This Saturday (3 September 2011) 24 top international chainsaw carvers descent upon the sleepy highland village of Carrbridge. Dayton Scoggins is currently favourite to challenge last year`s winner Ian Chalmers. Dayton will be competing at Carve Carrbridge for the first time. During the event competitors only have four hours to create their main carving from a 2.5m (8 foot) Sitka Spruce log.

He is a native Mississippian and prior to becoming a full time chainsaw artist worked as a towboat captain, pushing barges. Now a world class chainsaw artist, he travels the world and is recognised as highly competitive and extremely talented.

In 2009 top American carver Bob King won with an impressive cougar carving but was defeated when defending his title in 2010 by Chalmers with his ‘Bear Necessities’ carving.

Commenting on the build up to this years event Ian said “ The line up is the strongest yet but anyone could win. I won’t be giving up the title easily. I have three ideas for my carving but will decide once I see the log.” Iain added “No other show in the world is like it, it is just so rapid and what is achieved in four hours is outstanding”.

Another contender for first place is Tim Klock from Altoona, Pennsylvania who has never before travelled outside America. Tim in particular enjoys the “raw adrenaline” of the 30 minute quick carve event calling it “full throttle art”.

As well as six Scottish carvers, there are also carvers entered from the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, England and Wales.

Event organiser Gavin Gerrard said “Carve Carrbridge is now established on the world chainsaw carving calendar. Each year the standard just gets higher and higher from the local and international carvers. This year with so many expert chainsaw carvers competing it is likely to be the most competitive and greatest spectacle for visitors yet.”

Guest judges this year will be joined by Euan McIlwraith, presenter for BBC Landward.

Further details can be found on the event website: www.carvecarrbridge.com

Source: R Brown