A Hay-on-Wye competitor has made history at the 2025 British TIMBERSPORTS® Championship by setting a new Women’s World Record in one of the sport’s most thrilling events.

Rachel Ferrington stunned spectators and fellow athletes alike at the Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern, Worcestershire, on Saturday with a blistering performance on the Stock Saw. Ferrington, who only began competing in TIMBERSPORTS® in 2023, sliced two discs - or “cookies” - from a log in just 8.82 seconds, smashing the previous record, guiding her to the top spot on the podium, and securing her place among the sport’s elite.

“I actually can’t believe it,” said Ferrington after the event.

“I’m still in shock! I’m never confident that I can win, but I guess I can start to believe in myself more now!”

TIMBERSPORTS®, often described as the original extreme sport, combines strength, speed, and precision across a series of wood-chopping disciplines. The British Championship returned this year to the Royal Three Counties Show, drawing a competitive field from across the UK and Ireland.

The weekend’s action was packed with excitement from start to finish. 14 athletes took part in the Pro Qualifier on Friday, with fierce competition that saw 32 personal bests, new national records, and the top six moving on to the Pro Championship.

Local interest was high throughout. Glen Penlington, from Knighton, aimed to claim his fourth consecutive Pro title and did so in dramatic fashion. After a tense start with his Hot Saw refusing to start during warm-up, Penlington fired up the saw at the starting whistle and completed the final heat in an impressive 8.73 seconds. Despite a brief video review to confirm his cuts, Penlington was declared the winner, much to the delight of his family and supporters, including sister Zoe Penlington and girlfriend Georgia Lewis, who were competing in the Women’s Championship on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Rowan Luxton of Llandrindod Wells dominated the Rookie Championship, posting the fastest times across all five disciplines to claim victory in his first TIMBERSPORTS® season.

Knighton’s Zac Powell put in a strong performance to finish sixth overall in the Rookie Championship

Rachel Ferrington’s record-breaking performance was matched by consistent top times throughout the competition, including a new national record in the Single Buck discipline. The Women’s podium was completed by Georgia Lewis, who competed alongside her partner Penlington, and Cat Eccles from Scotland, who made a remarkable comeback following a serious injury in 2023.

Libby Arrowsmith of Glasbury secured a fourth place overall in the Women’s Championship, with Zoe Penlington finishing sixth.

A total of 12 Powys athletes competed at the championships, including those mentioned as well as others from nearby communities such as Presteigne, Llanddewi, and Crickhowell.

For full results and more information, please visit the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® database, which can be found at: https://data.stihl-timbersports.com/