Forrester wins 14th All-Around title at 50th Loggers Playday

A familiar name claimed the All-around Logger title at the 50th annual Loggers Playday on Saturday — Mike Forrester of Glide, Ore.

Forrester, 48 years old and the owner of a small logging company, had 40 points for the win.

“I fixed a couple of axes before the big day, and I drew some good wood that chopped well,” Forrester said.

He finished first in the log chop with a time of 18.55, claimed second place in both the ax throw (13 points) and spring board chop (54.27), and was fourth in obstacle pole bucking (16.80).

He and his wife, Sandra Forrester, finished first in Ma and Pa bucking with 23.76.

“We won the Jack and Jill, so that helped,” Forrester said.

Finishing behind Forrester were Josh Stoken with 35 points, Cody LeBahn with 28, Walt Page, 27, and Branden Sirguy, 26.

Forrester now is a 14-time Playday champion and holds the record for most wins.

The local High-Point Logger was James McManus with 23 points.

“Everything went right, and it was clicking really well,” McManus said after the win.

McManus, 31, born in Aberdeen and now living in Montesano, credits his success to local mentors.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 19 — 12 years now,” he said. “The older guys are willing to help me and they’ve taught me some of their tricks.”

He took first place in both local power saw (32.56) and local choker setting (15.44) events, and he was fourth in both novice climb (34.43) and local double hand bucking (1:24.10).

Finishing behind McManus were Lee Pickett with 20 points and Johnny Boggs with 13.

The 50th annual event was marked by warmer-than-usual temperatures, peaking at 86 degrees at 1:25 p.m. during the Loggers Playday parade.

“I don’t ever remember having a Loggers Playday with this many people in shorts,” said Don Bell, Loggers Playday master of ceremonies and volunteer for about 20 years.

Despite the heat, Bell and the crowd — judging from their reaction throughout the show — enjoyed the event.

“There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than this,” Bell said. “It’s just that much fun.”

For more on this year’s Loggers Playday, see Tuesday’s Daily World.