Lane wins battle of brothers-in-law at lumberjack show

By Bob Brown
Chair Rochesterfest 2008

If you don’t succeed at first, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, again. That could be Dion Lane’s motto for Rochesterfest’s Midwestern Lumberjack Championships.  

Lane competed in the event for the ninth year in a row and after seconds, thirds, fourths and fifths, he finally won the men’s overall championship.  “It’s about time,” the 350-pound giant from New Zealand said.

What made it even more special for Lane is that he beat out fellow New Zealander and brother-in-law Jason Wynyard, the two-time defending Midwestern men’s champion.

“I don’t beat him very often,” Lane said, “not for an overall championship.”

When asked when he had last beaten Jason in a non-Stihl Timbersports Series show, he said: “You know I don’t remember.”

Lane finished with 75 points to Wynyard’s 69. David Bolstad, another New Zealander was close behind with 66 points. Lane’s victory marked the first time since 1996 (the first year of the show)  that David Jewett or Wynyard didn’t finish at the top.

There was a familiar face atop the women’s leader board. Nancy Zalewski of Manitowoc, Wis, won the women’s title for the third year in a row and the fifth time in the last six years. She wound up with 59 points, eight more than runner-up Sheree Taylor New Zealand, a three-time Midwestern women’s winner.

The story of the race for the men’s championship was more what Wynyard didn’t do than what Lane did do.

Wynyard didn’t qualify for the finals in the hot saw and he broke an axe handle in the springboard chop, so he failed to score in either of those events.

“I didn’t have a very good show,” he said. “It was disappointing.”

Wynyard had to borrow a hot saw for the Rochesterfest competition because his went kaput two weeks ago during the first leg of the Stihl Timbersports Series in Utah.

Believe it or not, it was one he borrowed from Lane that first wouldn’t start, then sputtered like it was on its last legs during Saturday’s prelims.

“No, it wasn’t sabotage,” Wynyard said with a laugh. “Dion was kind enough to let me use it.”

It was one of Lane’s old saws.

Wynyard was having trouble getting it to run right during the week, so he wasn’t surprised it all but conked out.

As for the axe handle that broke in the Springboard event, Wynyard didn’t blame it on the handle. “It was my fault, I hit a knot with it when I was cutting a pocket.”

Wynyard didn’t have a spare axe near the pole like a lot of competitors do. He had to run to an equipment tent to get another and by the time he got back, then made his cut he was far out of the running in the event.

“I usually have a spare axe nearby,” he said. “but this time I didn’t. It was my mistake.”

Lane and Wynyard not only compete against each other, but they also compete together. They teamed up to win the two-man sawing title Sunday and they have done the same in events around the world.

“I’m happy to see Dion win the overtall title,” Wynyard said. “He had a good sbow.”

Lane all but had the championship wrapped up heading into the hot saw, the last event of the competition. All he had to do was make three clean cuts without getting disqualified. He did that and then some, finishing third in the event.

On the women’s side, Zalewski didn’t think winning another Rochesterfest women’s title was old hat.

“It’s always nice to win,” she said. “I was happy with my performance. I’m psyched. I’m ready to go out and do it again tomorrow.”

Zalewski won the women’s single sawing event, teamed with Wynyard to win jack and jill sawing, teamed with Lindsay Daun to win jill and jill sawing and finished second in the women’s underhand chop.

The women sawed on 18-inch logs, instead of 16, for the first time in the Rochester show.

Taylor, who was celebrating her 54th birthday, was pleased with her second place finish in the women’s competition. “Fifty-one points for a 54-year-old isn’t bad,” she said.

Taylor likes the Rochesterfest show. “It’s run so well and it has one of the best fields of women you’ll see anywhere. I would hate to miss it.”

The weather for the show was sunny and drew more than 2,000 spectators for the two days of competition.

The Midwestern Lumberjack 2008 Sportsman’s Award went to Warrick Hallet of Glencoe, Minn. He not only has competed in the show from the very beginning, but has lathed the wood for the past several years on his special portable lathing machine.  His wife Kari and sons Dean and Carson are also lumberjack competitors.

Kielty wins Million $ Golf Shootout

Mike Kielty was the winner in Rochesterfest's Million Dollar Hole-in-one Shootout. He didn't get a hole-in-one in the finals, which would have been worth $1 million, but he did get closest to the pin (3 feet, 2 inches) and won $1,000 and a gift basket. Roger Bisbey wound up second and won $300 and four 18-hole rounds of golf at any of Rochester's public courses. All others in the finals each received merchandise valued at $500.

Roosters defeated in 1860s baseball game

The Rochester Roosters went down to defeat in the 1860s baseball game on June 29 at the Olmsted County History Center. The final score was Rochester Blues 15, Roosters 7. In another game the Hens beat the Chicks 8-6. Teams played by 1860s rules and used replica 1860s bats, balls and uniforms.


454 compete in first Rochesterfest Triathlon

The first Rochesterfest Triathlon on June 29 was a big success with 454 participating in short course and Olympic distance competition. For complete results click here: www.pickleevents.com

Iron Outlaw, Kreg Chirstensen big winners

Iron Outlaw and Kreg Christensen were the big winners in Monster Mojo competition held in conjunction with Rochesterfest on June 28 at Olmsted County Fairgrounds. Iron Outlaw beat Bounty Hunter to win the monster truck's Magic Media Monster Cup Free Style competition. Other winners were Jim Bendzik in Rolling Thunder for the Monster Mojo Free Style trophy and Bob Schoenfelder over Cory of Hoffschulte for the Everything Hobby Tuff Truck Trophy. Humanitarian Wishes went to Paul Strong and Martial Law for his time spent at the Ronald McDonald house with Kreg Christensen. 

