulates Laurence O’Toole for becoming the Stihl Timbersport’s Australian Champion for 2023 at the event recently held at Glenelg SA. Source: Timberbiz
There were the usual tough competitors with Brad De Losa and Brayden Meyer running second and third respectively, out of a field of 15 of Australia’s best athletes.
The Trophy format is the sport’s most physically demanding competition; athletes are required to chop & saw four logs in four different disciplines back-to-back in gruelling knockout matchups, the top athletes aiming to do so in under 60 seconds.
It’s his third title having won the same competition in 2017 and 2018. This win elevates Mr O’Toole to become Australia’s representative for the Stihl World Cup 2023 to be held in Rotterdam next June. For those who follow the sport it will be televised on Channel 7 Mate and streamed live on Euro Sport.
“I’m not getting any younger but will continue competing while ever I keep winning,” he said. “Komatsu Forest’s support has been crucial in getting to all the events.”
Mr O’Toole began his long run of winning events when he won the 2003 Sydney Royal Easter Show Underhand Event. Since then, he has become one of the most accomplished wood choppers in the world, and his impressive list of awards and achievements is a testament to his skill, dedication, and hard work.
Some of his most notable chopping awards are:
- 1st Place in the Hard Hitting Championship at the Royal Melbourne Show (2003 – 2022)
- 1st Place in the World Championship at the Sydney Royal Easter Show (8 times)
- 1st Place in the Australian Tree Felling Championship (2016)
- 1st Place in the Stihl Timbersports Australian Championship (2017/18)
- 1st Place in the Stihl Timbersports Champions Trophy (2018/19)
- 1st Place in the Stihl Timbersports Individual World Championship (2018)
- 1st Place in the Stihl Timbersports World Cup (2018/19)
- Australian Axeman (9 Times)
- Timbersports Team Member World Championship (7 Times)
- Captain Australian Woodchopping (2008-present)
- Inducted into Australian Axeman Hall of Fame 2019 as a Legend
Obviously Covid has had a dramatic effect on events over the last couple of years.
The O’Toole family has become a household name in the world of wood chopping. Their skills and dedication to this sport have earned them a well-deserved reputation as champions, and their accomplishments have inspired others.
Mr O’Toole’s achievements are not his alone as he comes from a family of wood choppers, each with their own set of skills and accomplishments.
And at the heart of the O’Toole family’s success was his grandfather Jack O’Toole, a highly respected competitor who in his own right amassed over 120 titles around the world which led Laurence’s father and uncles to follow and be very successful in the same sport.
Laurence’s impressive list of achievements is a testament to his skill, talent, and hard work, and he continues to be a dominant force in the world of wood chopping today.
“Komatsu Forest has been very proud to sponsor Laurence since 2018 and will continue their support right through 2023 then see where he proceeds from there,” Komatsu Forest managing director Brett Jones said.
