“Brilliant sawyer, naturally talented”
Peter Foster emerged from the shadow of his older brother to take over his father George’s position when George retired. In 1990 he competed with David in the double handed sawing at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The pressure was enormous…and not just because the announcer listed all his father’s and brother’s previous wins. George was standing beside them as their wedger as David whispered to Peter at a crucial moment “…concentrate on the saw and DON’T LET THIS @#$%^& TEAM DOWN!”
They won… and went on winning for another ten straight years. In doing so Peter rekindled his love of the sport and his ambition to succeed.
Peter was just 16 years old when he took part in his first competitive event in the novice class at the Henley chop at Latrobe. The handicappers had given him the back mark off 32 seconds. They justified this to his furious father: “Well, George, he is a Foster, and he’s your kid.” With a slightly reduced handicap of 26 seconds, and a slightly jumped start, Peter won the event to his father’s great delight.