Dan Sucher is Treasure Hunt winner

The 2008 Rochesterfest Treasure was found, by Dan Sucher of Rochester. He. along with his wife, found the medallion in Rochester’s White Oak park, on 55th Street NW, in an open space underneath one of the parking blocks in the lot. This space was visible from two sides. Sucher received $500 for finding the treasure.

Rochester man wins Southfork Bed & Golf drawing

Gary Stowe of Rochester was the winner of the Rochesterfest drawing for a night's stay for up to six people and unlimited golf for a day at Southfork Bed and Golf, located near Lanesboro MN. Southfork Bed & Golf

Bicycle winners announced

The Rochester Kiwanis Parent/Child Free Fair held in connection with Rochesterfest 2008 has announced its bicyle bicyle winners. The girls bike was won by Charlotte Groth and the boys bicycle was won by Ethan Hart. The bicycles were donated by Wal-Mart.

They made a mess out of this contest

It was messy but fun for the those in the ice cream eating contest in PossAbilities of Southeastern Minnesota Ice Cream Social on June 23 at Central Park. The event was part of Rochesterfest 2008. Ted Schmidt of KTTC dethroned two-time defending champion Alan Reed of KWWK in the celebrity competition. Here's how the contest went:

Ice Cream Eating Contest
7-9 yr olds
1. Audrey Brutman: WINNER
2.Caleb Juen
3.Koby McCaleb
4.Ryan Ihde
10-12 yr olds
1. Chris Espinosa: WINNER
2.Erica Cortrone
3.Gabby Espinosa
4.Aleah Hystead
Celebrities
1. Ted Schmidt KTTC: WINNER
2.Alan Reed KWWK
3.Mary McFee KWWK
4.Tracy McCray KROC AM

Leitzen Concrete wins plane pull

You'd think it would be impossible for 20 people to pull an 83-ton airplane, but that wasn't the case during Rochesterfest's second annual March of Dimes Fed-Ex Plane Pull on June 21 at the Rochester Airport. A team from Leitzen Concrete pulled the jet 12 feet in just 5.419 seconds to take first place among 20 teams.The event raised $10,000 for charity.

PLANE PULL RESULTS
Men
First 5.419 seconds: Leitzen Concrete (men’s winner ) plus Largest Donation
Second 5.547 seconds: Valley Christian Center
Third 5.651 seconds: Knutson Construction Services
COED
First 5.813 seconds: Home Federal Bank
Second 5.862 seconds: Fed Ex
Third: 6.103 seconds: Radisson 6.155
PATRIOTIC
First 7.340 seconds: Energy Economics (coed)
WOMEN
First 8.088 seconds: Shar’s (Women's winner) plus Best Dressed


Mike Pruett wins button contest

And the winner is Mike Pruett. The president and CEO of the MLT Group designed the button that is being used for Rochesterfest 2008. The winning button was selected from 45 entries by members of the Celebration of a City board. This was the first time a button designed by Pruett turned out to be the winner, although he had entered the button contest before.

The button includes a clock, which signifies Best of Times, the theme for this year’s Rochesterfest. It also includes a goose, which is a symbol of Rochester. This is the sixth time in 26 years of Rochesterfest that a goose (or geese) has appeared on the button. The button design will appear on 250,000 Diet Pepsi cans, which will be available in the Rochester area beginning June 1.
Pruett established the MLT group in Rochester in 1984. It started as a corporate video and marketing service and in 1996 it added web development and hosting services. In addition to its office in Rochester, MLT also has offices in Portland, OR, and Houston, TX.

Disc dog results

Here's a list of the winners from Rochesterfest's Minnesota Disc Dog Club Frisbee Competition held on June 22 at Soldiers Field:

1. Freestyle- Josh Weigel/ Sambuca
2. Toss and Catch- Derek Hawn/ Shady
3. Novice Toss and Catch- Chris Ellis/ Lumos
Complete results
Novice Toss and Catch:
Chris Ellis/ Lumos:4+5.5=9.5
Laura Freeman/ Beaner: 4.5+4=8.5
Jim Freedman/ Jessie:2.5+4=6.5 (highest round =4, 3rd place)
Rob Downer/ Chase:3 +3.5=6.5 (highest round=3.5, 4th place)
Nancy Slocumb/Sailor:1+2=3
Sheronne Mulry/ Mr. Chance Man :1.5+1=2.5
Andy Freeman / Beaner:1.5+0=1.5
Sheronne Mulry/ Ashley Girl Dog :0+1=1
Derek Hawn/ Java:0+0=0
Sidney Bendzick / Buddy:0+0=0
Tommy Lavin / Hank Jr. :0+0=0
Tami Jones/ Pepper Ann:0+0=0
Toss and Catch:
Derek Hawn/ Shady:12+7=19 (highest round= 12, 1st place)
Brian Bruzek / Rocket : 8.5+10.5 =19(highest round=10.5, 2nd place)
Derek Hawn/ Kiowa: 5.5+10.5=16 (highest round =10.5, 3rd place)
Josh Weigel/ Sambuca: 6+10=16 (hghest round=10, 4th place)
Josh Weigel/ Kazi: 4+8.5=12.5
Clara Yori/ Ajax:4.5+7=11.5
More information at: Http://mndiscdog.com