Big names from the world of chainsaw carving gathered at Carve Carrbridge recently for the 21st edition of the popular competition. Forestry Journal was there to capture the action.
THE Scottish Open Chainsaw Championships, held annually at the Highland village of Carrbridge, celebrated its 21st birthday with this year’s event on August 31. The weather gods were kind, and by midday the temperatures were touching 20 degrees. The crowd, reckoned around 3,000, packed in around the arena to witness these skilled chainsaw carvers work their magic in turning eight-foot pieces of timber into some stunning artistic creations.
This year’s event saw 20 carvers enter. All bar two were UK based, while there were three new entrants and a similar number of female competitors. A number returned to support the event, having taken part many times in the past. The UK carvers came from across Scotland, England and Wales, while the international entrants hailed from Germany and Lithuania. The return of Lithuanian carver Raimondas Uzdravis, a winner in 2017, bought a keen sense of anticipation to the crowd.
Raimondas carved an amazing ‘hinged’ dragon back then and not only won the event, but picked up the Carver’s Choice and the Best New Entrant awards too. That triple success was eclipsed last year by Mongolian carver Lkhagvadorj Dorjsuren when he went one better and did the quadruple. Sadly, Lkhagvadorj was unable to defend his title this year and so it was left to Alice Buttress to lead the carvers into the arena to get proceedings underway.
After four hours of carving for the Main Carve and a further 30 minutes for the Quick Carve competition, competitors gathered in the arena to hear the decision of the six-strong judging panel, marshalled by local artist Rona Kant. Her fellow judges included another artist, two members with forestry experience and representatives from Seafield and Strathspey Estates and Landmark Forest Adventure Park.
Among them was Dave Mills, a freelance forestry consultant, who summed up what Carve Carrbridge is all about.
“It’s always a great event that means a lot to me,” he said. “It raises money for local causes, but it is about much more than that. It is about communities. The community we live in, the country we work in and a sense of belonging, and valuing the forest industry that many of us work in. It’s a chance to catch up on stories from the last year and share appreciation of a form of art that still wows crowds every time and gives a happy feeling.”
Julian Carter, based in Somerset, was the first winner to be announced, picking up the Best New Entrant Award. This was followed by the news that Raimondas Uzdravis had been chosen as both the Carver’s and People’s Choice winner. For the second year in a row, Sam Bowsher took third place, while Raimondas was revealed as the runner-up (so no treble this time).
Then came the build-up to the announcement of the winner, revealed to be German carver, Sylvia Itzen. In picking up this award, Sylvia became only the second woman in the event’s history to do so (the first being Australian carver Angie Polglase in 2006). Sylvia’s carving was of a little man looking to the skies, attempting to hold onto his hat, and not knowing whether to open his umbrella. She was clearly both shocked and delighted by her win, commenting: “I can’t believe it. I want to cry. I am so happy to be here and win this wonderful competition. I hope that I am an inspiration to all women who want to do this. It really doesn’t matter if you are a big man or a small woman. What is important is that you have a feeling for making wooden sculptures and a healthy respect for the chainsaw.”
Sylvia called her carving ‘The Windy Skygazer’ and it was indeed a worthy winner.
The organisers will be hoping Sylvia returns next year to defend her title. However, in Alice Buttress, still carving in her 70s, and having been doing so at Carve Carrbridge for 18 years, they have a worthy stand-in to help get the event kicked off, if needed. Alice was delighted with both Sylvia’s win and the day itself.
She said: “Carve Carrbridge 2024 was very lucky with the weather – a beautiful day, probably one of the best days during this rather cool, damp summer, so that really helped. The wood this year was a uniform size, so carvers did not have the option of the huge diameter pieces they have had in the past, so there was a lot of redesigning on Friday night after the log draw.
“However, I think everyone managed very well as they were given much longer pieces to compensate and the wood itself was fresh, so nice to cut. I loved the winning carving by Sylvia. She always manages to carve something unusual, and it was great to see Raimondas back again with his unique rocking carving.”
Raimondas was, as always, smiling after the event, and he declared he was “happy to be back in Scotland, and to be in the company of family members and pleased to have won the awards”. His creation was, once again, of the ‘hinged’ variety, and was of a big fish, called ‘I’m born in Loch Ness’.
Similar respect was shown for the talents of Sam Bowsher, who said: “It feels great to have placed at Carrbridge again. Unfortunately, I will be missing next year due to other event commitments. The logs were smaller than usual, which at first seemed to be a problem but ended up to be no issue at all. It just meant less wood had to be cut off. I’m happy Sylvia won. She’s a lovely lady and one of the best female carvers out there.” Sam’s piece was titled ‘Pheasant Plucker’.
Best New Entrant Julian Carter made a striking cobra and named it ‘Snake Eyes’.
“I was overjoyed with the outcome,” he said. “This must have been a difficult decision for the judges as the level of carving from the others was outstanding. I will definitely be heading back up to Carrbridge again in the future.”
