MATT COGAR CHOPS THE COMPETITION TO BECOME 2019 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® CHAMPIONS TROPHY WINNER

Matt Cogar won the 2019 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Champions Trophy for the first time, defeating the seemingly unstoppable Laurence O’Toole in the final in front of more than 1,400 people at Tjolöholm Castle in Sweden.

Cogar put on an impressive performance throughout the competition, knocking out New Zealand’s Jesse Whitehead in his heat, to set up a semifinal with the 2018 champion, Canadian Stirling Hart. In a highly anticipated contest, Cogar posted a stunning time of 1:00:91 to shock Hart and progress to the final, where he faced 2018 Individual World Champion, Laurence O’Toole. 

With nothing between the two athletes, Cogar kept his cool under pressure from the Australian, to complete the four disciplines of the stock saw, underhand chop, single buck and standing block chop just under two seconds faster than O’Toole. 

“I cannot get over the feeling, it’s unreal, said Cogar. “I came [to Sweden] to put forward the best cut I could so to get gold is a dream. The ring is a little tight but it feels amazing. It’s a special trophy.

“I knew the final against Laurence was going to be pretty tough but I tried to put that to one side and focused on just me and the log.

To watch Cogar’s Champions Trophy-winning final heat against O’Toole, head to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® YouTube page.