Results
The 13th AMA Winter Throwing Championships report
October 4-6 2008
These Championships serve a dual function, they end the old athletics year and they start the new one. If we have spent the winter training, hibernating, recovering from injury, or a combination of all three, these Championships provide a great opportunity to see what another passing year has done to us. They are markers of our lives, reminding us of times past and times future. But, and more importantly, they are an opportunity for us to enjoy the present, to celebrate with friends whether we know them or not, (although usually by the end of the Championships everyone knows everyone else), and to create memories that serve us well.
Over the years many wonderful athletes have come to our Championships but have since died leaving us with a legacy of happy memories, spirited friendship and keen participation. Particularly I wish to mention Marion Skarratt (Tas), the inaugural winner of the Len Childs Champion Woman Thrower Award; Audun Fristaad (ACT), the intrepid World War II Norwegian spy; John Fraser (Vic), the indomitable Scot; Royce Foley (Vic), the coach of many attending; and finally, Peter McWilliams (NSW), athlete, coach to hundreds, official, who died recently. They were all fine people and I am glad I had the opportunity to meet them and am sure they will be remembered fondly.
By any standard the 2008 Championships were outstanding – a record 62 entries; eight Australian records; and an astounding 43 Championship records. Athletes came from NSW, Vic, Qld, SA, and ACT. For three days over the October long weekend they battled, laughed, cheered, clapped and talked. They talked of health, of friends gone and distant, of past glories, of future achievements, of families, of weather. Most enjoyed old jokes resurrected. All enjoyed being together with a common purpose. Economics wasn’t mentioned once!
The Championships opened with each athlete receiving a participation medal and record of achievement certificate from Convenor, Ray Green. Athletes who attend ten of these Championships receive a gift T shirt. On this occasion past ACT President Bryan Thomas was delighted to receive his 2008 Discobolus shirt.
Day one was warm, clear and sunny. Competition was in shot, discus, javelin and hammer. Ex Olympian, Karyne Di Marco NSW 30, thrilled the crowd with some fantastic hammer throwing for a Championship Record (CR) near her Australian record of 60m. Not to be outdone Darron Haworth Qld 35, threw close to the Championship Record with 50+m. Other Hammer CRs were set by Phil Frkovic NSW 40, 43.07m; Wim Van Weenen Vic 75, 39.85m; Norm Windred NSW 80, 30.01m; and Ewen Drummond ACT 85, 21.95m.
In the Shot only George Mencik ACT 75, broke a CR with a fine 11.24m. But there was close competition in the W45 with Kim Debriot SA pushing a recovering from injury/operation Jayne Hardy ACT, 8.65m to 8.93m. Bob Banens ACT 55 was robbed by Roger Glass Vic 55 on the last throw 10.18m to 10.20m. And Geoff Crumpton ACT 50 committed larceny on Robert Hanbury Brown NSW 50 with his 11.31m to 11.30m victory. The longest Shot of the day was from Darron Haworth with a standing 13.16m.
Darron was also best in the Discus with the day’s longest throw of 50.03m for a CR and only just outside his AR. Denise Palmer ACT 55 was a standout with her 28.69m CR Discus throw. Other CRs were set by George Mencik at 30.43m and Ewen Drummond 12.97m. The most compelling Discus competition of the day was between Andrew Atkinson-Howatt NSW 50 and Robert Hanbury Brown with 37.72m to 37.45m.
Anatoly Kirievsky NSW 30, set a CR of 33.30m in the Javelin as did Ewen Drummond at 14.82m. Bob Banens had the day’s longest throw at 45.01m closely followed by Andrew Atkinson-Howatt with 43.38m. Ron Simcock NSW 70, 34.74m had to fight hard to beat Tom Hancock Vic 70, 33.91m, while Lyn Smith NSW 35 beat pregnant ex Olympian Tatiana Sudarikova NSW 35, 33.85m to 32.18m.
