Central West Hammer Throwers Ky Garratt, Emily Thomas, Freya McCaffery, Keiley Whatman and Lila McCafferey with Coach Ernie Shankelton.
The Central West Throwers have taken out titles and medals at the Country Championships held in Maitland two weekends ago and then backed it up last week in Canberra for the ACT Championships for The Opens, where 15-year-old Canowindra local, Emily Thomas came in as a Silver Medal winner in the under 20s.
Put quite simply and as described by Coach Ernie Shankelton, Hammer Throw is a shot put at the end of a wire with a handle on it.
Ernie Shankelton coaches the Central West Throwers at The Oval in Canowindra, several times a week and has a range of ages that take part.
“It’s definitely growing in popularity with ages ranging from 10 years old to senior ages,” explains Coach Shankelton, who coaches people from all across the Central West and beyond.
Currently, the Central West Throwers has 12 team members ranging from 10 up to 24 years old who take part in competitions.
“I have been doing Hammer Throw for three years and it is fun to swing the thing around, and sometimes it takes you and sometimes you take it!” Member of The Central West Throwers, Ky Garratt says.
“My favourite comp so far, has been The NSW All Schools and has been one of my better comps, as I won that one.”
Emily Thomas also loves competing in the sport of Hammer Throw, meeting new people and training four to five times a week.
“My favourite comp was two weekends ago at Country Champs. It was good to compete against different age groups and I threw well in it,” Emily says.
The Country Championships at Mailtland saw The Central West Throwers take home 11 gold medals, five silvers and bronze, two meet records and five Personal Bests.
In two weeks’ time the Central West Throwers head to Canberra for the State Titles where the Central West Throwers hope to clean up and take out the Gold medals, yet again.