A total of 90 delegates spent both Friday and Saturday (during the day) attending demonstrations put on by 12 world class woodturners.


On the Friday evening, attended by 170 guests, delegates and turners, Axminster hosted the Strictly Woodturning event (a variation on a theme of the BBC's popular Strictly Come Dancing) which included a competition in which the 12 turners competed against each other at the lathe and were tasked with producing items such as a vase, goblet and lidded box in an incredibly short 8 minutes.

At the end of the first round, the four turners with the most votes (as cast by the delegates in the audience) went through to the semi final. The four were Nick Agar, Jason Breach (local hero), Stuart King and Tracy Owen.

The final was contested between two show men of the woodturning world - Nick Agar and Stuart King. Although Nick had the X factor and was a big hit with the ladies in the audience, Stuart...


...ultimately secured the judges' votes and was crowned the winner of Strictly Woodturning 2009. It was generally agreed that it was a uniquely entertaining night.