At the conclusion of the day’s competition all athletes gathered and sang Happy Birthday to Ruth Frith who had celebrated her 99th recently. The cake was delicious.
Day 2, Sunday, was also fine, warm and clear and competition was in the Throws (Weight) Pentathlon. Just missing the AR by 43 points Karyne Di Marco set a CR of 3530 points and a new CR of 17.45m in the Weight Throw. Jayne Hardy continued her comeback with a good score of 3548 points. In a high scoring tussle Helen Searle Qld 65 beat Jan Banens ACT 55, 4527 points to 4056. Ruth Frith Qld 95 had the highest score of the day at 6092 with a Javelin CR of 5.78m.
Anatoly Kirievsky set a CR of 1788 points and broke his own Javelin CR with 33.98m. Andrew Atkinson- Howatt was in another tight finish but this time with Geoff Crumpton. Andrew prevailed with 3053 points to 3033. In a Pentathlon that margin equates to an average 4 points per event! The men in the 55 group were almost as close with Bob Banens prevailing over Roger Glass 3345 points to 3302. For the men 60 Graeme Rose Vic dominated with 4047 over an injured Ray Green ACT, 3071. In the men 70 only 300 odd points separated the top four place getters – Ron Simcock 3551, Col Robbie ACT 3418, Tom Hancock 3251 and Dave Bugden NSW 3208. Wim Van Weenen was well ahead in the 75s with a CR 4176 points, a CR Javelin 21.44m and a CR Hammer 40.53m. Norm Windred continued his successful transition to throwing with a CR total of 3753 points. He must think throwing is easy. I know he thinks it’s fun. And Ewen Drummond rounded the day out nicely with two CRs – total of 2930 points and a Discus of 12.99m.
Many left as soon as possible to catch the Rugby League Grand Final which finished just in time for everyone to get to the dinner in the Community hall at Urambi Village. 60 turned up for the usual great feed catered for by Sharon Gibbins who has been unable to compete this year due to a debilitating back injury that requires surgery. But she maintained her fantastic food standards. Phil Frkovic supplied a terrific array of action shots from the Championships. There was plenty of fun, frivolity, laughter and chatter with most getting off in time for a good night’s rest before the day of torture – day 3. Thanks to Graeme and Astrid Rose for helping set the hall up and to Bryan and Trish Thomas for helping to clean up afterwards.
The weather forecast for day 3 predicted rain with possible thunderstorms. The early morning suggested that this was going to be part of the Weather Bureau’s 20% wrong forecasts. Clear sky, easy breeze, ground perfect with Cape Weed Daisies painting the field yellow. The Weight Throw got under way on time with Karyne Di Marco again showing the way with a very good 16.46m. Others to shine were Jayne Hardy 11.13m, Denise Palmer 11.16m, and Jan Banens 12.43m who was beaten by Helen Searle’s very good 13.28m.
Darron Haworth set an excellent standard with his CR with the 35lb ball of 16.13m. Geoff Crumpton was well ahead in his competition with 15.17m with the 25lb weight. Roger Glass beat Bob Banens in their age group, 15.80m to 13.47 with the 25lb. Graeme Rose dominated again in the men 60 with the second longest throw of the day at 17.24m with the 20lb ball, with John Reynolds Vic second with 14.26m. Ken Priestley 70 Vic had the longest throw of the day at 17.38m with the 16lb in winning his age group. Wim Van Weenen set another CR with 14.91m with the 16lb as did Ewen Drummond with 7.57m with the 12lb.
Next the fields lined up for the Heavy Weight Pentathlon. Throwing five different weights from lightest to heaviest is not easy as many of the athletes found out! Twenty five men and fifteen women had entered in their different divisions. Forty started, eight didn’t make the finish. Firstly Meet Director Ray Green had to change the times for commencement. The Weather Bureau may have been on the right track as the ominous dark clouds in the north and west testified. This later caused havoc and some athletes withdrew. A couple were injured so they were out, some were beaten by the event and pulled out.
