World best the highlight of summer throws series

THE Carmarthen Open Throws series has been a great success again this summer.

The series, organised by Carmarthen and District Harriers Athletics Club, took place at the athletics track in Johnstown on the final Thursday of each month in April, May, June and July.

It has become a popular fixture on the calendar and has been running for 10 years. The under-13 plus competition organised by javelin coach Ralph Siggery has given young and senior athletes from clubs across South Wales and further afield the opportunity to achieve new targets.

Several have used the series as a platform to go on and succeed in league meetings and Welsh Championships.

Each fixture alternated between throw disciplines, with the javelin held on each one. Shot and discus were also open to throwers, with competitors coming from as far as Pontyclun and Cardiff to Birchfield Harriers in Birmingham and Yeovil Olympiads.

During the last four months it has attracted more than 50 talented throwers from Pembrokeshire Harriers, Carmarthen Harriers, Swansea Harriers, Neath Harriers, Cardiff Athletics, Cardiff Archers, Newport Harriers, Brecon AC, Pontyclun AC, Llanelli AC, Yeovil and Birchfield.

The likes of Bethany Moule, James Tomlinson, Brett Morse and Aled Davies are just some of the big names who have attended the meetings in recent years and continue to be great role models for the future generation.

Disability Sport Wales members took part at the same time, showing that the event continues to be open to anyone to achieve their goals.

The highlight of the series came in June where the sun shone down on DSW Para Academy athlete Harrison Walsh. After throwing 15.93m in Italy at the World Para Athletics Championships at the beginning of the month, resulting in a F44 shot put world record, Walsh threw a massive unofficial world record of 16.21m in Carmarthen.

The 2020 edition of the series will return at the end of April and is open to athletes from all clubs to attend.