Sam Bowsher has successfully defended his Scottish Open Chainsaw Carving title at Carve Carrbridge, winning over both the judges and the public with an eight foot fisherman reeling in his catch.
Around 3,000 spectators gathered in Carrbridge on Saturday 5 September to watch competitors transform huge logs into works of art in just four hours, with Bowsher’s “It’s a Biggan” taking first place and the People’s Choice award.
The Dumfries carver had never carved a fisherman before and, despite having no fishing experience himself, decided it was time somebody brought one to the competition.
He said:
“I have never fished and I don’t think there’s ever been a carving at Carve Carrbridge of a fisherman, which surprises me, so I thought, why not be the first!
“I’m delighted with how it worked out and really pleased that people liked it.”
Victory completed another remarkable afternoon at Carrbridge for Bowsher, who swept the board in 2025 by winning the main competition, People’s Choice and Carvers Choice awards.
He also won the competition in 2022 and finished third in both 2023 and 2024.
Bowsher has grown up around the event alongside his father and multiple winner Pete Bowsher, while his own career has taken him to international competitions and victory in the first season of Discovery’s A Cut Above.
Defending the Carrbridge title, however, brought its own pressure.
He said:
“I was more relieved than surprised that I won as there is so much pressure when you are trying to defend a title.
“You get to the half way point and there’s a lot of stress about whether you’re going to get it finished or not, so you need to turn up the pressure and turn up the speed.
“I did it and the feeling of winning is delightful.”
Asked why he keeps returning, Bowsher had a simple answer.
“It’s hard work carving something this big in just four hours and your back is wrecked by the end of the day but it’s so much fun.”
Germany’s Sylvia Itzen took second place with “Hoovering the Moon”, while England’s Julian Carter finished third with “On the Prowl”.
Paradzai Havatitye won Best New Entrant with “Free Spirit”, while Jonny “Chainsaw” Stableford took the Carvers Choice award with “Lost of Found”.
Chief judge and local artist Rosie Reid said:
“Congratulations to Sam on defending his title here today.
“The judging panel has been truly tested this year with a consistently high standard of carvings.
“The originality and attention to detail has really impressed us with the scores between the top three being very close indeed.”
Bowsher takes home £600, an electric chainsaw and the Tom Jones Memorial Claymore Trophy for his victory.
Carve Carrbridge has grown into one of the most distinctive events in the Cairngorms calendar, bringing thousands of people together to watch an extraordinary combination of creativity, noise, sawdust and skill.
The day concludes with the Grand Auction, where the finished carvings are sold and the profits returned to the community through Carr Bridge Ahead.
That money supports local projects ranging from path maintenance to a young person’s bursary scheme, meaning the remarkable creations produced in four frantic hours continue giving something back long after the chainsaws fall silent.
