A unique challenge between two old friends is expected to draw a crowd a north-east park today.
Friends John Farquhar and Allan Hogg are challenging each other to find out who – at a combined age of 152 – can chop more logs at Strichen Community Park, where the pair work as volunteer groundsmen.
Mr Farquhar, 75, and Mr Hogg, 77, concocted the challenge to try and find out who was the fitter man.
They will now compete in a race against each other from noon at the park.
Mr Hogg will be relying on an axe to chop his wood, while Mr Farquhar will take a modern approach by using a 10-ton hydraulic log splitter.
The match will last for an hour before a winner is announced, although both will be rewarded with a bacon roll for their efforts from The Lodge, nearby.
Mr Farquhar said: “Allan may have cut logs for 40 years, but he is 77 years old now and could not keep going for even half-an-hour.”
Last night, Hebbie Fowlie, director of Strichen Community Park, said the competition was all in the spirit of good fun – and would highlight the effort both men put in to maintaining the beauty spot.
“Allan obviously thinks he’s got a better physique and hopes he can use it quicker,” he added.
“It’ll show what the guys are doing every day. They do all the work at the lake and they aren’t in the prime of their youth, but they go through these physical exertions to keep it running the way it does.
“There’s just a small band of volunteers who help out – about five of them. If it wasn’t for them, the park wouldn’t be there, to be honest.
“But this will just be a bit of fun and help remind people that they are there.”
As an added incentive to bring people out to the park today, visitors are being encouraged to bring a bag to take home the split logs for kindling.