CAL ROBERTS
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Masterton’s two-time sawing world champion is coming home from Sydney with his head held high.
Faavae Sefo finished competing in the sawing world championship at the Sydney Royal Easter Show yesterday, where he was a finalist and runner-up in two events.
The annual Easter expo is the world’s largest agricultural show. It attracts more than 850,000 people a year.
Athletes came from around the world to compete in what Sefo called “the Wimbledon of woodchopping”.
This year he made the finals in the single-handed saw event, placing fifth overall.
He said the top five finishers were were seperated by just 0.07 of a second.
Sefo also competed in the double-handed saw event, where he came second by just 0.01 of asecond.
He said results were often very close.
“It’s like running the 100-metre sprint.”
Having won two single-handed saw world titles before, Sefo was disappointed he could not claim a third.
“I tried really hard, I came over here to win it.
“It just wasn’t meant to be.
“Don’t get me wrong — I am happy with the result I’ve achieved — but nothing beats winning.”
The single-handed event was taken out by another Kiwi, Bobby Dowling, from Invercargill.
The double-handed saw event was won by an Australian competitor.
Sefo, 49, showed no signs of slowing down.
When he gets home he will be back to training and reassessing his regimen.
He likened the sport to golfing.
“you look at those people, they can still win many more titles in their 50s.”
“It’s just a matter of looking after your body, if you can do that and watch what you eat, you can still compete.”
Sefo will be back to take a swing at the world title again in 2019.
“I’m definitely coming back next year.”
