promoted by Knifethrowing.info and Axtwerfen.de and Eurothrowers.org
 

To promote the exchange between axe- and knife throwers, already in 2001 the European Throwing Club Flying Blades (EuroThrowers) has started the "Big Throwers Meeting / European Championship". This event has since been established as the both the central annual competition and relaxed and friendly meet up for throwers from all over the world, and is assigned to a different country each year.

Every couple of years, the event is designated as World Championship, and organised on a very big scale. For example in the World Championship in Callac, France, 2014, there were throwers from 12 nations competing, with teams from countries as diverse as Italy, Russia, Switzerland or the Czech Republic.

To understand why the Big Throwers Meeting / World and European Championship is really the most important event for knife throwers and axe throwers each year, just read the reports about the last years' events.

In 2013, the event was held in Nivnice, Czech Republic, in 2014 we met in Callac, France, for the first World Championship .

Have a look at our calendar of important knife thrower meetings worldwide.

Nottingham, with Sherwood forest, the haunt of Robin Hood. Not at all a bad place to hold the 2015 EuroThrowers World Championship in Knife and Axe Throwing. It is organised by the club KATTA UK, and since the club team has experience and is aiming high, it will most likely be the biggest knife throwing event of the last 50 years. (I know the British like to stay modest, but it's the truth.)

As usual, the most important goal is to get together knife and axe throwers from all over the World for some days of throwing in a relaxed atmosphere. Meeting old friends and finding new ones, learning some new throwing tricks. Having fun with wacky targets and throwing games. And, of course, we'll have a competition: The World Championship!

The region has plenty to offer for an extended stay, all within 30 minutes of the competition grounds: Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, with all kinds of Robin Hood attractions, the Nottingham Castle (with the outdoor theatre showing much ado about nothing), impressive Newstead Abbey, very british Haddon Hall, or the White Post children's farm.

"Little John" Taylor, Dan "the Man" Mosley, Richard Sunderland and all the other KATTA UK members and the EuroThrowers are very much looking forward to meeting you in Nottinghamshire!

  Christian Thiel

Registration

Please note that this year, the online registration is obligatory, since the number of participants is limited.

Each participant is responsible for booking his own accommodation.

Organisers

The EuroThrowers World Championship in Knife and Axe Throwing / Big European Throwers Meeting 2015 is held and organised by the club Knife, Axe, Tomahawk Throwing Association UK (KATTA UK), represented by "Little John" Taylor, Dan Mosley, and Richard Sunderland.

Your main contact is John Taylor (he speaks English only), mobile phone: +44 7764 602876, email: knifeaxetomahawk@gmail.com. John will be glad to assist you in all matters concerning the Championship.

The Championship also has a facebook group to ask questions.

Location

The competition will take place at:

How to get there

Attention: Read about knife laws below.

• By car: The complex is situated 5km from junction 28 of the M 1 motorway. From the junction, take the A 38 to Mansfield and then after 1.9km turn left to Huthwaite on the B 6027, then follow the signs for Tibshelf.
  If you are not accustomed to driving on the left side of the road, consider getting a plastic/leather cover for your steering wheel, so that your hands will remind you there's something different.
  
  If there are seats available in your car, please have a look in the facebook group if a thrower on your way needs a lift. 
   
• By public transport:

  The closest train stations are "Alfreton Mansfield" (ALF, 12 car minutes to venue) and "Sutton Parkway" (SPK, 9 car minutes to venue), both are 150 minutes from London, 1 change only, Alfreton Mansfield is serviced more often. Tickets: In the departure train station (get your return ticket before going, not even ticket machines available at the two train stations!), or on EastMidlandsTrains.co.uk.
  Itinerary can be comfortably looked up at the Deutschen Bahn.

  The closest bus station to the competition area is "Springwood" (Huthwaite, Springwood), with direct connections for example to Alfreton. The bus schedules are a bit complicated and not very regular, so it is advised to contact John Taylor should you want to go by bus.

