THROWING EVENTS - discus, javelin, shot

THROWING EVENTS
by Glyn Davies

Wimborne Athletics Club has a good range of facilities and equipment coupled with two experienced and fully qualified coaches, to provide appropriate coaching to all age groups and abilities in *all* THROWING EVENTS.
Indoor equipment enables us to operate all year round but the training is geared towards the summer competition season. However, there is no pressure to compete and our main objective is to ensure you enjoy the events.

Our range of equipment enables children as young as 9 to start throwing without straining themselves. You do not have to be big, but strength, speed and above all determination will be major advantages. Our training methods are varied and attempt to promote a complete Athlete. The appeal of throws is that each of the 4 major disciplines shot putt, javelin, discus and hammer requires different techniques and can, therefore, play to the strengths of various youngsters. Our training sessions expose athletes to all throwing events although inevitably specialisation will develop according to either the appeal of the event or to the strength of the athlete.

We currently have a small but motivated group of throwers who are feeding off the success of one particular athlete who has had significant achievements at national level and is high in the current UK rankings.
U15 English Schools Champion	Louise Watton, from Lytchett Matravers has been an active member of the club for almost 7 years and has worked hard to achieve her success over the last 2 seasons - she is still only 16 years old. She has always been happy to participate in numerous sports, but has found a particular aptitude for field events despite not being particularly big for her age.

So if you're keen to have a go at throwing and follow in the footsteps of many good local athletes, why not turn up at the QE Leisure Centre at 10am any Saturday and HAVE A GO.

Just a few statistics about throwing to whet your appetite.

WORLD RECORDS

Men’s Shot Putt

Ralph Rose	USA	1909	15.54m
Parry O'Brien	USA	1959	19.30m
Randy Barnes	USA	1990	23.12m

Parry O'Brien broke the record 10 times in his career. Geoff Capes was Great Britains well-known shot-putter who went on to complete in the finals of WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

Women’s Shot Putt

Gisela Mavermeyer	GER	1934	14.38m
Tamara Press	USSR	1965	18.59m
Natalya Lisovskay	USSR	1987	22.63m

Men’s Javelin

Eric Lemming	SWE	1912	62.32m
Jan Zelezny	CZH	1996	98.48m

There have been changes in the Javelin specification over the years. Steve Backley is our most successful javelin thrower but has just missed out twice on Olympic Gold.

Women’s Javelin

Nan Grindele	USA	1932	46.75m
Petra Felke	GER	1988	80.00m

After the specification of the javelin was altered distances achieved reduced. The current record is 68.19m held by Trine Hattestad of Norway since 1999. Great Britain have produced 2 world class throwers in Fatima Whitbread who was a former world record holder and Tessa Sanderson who won Olympic Gold in 1984.

Men’s Discus

James Duncan	USA	1912	47.58m
Jurgen Schult	GER	1986	74.08m

Jurgen Schult increased the record by over 2 METRES - a significant achievement.

Women’s Discus

Gisela Mavermayer	GER	1936	47.58m
Gabriele Reinsch	GER	1988	76.80m

Men’s Hammer

Patrick Ryan	USA	1913	57.77m
Yuriy Sedykh	USSR	1986	86.74m

Women’s Hammer

Mihaela Meliute

ROM

1999

76.07m

Remember the throwing events have an appeal to a cross-section of younger athletes. If you feel you're not big enough, your speed and flexibility will probably compensate for this. We do some weight training and a lot of work with medicine balls. The throwing will help your performance in any other sport in which you participate. So, why not have a go - you've nothing to lose.

For more information please contact:

Glyn Davies on 01202 880862

Tim Watton on 01202 632468