The regional championship "Lumberjack – 2017" was held in Beshenkovichi
More than 70 best loggers from 19 forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk region gathered in Beshenkovichi to compete in the skill of tree felling and four stationary exercises: chainsaw chain assembly, precision sawing, cross-cutting with a combined cut, and delimbing. The program concluded with a relay race. At all stages, accuracy, quality, and speed, as well as compliance with all technical parameters and safety regulations, were taken into account.
Each forestry team included both experienced masters and juniors no older than 24 years. The competition was set by the team of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus, which took 1st place in the world championship of tree fellers in 2016, held once every two years.
"Regional competitions are like summing up the results, what we have learned and improved over the year," said the chief judge of the championship, head of the labor protection bureau of Vitebsk State Forestry Association, Viktor Borovko.
After the draw, the teams were divided into two groups: some went to the stationary tests, others to the logging site.
Trees with a diameter of 28-32 cm were selected for felling to ensure all participants were on equal footing. At the same time, the pine trees had to be at least 80 years old – it is forbidden to cut down younger coniferous trees.
"Before cutting down a tree, you need to ask for its forgiveness and mentally indicate the direction of its fall, and preliminarily clear a space for it so that it falls softly," shared judge Igor Kostyuk from Begoml Forestry, who himself has repeatedly been a leader in such competitions, including at the international level.
Participants had to fell a tree directly onto a peg set 15 meters from its base. For an accurate hit and a flawless cut – 660 points. Each centimeter of deviation deducted 1 point.
– To prevent the tree from going sideways, a notch must be left, and for this behemoth to fall gradually, the felling angle should be 45-50 degrees, – explained Igor Nikolaevich.
Based on the total points after all exercises, leaders in the individual standings were identified. All are representatives of the Begoml Forestry: 1st place went to Alexander Bobrik, 2nd to Alexander Yukovich, and 3rd to Vladimir Gnusin. Junior Vitaly Pashkovsky from the same team also became the winner in his group. It is not surprising that the overall team first place went to the Begoml Forestry, the second to the Glubokoye team, and the third place was taken by the felling team from the Postavy Forestry.
– This competition, held on our territory, has spurred the forest fellers of the Beshenkovichi district to improve their professional level and set a goal – to become champions in the future, – noted the chief forester of the Beshenkovichi Forestry, Nikolai Serebro.
Elena ALIMOVA, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye vesti".