Black Nation Hammerfest introduced younger British throwers collectively on April 5 for a enjoyable day of competitions and private bests, writes Marnie McEntee
The blue skies at Oakengates Leisure Centre had been the proper backdrop for the primary Hammerfest of 2025, which younger athletes and their households travelled from so far as Cardiff, Swansea, Cumbria, and Liverpool to compete in.
The Black Nation Hammerfest Junior Grand Prix was based to offer good high quality competitions for younger throwers and the chance to thrive, develop and luxuriate in competing.
Targeted on enjoyable, the occasions provide a relaxed atmosphere to take the strain off the athletes, in addition to giving them extra throwing alternatives, encouraging taking dangers and private bests.
Founder Matthew Sutton mentioned: “The overarching goal of the occasion is to assist kids fall in love with sport, it’s essential we do that for future success. I hope this conjures up others across the nation to do the identical.”
Hammer throwing has all the time been the Cinderella occasion throughout the athletics world and lack of illustration in athletics can result in much less younger individuals deciding to take part.
Sutton believes it’s within the arms of those that love the game to alter this and says it isn’t stunning that some grassroot athletes change sport to those who present extra enter and satisfaction.
(Marnie McEntee)
Hammerfest goals to provide younger athletes the possibility to see hammer throwing in a enjoyable mild, igniting a ardour that athletes in different observe and area sports activities could get from the alternatives they obtain.
Coach Stephen Pearson mentioned: “‘In mainstream athletics hammer throwers are pushed out so we now have to do this stuff to make up for what we miss.”
In most competitions, throwers get 4 throws general whereas Hammerfest athletes get twelve all through the day, minimising the concern of a no throw to allow them to focus extra on the throw itself.
Over three conferences all year long, athletes choose up factors for exceeding their private finest’s till two general winners are topped on the ultimate assembly, with a aim to incentivise athletes pushing themselves to the next degree.
A mean of 25 throws over present private finest’s in any respect 5 conferences held thus far stands as proof that the system works. Sutton mentioned: “I put it down to 2 quotes: ‘Power flows the place focus goes and all boats rise with the tide.’ Success is infectious.”
One in all final 12 months’s winners Jabez Berry is now seventh within the all time under-20 hammer throw rankings after throwing a private better of 73.66m at Hammerfest final week.
Berry mentioned: “Being in a snug atmosphere all the time relaxes you. You possibly can simply take pleasure in throwing and have a superb time with the individuals round you.”
Occasions like this are necessary in sports activities like hammer throwing which will be disciplined and competitions are all-or-nothing.
Jabez’ father Stuart Berry defined how Hammerfest has helped along with his son’s competitors nervousness which he mentioned can have a “detrimental affect,” including that the gang involvement and microphone commentary from Sutton prepares younger athletes for different competitions.
(Marnie McEntee)
The occasion took inspiration from the organiser’s youth coach Alan Bertram MBE, who handed away in 2013. Bertram – who coached a number of Olympians, Commonwealth and Nationwide Champions – instilled a ardour in Sutton.
A undertaking that caught with him was the Youth Grand Prix within the late nineties – a month-to-month competitors for the highest eight ranked boys within the under-17 age group which targeted on serving to athletes develop by a enjoyable atmosphere.
This expertise was mixed with the celebration ambiance of competitions he attended in Germany which motivated him by making competing enjoyable, inspiring him to create the Black Nation Hammerfest Junior Grand Prix.
With rock music blaring throughout the sphere, Jamaican meals, and welly wanging, individuals had been invited on a enjoyable day trip, serving to them sit up for competing relatively than dreading a stern, unsupportive atmosphere.
Assets for younger individuals beginning throwing don’t evaluate with different occasions and it’s hardly ever taught in faculties. Amy Rushton – a mom on the occasion – travels an hour from Stoke 4 occasions per week together with her son with a purpose to obtain a excessive customary of teaching, along with his closest opponents residing throughout the nation.
Sutton mentioned: “I hope the occasion shines a lightweight on the significance of investing in grassroots and offers an instance of the best way to do it.”
There’s a stir round the best way these occasions may affect the game on each a home and worldwide degree, with Berry in rivalry to attend the European Junior Championships in Finland later this 12 months, the occasion may produce its first Olympian within the close to future.
» Subscribe to AW journal right here, try our new podcast right here or signal as much as our digital archive of again points from 1945 to the current day right here
