A TEENAGER from Whitchurch will showcase his tree cutting skills at a national competition.

Dan Whelan will be competing in the 2015 British Rookie STIHL Timbersports Championships on August 2, being held at the CLA Game Fair, at Harewood House, Yorkshire.

The 18-year-old, who works as a tree surgeon and arborist, will battle against other participants in six disciplines – the underhand chop, standing block chop, stock saw, single buck, springboard and the hot saw.

Each event tests athletes’ handling of an axe or chainsaw and their skills with wood.

Dan is competing for the first time, and said: “I get a real adrenaline rush from this sport and it has a great social aspect.

“I’m really looking forward to the rookie champs.”

STIHL, a petrol chainsaw brand, launched Timbersports 30 years ago in the USA and it arrived in Britain in 2012 with the country’s first British Championship.

Lumberjack sports origins go back to foresters in 19th century Australia.