August 2009 Results
St Albans reserve turned on a good night for the August edition of the EH Throw. Combined with the fierce EH Throw competition, there was a professional development program for athletic coaches (with Sean Carlin and Bill Larsen), and of course the oh so sexy EH BBQ!
Important things first. It had on a little black number. Well oiled and oh so hot; making everyone holler and drool with delight. The EH BBQ was once again in fine form! The snags were sizzling and the aroma brought the throwers in for a feed. Rule # 1 of the throwers creed was enforced “Never miss a meal” thanks to the EH BBQ goodness. Thanks to Brooke, Julie, Leon, Lisa & Shane for cooking the grub.
The South Australian Branch of the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association combined with EH Throws to present a professional development session. Olympian and dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sean Carlin teamed up with his coach and past IAAF lecturer Bill Larsen for a seminar on the spinning throws – discus and hammer. The seminar consisted of theory, observation of the EH Throw hammer throw competition and practical coaching implementation. Approximately a dozen coaches/athletes were in attendance and benefited from Sean and Bill’s knowledge of the technical and physical aspects of the events. EH Throw also recognises the work of Stan Miller who coordinated the professional development session.
The Royal Adelaide Show is on and this means show bags, kids, food, rides, clowns and of course side-show alley. While there weren’t any show bags at EH Throw, there were many children out having a good time, kicking around balls, skipping and mucking around. The EH BBQ provided the food and the EH Throw competition provided a roller-coaster ride of emotions for the spectators and competitors. We had our clowns, who could be recognised by their matching clown hat beanies. Side-show alley was also there, and it was death to the dreaded cones. For far too long cones have been terrorising our lives - temporary barriers, competition markers, witches hats and of course the worst, mega-phones. These implements of destruction had to be stopped, and it was our chance at EH Throw to make it so. For each throwing event, five of the evil cones were spread across the landing field. A direct hit would result in instant death to the cone. This would then be joyously celebrated by all and talked about for some years to some. A direct hit on a legal throw however, (just like side show alley,) would win the thrower a prize of twenty-five cold hard smackeroos. Mmmm nothing beats some free, cold hard smakeroos on a crisp Winter’s night.
The first throws event was the shot put. With state and defending EH Throw champion Wayne Willis attending the coaching seminar, the event was definitely going to be a lot cleaner (see July EH Throw report). The shot put had some new EH Throw virgins: Greg Cameron, Neville Bryce (masters athletes) Ali Bajwa (new to the EH team from the UK), Kylie Montgomery, Kelly Zanker (EH Team members) and Suzanne Roberts (partner to Keith); welcome to them all. These competitors were up against hardened EH Throw veterans: Matthew Stamatas, Luke Richards, Will Crouch, Keith Kaesler, Jacqui Emms and the hardest of them all, Amelia Boylan. The women’s competition was intense and PB’s were had by Jacqui, Kelly, Amelia and by default Suzanne (as it was her first shot put attempt). Kylie lead the competition from start to finish and won the women’s put with 8.86m. PBs in the men's competition (that we know about) were had by Matthew and competition winner Luke; but something even bigger than PBs happened. EH Throw organisers knew something was up when in the fifth round, the crowd erupted in rapturous applause. With a throw of 13.60m, Luke had simultaneously thrown a massive PB, and also destroyed a cone in the process. For Luke’s magnificent performance, he landed himself an easy $25 and took over Arnie’s role as Cone-an the Barbarian.
Discus was the second event of the night and it was a similar group of competitors from the shot put that lined up against each other. Kudos to Keith who added 2m onto his June EH Throw performance, hurling the discus 30.41m. Alifatou Djibril lead from the front, hurling the 1kg discus 50.96m. EH Throws wishes Alifa all the best for her up and coming competition at the French games. New comer Ali, threw the 2kg discus 37.28m. In true side show alley form, Ali managed to hit one of the cones during the competition, but was denied the smackeroos by a royal show technicality. “Foul” can the cry from a carnie as Ali hit a cone, but unfortunately his toe went over the front of the circle. Ali realised there was no point in arguing with a carnie, and he begrudgingly accepted his fate. Fired up from seeing a EH Throw competitor miss out on a prize due to a technicality, masters athlete Greg Cameron stepped up to the circle to have a crack at the prize. BAM! A cone went flying and with a legal throw, Greg was $25 richer and there was a new conehead. In the men's competition, Luke Richards won the event throwing 39.59m narrowly defeat Will Crouch 39.04m.
Come the hammer throw and the big boys were out to play. Joining Darren for a toss in the centre was his coach, Paul Carlin. Darren had elected to throw the 8kg hammer, while Paul opted for the 5kg implement. In the women’s competition, July EH Throw champion Alifa was to face off against Ameila (who has been training well recently) and July EH Throw school girl Jacqui. With the support of the professional development coaches, the atmosphere was electric; which was matched by the oval lights. Unfortunately in the women’s competition, Ameila had a foul day and was disappointed with her result. “Damn box squats” was the response Amiela gave when asked about her throws. Alifa and Jacqui were neck and neck up until round five when Jacqui decided to break free of the royal show atmosphere and to get serious. She threw her beanie to the ground and entered the circle determined to make something of the competition. The crowd watched with an eerie silence as she forced the hammer well out over the 40m mark to win the competition with a throw of 40.82m. The state champ was back! In the men’s competition, Paul was turning fast and hurled the hammer 62.61m. Unfortunately, while the series of throws was consistent Darren was unable to match this effort, throwing 60.91m. What hurt the most however was that all of the cones remained alive during the competition.
Thanks to Rosemary & Graham Billett, Stuart Clement and Kym Richards who volunteered to be the carnies for the night. Next EH Throw competition will be September 24. Be there or be a field athlete.
Note: No cones were seriously hurt during the August EH Throw competition. EH Throw does not endorse violence towards any temporary barriers, competition markers, witches hats or mega-phones
August EH Throw Results