Lumberjill Rachel's hacking her way to global glory

A WEST COUNTRY wood cutter has smashed a speed saw record to become the world's best female lumberjack.

- NATHAN PYNN

Rachel Ferrington, 44, is chopping down timber and the competition with her sharp woodcutting skills.

She only took up the sport by chance after talking to a male friend at the gym three years ago which she initially thought was a bizarre chat-up line.

After one training session, Rachel discovered she was a natural and in June she set a new world record for speed sawing.

She entered a stock saw event which involves cutting lumps of wood into cookie shapes which she managed in just 8.82 seconds slicing a second off the previous record.

Rachel was also picked to represent Britain at the World Timbersports Championships in Milan, Italy, last week.

The 'lumberjill' was the only female entrant and helped the five-strong Team GB scoop seventh position in a series of gruelling cutting and sawing heats.