A Cut Above The Rest - Jared McDonnell
Jared McDonnell of Puhoi Axemen’s Club has carved out a name for himself in competitive woodchopping, his most recent win made even more special with his family by his side.
Introduced to woodchopping at a young age, his father Graeme first took up the sport as a hobby, and it wasn’t long before Jared and his brothers followed suit. By the age of 12, Jared was already competing in woodchopping events, though his training started years earlier, swinging an axe alongside his father and older brother, Kaleb.
Ever since, Jared has been part of the Puhoi Axemen’s Club, an organisation steeped in tradition and community spirit. Here he continued to develop his skills and master the various disciplines of the sport, becoming an active member of the club.
His father remains a long-standing club member, older brother Kaleb serves as club president, and his younger brother, Keanu, is the club’s youngest competitor. Together, they represent a proud legacy of skilled axemen, dedicated to both the sport and the camaraderie that comes with it.
While every show placing is a milestone in Jared’s journey, his recent triumph at the Bill Shelford Memorial event was a major highlight in his sporting career. The trophy itself carries great significance, named after legendary axeman Bill Shelford, known for his highly-successful woodchopping career.
Among his achievements, Bill played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s historic first- time victory over Australia for the Trans- Tasman Challenge trophy in 1964. Since its establishment in 1984, the Bill Shelford Memorial trophy has been fiercely contested in a similar fashion among Northland clubs, with the winning club earning the right to host the next event.
This year’s competition took place at the North Hokianga A&P Show in Broadwood, where a strong contingent from the Puhoi Axemen’s Club participated. The event was held as a standing open, requiring competitors to chop through a 12-inch diameter poplar log, cutting halfway from the front before turning around to finish the chop from the back. With 16 competitors divided into two heats of eight, only the top four from each heat would advance to the final.
Jared delivered an outstanding performance, placing first in his heat and securing a spot in the final alongside his brother Kaleb. In the final round, he delivered another stellar cut, finishing a full ten seconds ahead of Kaleb, who claimed second place. Northland local Johnson Semenoff rounded out the podium in third.
For Puhoi, this victory was particularly special - the last time the club claimed the Bill Shelford Memorial trophy was back in 2015. Now, with Jared’s win, Puhoi will have the honour of hosting the prestigious event next year. It is expected to be a highlight of the 2026 Warkworth A&P Show, drawing top Northland competitors eager to reclaim the impressive trophy for their own clubs.
Looking ahead, Jared’s plans remain simple: to keep chopping and see where the sport takes him. With his dedication, family support, and a newly claimed title under his belt, the future is undoubtedly bright for this rising star of New Zealand woodchopping.