Lovely job on such a head bandging bit of hawthorn

I have tried to split a Hawthorn sapling and it was so twisted and interlocked it ripped its self apart. Next time i will try a saw!
What was the width of the tree/sapling this was taken from and was it split or sawn/hatchet?
Also it checks and warps like no other wood i have seen when drying.
Sorry for all the questions but i have been meaning to try a Haw bow for a while it seems like lovely wood.
(Leon. UK)