One man who is always happy to see the end of the competition is event coordinator Gavin Gerrard. He said: “It has been an absolutely incredible day. The carvers have completely blown us all away with their fantastic creations and it feels like summer finally arrived, albeit late. Carve Carrbridge continues to go from strength to strength thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers and generous local sponsors who support it. It is an incredibly important day in the village calendar with all money raised going straight back into the community to fund a variety of local projects, from path maintenance to our young persons’ bursary scheme.”
Carve Carrbridge is an event that draws people from far and wide to spectate, with children’s activities, outside caterers, craft and trade stalls, beer tent and tea tent. All the carvings created on the day, from the four-hour Main Carve and the 30-minute Quick Carve, are sold in the Grand Auction. As a result, the organisers reckon over 350 carvings created at the event can be found in gardens and business premises across Scotland and maybe even further afield.
Carvers’ bios are pinned to the fence, offering a real insight into their respective backgrounds.
Roni MacDonald, in his 70s, has competed at every Carve Carrbridge since its inception, while Mike Burgess has been at five. Next to him was Gary Orange, who has been a carver for eight years and made his Carve Carrbridge debut in 2024.
Then there is ‘Steely’ Steele, in his 10th year, alongside Shane Green, head of art at a school, appearing for the third time. Local carver Ian Chalmers is noted as being a ‘consistently placed carver over many years’. Henry Hepworth Smith appeared for the second time. Kaspian Askham, at 24, was the youngest carver in this year’s competition. Over on the other side of the arena was Dave Roberts, who we were told carves part time and is a full-time scientist.
Michael Jones was highlighted as carving for the first time at Carve Carrbridge, but has won the Chetwynd event in the USA. Danny Thomas was noted as having been a carver for several years and a mentor to many. Lisa Langley carved for the first time last year and was one of three women at this year’s event. Next up was Pete Bowsher, who needs no introduction, having won the event eight times and attended it 16 times.
Ian William has been competing at Carve Carrbridge since 2016 and is a retired firefighter, while the last competitor, Jonny Stableford, was described as someone who sculpts in wood and ice and this year went to Alaska for ice carving.
The event’s winner receives the Tom Jones Claymore Trophy, an electric saw, donated by Stihl, and cash donated by Highland RoboFlail, whose owner Stephen Blair said: “This is the ninth carve I’ve been involved in and every year the carvers come up with new ideas, different techniques and always just blow me away with what they can do with a chainsaw and a lump of wood.
“I support this event for obvious reasons. I am a tree surgeon, so trees and wood are a huge part of my life. Moving and handling timber of various sizes and weights in confined areas is something I have done for almost 30 years.”
Stephen also purchased one of the pieces during the auction, fighting off competition from another bidder to land Raimondas’s carving for himself.
He said: “I bought his prize-winning dragon in 2017 and it sits outside my conservatory window, where I have my office. I walk past it every day and visitors have had their pictures taken beside it over the years. When I heard Raimondas was returning this year I was excited to see what he was going to do. When I saw the big fish, I just burst out laughing and thought I had to have it. Fortunately for me I did get it.”
Carvers old and new were united in their praise for the event. New entrant Gary Orange said: “I was blown away by Carrbridge. The hospitality was amazing, especially the food provided, as well as the logs and the ceilidh. In a four-hour carve, the adrenaline pushes you to accomplish. I decided to have a go at Nessie. I envisaged two humps to go with Nessie torso, but time and chainsaw breakdowns meant I did not quite get there. Next year I’ll be back with some stock to sell.”
Fellow newbie Michael Jones said: “It was amazing to be at the event and see so many people attend. It had a real community feel and it was a privilege to be part of it. I would love to be a part of the event again and would recommend it to anyone, spectators or carvers.”
Among those returning this year were Lisa Langley and Kaspian Askham. Lisa said: “The crowds are just fabulous and make you feel like a celebrity. I am super proud of myself with the carving, as four hours with saw only is a real challenge. I like my power tools, but this year I really could see improvements in my work. I played with the texture more confidently. It is just great to be welcomed into such a lovely community and to have so much fun.”
Kaspian added: “Carrbridge is such a great event, I love coming up to Scotland for it. The organisers are so welcoming; there are great crowds of people to admire everyone’s work. It is a great day out.”
Jonny Stableford, who has been a supporter of the event for a number of years, offered his perspective on the day and his own carving.
He said: “The logs were all very narrow this year. How times have changed as we used to get absolute monsters. I do not usually have much of a plan, so it would not normally be a problem, but this time was one of only two times I had tried my carving in advance. I had intended carving ‘Toothless’ the year COVID hit, so it never materialised. It took three goes with the blowtorch to get it fully toasted and I had to run to the shop for a new gas bottle at lunch.
“The joints were quite tight and I thought I had the stance and details nicely. Unfortunately, no prizes this year, although it sold at auction. I think we had a good mix of carvings this year and the level of skill is really quite impressive.”
Overall, 2024 was another successful year for Carve Carrbridge. The competition will return to Carrbridge Sports Field on Saturday, 30th August, 2025.
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