David John Reumer from New South Wales has taken home the title of 2025 Woodchopping World Champion after a victorious performance in the hotly contested 325mm Underhand Competition at the Perth Royal Show on Thursday evening.
With spectators packing the new-for-2025 refurbished Woodchop Arena at the Show, Reumer delivered a powerhouse performance in the final round representing his State, outperforming some of the sport’s biggest names to secure the championship and a share of the competition’s record $80,000+ prize pool.
“Becoming world champion is one of the proudest moments of my life, second only to getting married and having kids”, said Reumer, “I’ve been competing for 20 years, since I was just 10 years old, and to finally claim my first world title here at the Perth Royal Show makes it even more special. I gave it everything I had, and the energy from the crowd was absolutely electric.”
This year’s event featured a high-calibre field, including four previous World Champions fighting to defend their titles including Gerald Youles (QLD) and Jake Dingle (QLD), Laurence O’Toole (VIC), and WA’s own Brent Rees. It was a fitting finale to a week-long celebration of strength, speed and tradition, with a program that also included the 350mm Standing Block and the 300mm Elimination Standing Block Championships.
The 2025 competition introduced new elements that were a hit with both competitors and the crowd. For the first time ever, axe throwing was included in the program, alongside a new 2 Board Tree Pegging event. The Woodchop Arena itself received an upgrade for 2025, with a re-leveled surface and lush new turf creating the ideal conditions for top-level timber sport.
The Perth Royal Show’s woodchopping events continue to showcase not only elite talent, but also the strong family and community ties that define the sport. This year, 87-year-old Bob Reynolds returned as a proud spectator, cheering on his son and three grandsons as they competed – a powerful generational moment after decades of competing himself.
Adding to the sense of tradition was retired champion Bruce Winkle, who provided expert commentary throughout the event. A Queenslander by residence but a competitor with deep roots in Perth, Winkle won both his first and final World Titles at the Perth Royal Show – a fitting full circle for a career that spanned the globe and brought him back to where it all began.
Since its origins in Albany in 1892, woodchopping has grown into a beloved feature of the Perth Royal Show. With competitors travelling from across Australia and New Zealand, it remains the biggest and most prestigious event of its kind in Western Australia.
The 2025 Woodchopping program was proudly presented by Newmont, with support BTP Group, Shaw and Partners and Toodyay Glass.
ENDS
