City axe club sending nine to national championship
This Sunday promises to be the biggest yet for the Peterborough Axe Club with nine of its throwers competing against more than 1,000 of the world’s best during the National Axe Throwing Championship in Toronto.
The fast-growing club was allotted nine spots by the National Axe Throwing Federation based on the size of its five leagues, which compete on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in two full groups and a first of its kind 22-member youth league.
Competitors, who earned the positions by accruing points during league play, include Evan Buckles, Matthew Colavecchia, Mike Cowle, Evan Flak, Mark Hoar, Chris Proctor-Bennett, Ken Smith, Peter Szaranski and Matt “Woodchuck” Hawryszko.
Participants could also earn a spot at the championship via a wild card or by having an average of more than 70 points, club general manager Carlo Raponi explained. Six Peterborough throwers competed in the 2018 nationals in Toronto, scoring big wins over some stiff competition.
The increased allotment is indicative of the club’s growth, Raponi said, pointing out the city is quickly earning a broad reputation.
“This is an exploding sport right now,” he said. “Peterborough has some of the best throwers in the world … that’s something to be proud of.”
This will be the second trip to the championship for Smith, who started throwing about two-anda-half years ago. He looks forward to meeting people he has interacted with digitally. It will be the first time at the championship for half of those going, so Smith is looking forward to being a calming influence. “It’s no different than when you throw your axe at our club, so you can’t get yourself too worked up by the pressure.”
Asked what he likes most about the growing sport, he said it is the fact that his wife enjoys it so much. “We finally found our date night.”
Raponi expects the club will also be allotted more positions at the nationals in 2020 based on the addition of a recently opened sister club in Lindsay, where league play is also burgeoning to the point where groups may be split. Younger fans are getting into it, too. Just last week,
Smith’s son threw the first youth league “unicorn,” the only way to score more points than hitting five bull’s eyes. It involves hitting one of two small green dots above and to each side of the bull’s eye.
Raponi and business partners opened the city club at 280 Perry St. in the fall of 2016, offering group bookings, walk-ins and league play. It can host groups of more than 70 people, with 6,000 square feet of space.
The organized competition quickly exploded, he said, pointing out how the Thursday group was split in half — something he expects may also happen Tuesdays. The annual championship is part of the federation’s All-Star Weekend, which includes a Winter Skills Competition, awards and dinner. Some $20,000 will be divided among the top 12 finishers, including the 2019 champion, who will win $10,000 and the Wilson Cup.
The federation, established in 2016, represents more than 4,500 league members in more than 60 cities and seven countries.
NOTES: For more information on the Peterborough Axe Club, visit www.PtboAxe.com or call 705-768-2846 … The National Axe Throwing Federation’s website is at www.nationalaxe.com.