MADISON, Wis. — With the roar of a custom made chain saw and the smell of wood cutting, the finals of the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoors Game Hot Saw competition became a New York challenge.
In the final round, Matt Bush of Croghan, N.Y., was challenged for the gold by Dave Jewett of Pittsford, N.Y. But as the final third disk of wood fell from the log, Bush earned the gold medal just seven-tenths of a second ahead of Jewett.
"This is the one I wanted," said Bush who won gold in Men's Timber Endurance in 2002, but has never finished higher than bronze in Hot Saw.
"At the beginning of the final round when I missed my trigger on the handle of the saw, I heard Dave's saw already cutting hard and fast. I knew he had a jump on me but I had to let it all out and try my best."
Jewett knew that he was slightly ahead of Matt after the first cut because, he said, "I heard Matt's saw still cutting wood as I started the upward motion of my second cut."
But when Jewett's 409cc D&D Cycle engine began its second cut, Bush pulled everything he had into the saw on the upswing of the second cut.
This was also the first silver medal for Dave Jewett, who has competed in the timber events in the past five Great Outdoor Games. He has earned bronze for Timber Team Relay in 2000, 2002 and 2003.
"I 'm real happy to win this medal," Jewett said. "It's my first one, and it's special to me, just like Matt's first medal in the hot saw event is special to him. I also wish my saw was just a little fast to keep the lead over Matt's saw, but I'm still happy".
At the very end of the event Matt Bush's final disc came off the log and spun into the safety glass partition and cracked.
Jason Wynyard of Auckland, New Zealand took the bronze medal with a time of 6.18 seconds, beating J.P. Mercier of Quebec, Canada. It was Wynyard's second medal of the day. Earlier, he picked up a silver medal for Timber Springboard.
Hot Saw - Final Standing
1. Matt Bush
2. Dave Jewett
3. Jason Wynyard
4. J.P. Mercier
5. Harry Burnsworth Sr.
6. Mike Sullivan
7. Dion Lane
8. David Bolstad
Results (by round)
Final Round
Matt Bush 06.180 def Dave Jewett 06.554
Consolation Round
Jason Wynyard 06.981 def J P Mercier 1:37.426
Semi-Final Round
Dave Jewett 07.016 def Jason Wynyard 07.040
Matt Bush 51.471 def J.P. Mercier 1:36.814
Quarter-Final Round
Jason Wynyard 52.085 def Harry Burnsworth Sr. 51.640
Dave Jewett 07.357 def David Bolstad 6:00.000
Matt Bush 06.182 def Dion Lane 53.442
J.P. Mercier 07.257 def Mike Sullivan 52.0