  Here are the phone numbers of local taxi companies (for example to get you from the train station to your hotel): Pirate Cars +44 1623 247247, A Line Taxis +44 1623 247247, Oasis Taxis +44 1623 750750;

• By plane: The closest airports are Birmingham (BHX, 100km/80 minutes by car), Manchester (MAN, 100km/120 minutes), London (LON, 290km/150 minutes, many cheap direct flights, e.g. 120€ direct to Munich, Prague, Rome). Locals might also check the regional airports East Midlands and Robin Hood.

Knife and axe laws

Outside the competition area, please transport all your knives in locked containers!

John Taylor's advice from his work as policeman: 
Do transport all of your knives and axes in a bag or container that is locked with a padlock. Always have a printout of this invitation pages along with the knives. Do not bring butterfly knives, throwing stars, flick/switchblade knives, or any knife whose blade is sharpened on both sides. When in doubt, or stopped by police, do not hesitate to contact me directly (phone+email above). 

The police officers have very much free hand in deciding if you have a "good reason" to transport those knives, the printout and possibly your EuroThrowers membership card will help convince them. The British government provides an additional list of knives and objects that are completely illegal.

Air travel: In Europe and beyond, it has never been a problem to transport throwing knives on the plane in a checked-in suitcase. A printout of the championship invitation on top of the knives helps customs officers quickly decide you have a harmless reason for transporting those throwing knives. Additionally, do carry your EuroThrowers membership card in your wallet to demonstrate you are registered and organised.

In you travel, you might cross countries with special rules:

• Germany, France, Italy: Do transport all of your knives in a bag or container that is locked, preferably with a padlock. It is heavily recommended not to transport those objects: Butterfly knives, throwing stars, flick / switchblade knives, and any knife whose blade is sharpened on both sides.
• Switzerland: Do not touch Switzerland! Here, throwing knives as such are illegal, and you will face serious persecution if they are found in your luggage. (One Championship visitor got his knives confiscated at the Swiss border, and on top he got a heavy fine.)
• Remember to check the rules for additional countries you cross.

Schedule

The organiser reserves the right to adapt the program in the course of the championship.

Wednesday 19
	14:00	The training targets are available.
Thursday 20
	10:00	The training targets are available.
	10:00	Registration, meet and greet time.
	15:30	EuroThrowers members meeting which will last until 18:00 maximum.
	18:15	Opening ceremony.
	Before 19:00	All competitors must be registered, signed in and have their info packs before 19:00.
Friday 21
	8:00	The training targets are available.
	8:30	Briefing
	9:15	Start of the precision throwing events knives on the distances of 3m, 5m and 7m.
	10:30	In parallel to the precision events: The experimental events silhouette, SNIFE, and speed throwing start.
		We will not be stopping for lunch. Throwers are expected to have a lunch time meal as and when they can.
	13:45	Tentative start of the precision throwing events axes on the distances of 4m, 5m and 7m.
	15:00	Continuation of the morning's experimental events.
	18:00	Award Ceremony Announcement of the winners of the precision events. Announcement of the winners of the SNIFE event. Announcement of the throwers qualified for the World Championship in Precision Throwing. Announcement of the throwers qualified for the finals of the speed throwing and silhouette events.
Saturday 22
	8:00	The training targets are available.
	9:30	The Duel Cup starts. All participants in the Cup have to be present.
		We will not be stopping for lunch. Throwers are expected to have a lunch time meal as and when they can.
	13:45	World Championship in Precision Throwing. Tentative schedule: 13:45 knives women, 15:00 knives men, 16:15 axes women, 17:15 axes men. In parallel, the Duel Cup will continue.
	14:30	Finals of the speed throwing event.
	15:45	Finals of the silhouette event.
	18:00	Award Ceremony Announcement of the World Champions in Precision Throwing (knives and axes). Announcement of the winners of the experimental events of speed throwing and silhouette.
	19:00	Hog roast (pays extra), discotheque and get-together.
Sunday 23
	8:00	The training targets are available.
	9:30	Start of the event long distance knives.
	11:00	Tentative start of the event long distance axes. In parallel, the Duel Cup continues.
		We will not be stopping for lunch. Throwers are expected to have a lunch time meal as and when they can.
	13:45	Finals of the long distance events. Tentative schedule: 14:00 knives women, 14:30 knives men, 15:30 axes women, 16:00 axes men.
	17:00	Semi finals and finals of the Duel Cup.
	18:00	Award Ceremony Announcement of the World Champions in Long Distance Throwing (knives and axes). Announce of the winner of the Duel Cup. Announcement of the winning country teams in precision throwing.