Karyne Di Marco set another CR with her excellent 4980 points. Jayne Hardy’s 3989 was also very good while newcomer Lesley Dawson 45 SA surprised herself with 2404 against Jayne. Denise Palmer scored well to amass 3695 in wining her event. Helen Searle pulled out of the women 65 and Raylea Rudov cherished her victory against Astrid Rose Vic and Jan Banens, 3530 to 2583 and 2573 respectively. Joyce Schmidt 70 NSW gained a CR with her 2208 points.
Darron Haworth again demolished the record with a new CR of 4436 points while Phil Frkovic scored 3465. Lajos Joni 50 NSW set a new CR with 3646 points in a close tussle with Geoff Crumpton 3489. Roger Glass was outstanding with his new CR of 4303. Graeme Rose achieved his first record of the meet with a CR of 4469 points while Brett Sowerby 65 NSW won his division with 2748. Wim Van Weenen set another CR with the highest points of the day at 4678. Norm Windred captured the CR with his 3621 points.
During the second implement rounds the gods sent an enormous cascade of wind, rain, hail and lightning onto Masson St ground in attempt to tear down the tents, flood the circles and turn the ground to mud. The program stopped for half an hour. But the competition recommenced! Some light rain later was no deterrent.
The Super Heavy Weights of 56lb and 100lb followed immediately after the Heavy Weight Pentathlon. The day is almost one continuous event. For the women Karyne Di Marco was outstanding with a new AR/CR in the 56lb of 4.07m. In a close contest with Lesley Dawson, Jayne Hardy set a new CR of 3.69m to Lesley’s 3.24m. Jill Taylor 50 NSW just missed the AR/CR by two centimetres with her 2.96m. Judy Brown 55 NSW scored a win with 1.89m as did Trish Thomas 60 ACT with 2.41m. Raylea Rudov 65 ACT was very excited by her AR/CR of 2.92m.
Darron Haworth set a mighty AR/CR in the 56lb with 10.94m. Phil Frkovic and Geoff Crumpton threw well to win their divisions with 7.13m and 7.18m respectively. Graeme Rose was again well ahead of the field in his division with 6.32m and Noel Donohoe 65 NSW fresh from being an official with the Australian Rugby League Team in Papua New Guinea, won his group with 4.33m. Don Chambers 70 Vic scored a win with 4.21m and Norm Windred thought all his birthdays came at once with his AR/CR of 3.12m.
Karyne Di Marco set another AR/CR in the 100lb with 2.24m, while Jayne Hardy grabbed the CR with 2.04m. Jill Taylor was ecstatic with her AR/CR of 1.50m so much so she expected it to be on various websites immediately! Denise Palmer and Trish Thomas won their age groups with 1.39m and 1.16m. For the men Darron Haworth was outstanding, his 5.57m with the 100lb was greeted with roars of delight from the crowd. Geoff Crumpton, Bob Banens (who finally turned the tables on Roger Glass), Ray Green, Noel Donohoe, and Don Chambers all won their divisions. But Norm Windred, the ex-runner, set new AR/CR standards with 1.76m. Old runners never die they become throwers!
The 13th AMA Winter Throwing Championships were a huge success. Not because there were lots of records set, but because people had a great time with many gaining renewed enthusiasm from their involvement. Newcomers setting Australian records, a 99 year old athlete sitting down with many in earnest conversation about everything, perennials showing they still have “it”, athletes coaching each other or passing on tips, deep concern about injuries with offers of help, everyone pitching in raising and dismantling tents, volunteers and athletes officiating, three days of camaraderie – the Winter Throwing Championships.
My special thanks to Margaret Hancock, Joy Priestley, Peter Neill, Alice Scott, Brianne Clement, Bryan Thomas and Trish Thomas who gave outstanding contributions as officials. To Sharon Gibbins, Jayne Hardy, Raylea Rudov, Bob Banens, Trish and Bryan Thomas who make my job easy – Thank you!
Ray Green
Convenor
October 9, 2008