Belgian Koen Martens takes his fourth Benelux title in Rotterdam

At the iconic Submarine Wharf in Rotterdam, the athlete from Geel again showed with no less than three national records that he is cut from the right cloth. Outgoing Benelux champion and home crowd favorite Redmer Knol captured second place with two national records and one season's best time. He set a total of no less than four personal best times. The 2021 Benelux champion Ben Terpstra completed the podium with two personal best times on the Stock Saw and the Hot Saw. With six new national records, twenty-seven personal best times and one season's best time, it was a true spectacle. Whether it was the sunny weather, the refreshing harbor air, the beautiful location on the New Maas or the enthusiastic crowd, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® athletes were definitely in top form! 

Koen Martens started with a nice time on the Underhand Chop and then also broke the Belgian national record during the Stock Saw with a top time of 9.73 seconds. The 39-year-old Belgian also set great times during the Standing Block Chop and the Single Buck, with another Benelux record of 15.61 seconds in the latter discipline. During the Springboard, Martens put his best foot forward. With a stunning time of 52.54 seconds, he set a record for the third time, again a Benelux record! In the end, he secured victory thanks to a strong performance with the Hot Saw. "I'm super happy, I was able to show today that it's in. Redmer is a formidable candidate, it will be another great battle in the future about who can come and stay at the top." 

Outgoing Benelux champion Redmer Knol simply continued his strong performance from during the World Trophy on Saturday on Sunday and also broke several records. After personal best times in the Underhand Chop and the Stock Saw, he also broke a national record in the Standing Block Chop with a top time of 19.61 seconds. The national record in the Single Buck also had to go thanks to a strong performance in 17.33 seconds. In the Springboard, the 29-year-old Dutchman was the second fastest. In the Hot Saw final, he still took first place with a season-best time of 6.24 seconds. Just not enough to succeed himself as Benelux champion. "I'm very happy, champion of the Netherlands. Koen was unstoppable today, what a performance he put in. He deservedly won." 

The 2021 Benelux Champion Ben Terpstra completed the podium with a handsome third place. With a solid all-round performance and two personal best times in the Stock Saw and the Hot Saw, he can look back on a successful Benelux Championship with satisfaction. "Koen and Redmer were a lot better today, they broke records and went much harder. They were impossible to keep up with." 

Records abound in the sun-drenched port of Rotterdam 

The chainsaw discipline Stock Saw proved to thrive very well in the Rotterdam harbor air off the Submarine Wharf. Both the Belgian and Benelux records had to suffer. Koen Martens broke the Belgian national record, while Martijn Harms from the Netherlands won the Benelux record. As many as ten of the fourteen athletes improved their personal best time in this discipline. In addition to Martens and Harms, Ben Terpstra, Koen Jacobs (Belgium), Quinten Verhaert (Belgium), Florent Van Raemdonck (Belgium), Redmer Knol, Arnaud Goudsmedt (Belgium), Martijn van der Waal (Netherlands) and Eugène Geerders (Netherlands) also recorded personal best times. 

In addition to the national record for Redmer Knol in the Standing Block chop, Eelco de Beer (Netherlands), Edwin Dost (Netherlands), Robin Cuvelier (Belgium), Arnaud Goudsmedt (Belgium) and Florent Van Raemdonck (Belgium) also recorded new personal best times. 

In the Single Buck, in addition to the national records of Koen Martens and Redmer Knol, there were notable performances. Robin Cuvelier (Belgium), Rik Van Drielen (Netherlands), Martijn Harms (Netherlands) and Eelco de Beer (Netherlands) all improved their personal best times. 

In the Underhand Chop, in addition to Redmer Knol, Quinten Verhaert (Belgium) also recorded a personal best time. 

You can consult the full results in the database or in the PDFs attached. 

The athletes and organization look back on a successful weekend with spectacular races at a unique venue. More info on the other competitions at Friday ENG Saturday can be found on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® newssite.