N.H. logger takes Champion Woodsman title at Fryeburg Fair

FRYEBURG — Jerry Gingras was named Champion Woodsman at the 48th Annual Saco Valley Woodsmen’s Field Day at Fryeburg Fair on Monday.

The Colebrook, N.H., resident was among 186 contestants from the United States and 12 from Canada to compete in the events. J.P. Mercier of Levis, Quebec, was named Masters Champion.

Gingras took fifth place in the men’s underhand chop and tied with four others for second place in the men’s ax throw. He came in first in the men’s bucksaw/bow saw, second in men’s standing block chop and fourth with Fred Kitka in men’s crosscut. He and LaVonne Mikloiche finished first in the Jack and Jill, and he took second in the chainsaw event.

Champion Woman was Kendall Edmundson of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; Champion Logger was Ryan Mills of West Baldwin; Champion Trucker, Dale Mills of Parsonsfield; and Rookie Champion, Nathan Cumberland of Keswik Ridge, New Brunswick.

Ed Brightman of Assonet, Mass., set a new record in the master’s log roll with a time of 15:805 seconds.

Western Maine loggers finished well in several events. For log loading, it was Dale Mills of Parsonsfield in first, Philip Borsanti of Porter in second, Albert Silver of Bryant Pond in third and Shawn McLucas of Rangeley in fourth.

For pulp loading, it was Mills in first, Pat Callaghan of Denmark in fourth and McLucas fifth.

For cable skidder it was Tyler Mudget of Parsonsfield in first, Bruce Cox Sr. of Bryant Pond in third and John Grignon of Dixfield in sixth.

For grapple skidder it was McLucas in fourth, Ryan Bliss of Porter in sixth place and Mudget in sixth place.

Mills finished first in the hydraulic loader competition.

Not all the action was at the Woodmen’s Field.

There was another record set in the skillet throw competition Monday when Hillary Pelkey, 25, of Maine threw the 4.5-pounder 69.8 feet. She topped the 18- to 29-year-old division with her toss.

Clae Seekings in the 30- to 45-year-old class threw the skillet a distance of 57.3 feet. For the 46- to 64-year-old category, the first place award went to Kathy Peterson with 46 feet, and in the 65 years old and older category, Priscilla Cook took the title with 37.4 feet.

There were 86 entrants from 13 states.

Also Monday, Linn Tripp took the Best Overall title in the whoopie pie contest; the Best Filling Award went to Norma King; the Best Junior title, Delaney Whitley; and the Best Specialty Award, Andrea Butterfield. There were nine entries.

Whoopie pies weren’t the only treats being judged Monday.

In the Parent-Child Baking Contest, with recipes using M&Ms, first place went to Ivy Zipf; second, Molly Novia; third, Rachel Frum; fourth, Ella Fecteau; and fifth, Molly Hill. There were 12 entries.

At the Firemen’s Muster on Sunday, Hollis Fire Department was named overall winner.

Local fire departments landing in the top three spots were: Brownfield, second place in dry hose; Gilead and Brownfield, second and third place, respectively, wet hose; Brownfield and Paris, first and third place, respectively, ladder; Denmark, second place, barrel keg roll; and Chesterville and Denmark, first and second place, respectively, ball squirt.

The official attendance for fairgoers Sunday was 23,393, according to public relations officer Veronica Kugelman.

The third day of the Blue Ribbon Classic on Tuesday will welcome those 65 years of age and older to the grounds at no charge. Among the activities on the schedule are antique tractor show, animals shows and pulls, a blueberry dessert contest, tractor pull, flower show and nighttime entertainment by Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of Season 7 of NBC’s “The Voice.”

The eight-day run goes through Sunday.

For more information, go to fryeburgfair.org.