Competition Results
Picture Gallery
Reflections on a Day of Fitness and Fun
A friendly yet competitive atmosphere prevailed on Sunday 22nd April
2007 as friends and families assembled at Trinity School, Carlisle
in order to take part in the first ever United Kingdom Kettlebell
Association Borders Competition, to include throwing events as well
as conventional kettlebell exercises. The reintroduction of traditional
One Handed Hammer Throwing proved to be extremely popular and particularly
so among the ladies with Julie Irwine taking first place in the 10
lbs Hammer with a magnificent right-handed throw of 52 ft. 2 inches
to win the title of UKKA Ladies Hammer Throwing Champion for 2007.
Not to be outdone by the ladies, Dave Burns, David Easton, and Willie
Shaw, battled it out to take first three places in the Men’s
Hammer Throwing Event. Dave Burns eventually inching his way to victory
with an impressive one handed throw measuring 68 ft. 6 inches. Some
nine inches ahead of David “E” who took second place with
Willie Shaw a respectable third. For competition purposes in the one
handed hammer throw, the hammer inclusive of round iron cannon ball
head and hickory shaft measured a total of 30 inches (76.2 cm) in
length. The “Light Hammer” weighing in at 10 lbs and the
Heavy at 14 lbs. Being a one handed throw, both hammers have a knurled
grip in order to assist throwers obtain a better hold on the shaft.
Complete 360 degree rotations of the body or consecutive pirouettes
are not permitted in this style of hammer throwing which is generally
commenced with feet shoulder width apart, and the thrower facing away
from the direction in which the hammer is to be thrown. Competitors
are, however, permitted to move their feet, spin the hammer around
their head, step backwards or make a half or three quarter turn of
the body if they so choose. So now that you know the rules, hopefully
we’ll see all you 21st Century Vikings swinging Thors Hammer
in next years UKKA Championships.
In view of the fact that full details are given elsewhere on the
UKKA web-site, specifying records set and repetitions achieved by
all persons participating in the Trinity School Event. I will confine
myself to making one or two observations of a general nature. Firstly,
I must say that the overall standard was very high. To be able to
swing or snatch a heavy kettlebell continuously for three minutes
is far from easy and requires a high degree of strength, stamina and
cardio-vascular fitness. So well done to all concerned. As a Pensioner
rapidly approaching my big 70, I confined myself on a rather damp
afternoon to either helping out as a Judge or to using one of my wife’s
old tea-towels in order to dry off kettlebells and throwing hammers
in between throws. Indeed, rumour has it that Stan “P”
was so impressed with my polishing skills that he and Sue are prepared
to offer me a job as a full-time Kettlebell Polisher. Joking apart,
I still use kettlebells on a regular basis in an attempt to keep old
age at bay for as long as possible. Without wishing to sound boastful,
I can still manage a one handed hammer throw of over 70 feet using
a 10 lb throwing hammer. Younger male kettlebell enthusiasts and hammer
throwing hopefuls please take due note that you still have a few feet
to go in order to overtake a grey haired pensioner. So be sure to
keep training and good luck.
Still, enough about us Old Timers. What did you think about young
Eve Kerr who, at eleven years of age, managed to complete 118 continuous
left and right hand swings in three minutes using an 8 kilo kettlebell.
A truly amazing performance befitting of a future Olympic Gold Medallist.
Well done Eve.
What about poor Michael Scott who, due to an unfortunate misunderstanding,
used a 20 kilo kettlebell instead of the specified 16 kilo kettlebell
but still managed to complete 111 one hand swings in three minutes.
Which leaves one wondering how many more repetition Michael would
have managed with the lighter 16-kilo kettlebell? Possibly enough
to have taken 1st place in the 16 kilo category. Who knows? Never
mind Michael, there is always next year, plus the satisfaction of
setting yourself a very respectable personal best using a 20 kilo
kettlebell.
It was good to see Edward Amper once again. Edward travelled by bus
and train all the way from Peterborough to Carlisle in order to take
part. As a veteran UKKA competitor, Edward was angry with himself
for only managing to complete 97 One Hand Swings in 3 minutes, using
a 25-kilo kettlebell. Now most people would be more than happy to
average 32 swings a minute with 25 kilo kettlebell, but not Edward
who, on his own say so, would have stepped up the pace to finish with
over a hundred repetitions had he been able to monitor the time a
little better. Never mind Edward, pound for pound, you really are
“One of the Best” and I have no doubt whatsoever that
next year will see you back in the Gladiatorial Arena once again.
Also in attendance was UKKA Coach and Personal Fitness Trainer, Guy
Noble, from Harrogate, together with a small contingent of competitors.
It is nice to be able to report that collectively they all did very
well. A credit both to themselves and to Guy’s coaching. In
particular, I was impressed by the stamina and overall fitness of
Sheila Longworth, whose ability in completing 117 one-hand swings
in 3 minutes, using an 11-kilo KB, was more than equal to that of
a 20-year-old athlete. Well-done Sheila. By my reckoning, you are
definitely worth a Gold Star.
On a purely personal level, I was pleased to see Malcolm Cleghorn,
Scottish Highland Games Athlete par excellence attending the competition
in support of his wife Julie who at the end of a closely contested
Ladies’ Kettlebell Competition emerged as the overall winner.
Well-done Julie. You really are one extremely fit lady. I say this
in the nicest possible way, having no wish to unintentionally incur
the wrath of muscular Malcolm who, to say the very least, is a much
bigger man than I am.
Finally, my thanks to all of you for turning out and helping to make
it a very special day as well as to Sue and Stan Pike without whose
hard work and enthusiasm none of this would have been possible. Last
but by no means least, I would like to thank on your behalf Wayne
Phillips and the Boys of Trinity School, Carlisle for the use of the
School Gymnasium and Sports Field, as well as to Gerry Reynolds; one
of the main organisers of the World-renowned Inverness Highland Games,
for his help in marking out the Hammer-Throwing and Shot-Putt area
prior to the competition. Many thanks Gerry, and good luck for this
year’s Games.
Well my good friends and fellow kettlebell enthusiasts, I will now
put down my pen and return to polishing kettlebells in readiness for
the next competition.
Kind Regards,
Mike Lawson
of that Ilk.
