Throwers from across the UK took to the stage at Loughborough over the weekend for the Winter Long Throws Championships, with many of them looking to begin their season with some big distances.

Opening the day was the senior men’s discus competition. It was tough weather conditions but that didn’t stop World Para Athletics medallist Michael Jenkins (Swansea Harriers, Ryan Spencer-Jones) throwing a 54.53m in the fifth round to take the win.

The women’s discus UKA Futures athlete, Zara Obamakinwa (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC, Mark Chapman), the youngest in the field, won with a new championship best performance of 56.60m.

The women’s javelin competition was won by Sophie Hamilton (Harrow AC/Loughborough Students, John Trower), where all six throws were over 46m, showing her consistency and poise.

Concluding the day was the hammer competition, where Jake Norris (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow, Nick Ridgeon) won the competition throwing 72.50m. Charlotte Payne (Newbury AC, Ian Payne) won her fourth Winter Long Throws Championships with a Championship best performance of 71.16m.

There was great competition in the U20 events with the top three men in the javelin all coming away with new personal bests. Only 14cm separated the gold and silver in the women’s discus.  Serenity Joynt (Mansfield Harriers, Paul Wilson) claiming the gold and Matilda Farrar’s (Waverley AC, Paul Bingham) came in close second. Alice Howie (Worthing & District Harriers, Matthew Evans) set a new U20 Championship best performance throwing 56.61m in the hammer throw.

Full competition results