Accommodation, Fees

The registration fee is fixed at 60 € / 42 £ and includes participation in all disciplines (no reductions offered). If you want to skip one or more events, please do indicate this during the registration.
It is mandatory to pay a non-refundable down payment of the half fee, that is 30 € / 22 £ to confirm online registration (see above). Online-registration beforehand is required for participation this year!

There is an additional fee of 5 € / 3 £ for participants who are not a member of the EuroThrowers club (or of a club that is a part of EuroThrowers).

The hog roast on Saturday evening pays extra.

Catering will we available on site (Thursday through Sunday).

We would be pleased if everybody could wear the signs of a throwing club, so that we present ourselves as an organised group to the media people present. Members of the EuroThrowers should pin their membership badge to their shirt. For caps, shirts, or even mugs with the EuroThrowers logo, see our shop: www.EuroThrowers.org/shop

Accommodation

Each participant is responsible for booking his own accommodation.

Camping is possible at the Teversal Camping site (phone +44 1623 551838), 3.5km from the competition area).

KATTA has provided lists of suitable accommodation in the (wider) area:

• Hotels/Guest houses (PDF / Microsoft Word)
• Bed & Breakfast - B&B (PDF / OpenOffice)
• Self Catering, Holiday Homes (PDF / OpenOffice)

Generally, hotels are more expensive than B&Bs, which are more expensive than the self-catering holiday homes/apartments (where you have to cook for yourself in your own kitchen). For more hotels in the area see HRS - the service usually offers a free last-minute cancellation option and good prices.

If you need help with accommodation or travel, there is a designated Accommodation and Travel Officer available to help you: Darren (shinho62@gmail.com, English spoken only).
When you contact him, please include the following details: Full name & Address off all persons, Vehicle Registration, Dates arriving and leaving, Any special requirements (meals, access), Time of arrival (approx.);

Rules

We always employ the European Knife and Axe Throwing Rules (version 2010, available in 7 languages), which means we will do the following events:

• Knife 3m, 5m, 7m
• Axe 4m, 7m
• Knife and Axe: Long distance; Cut off once the qualification-distance for the finals is achieved (11m knife / 13m axe).

As a novelty addition in preparation for the World Championship events, we will include:

• Axe 5m "Handle Up" (Only for this single-distance event, it is mandated that the axe must be sticking with its handle pointing upward.)

For each event, the thrower has to show up with a set of three throwing tools (knives/axes), of uniform shape and material (same "model"). Exceptions only for throwing tools damaged during the meeting.

Combined Rankings

For the precision events, there will be four combined rankings: For women, men, knives and axes separately. Knives combine the 3m, 5m and 7m events, axes combine the 4m, 5m and 7m events.

The points achieved in each event will first be normalised, and then summed up. Normalisation here means that in each event, the best thrower will receive 100 normalised points. This ensures that a point in a more demanding event (like 7m knives) also carries more weight in the combined ranking.

The combined precision rankings are the basis for the qualificatons for World Championship Precision, and the ranking of countries. There are no other rankings that combine several events.

Example for download: Combined ranking based on the results of Nivnice 2013, in comparison with a simple summation (comparison provided by Alexander Martynov): Excel file

Finals and Experimental Events

Long Distance

The final in the Long Distance event will be held separately. Throwers that qualified by reaching the set distance (see above) will start with three test throws (to be effectuated between 4m and 10.99m for knives and between 5m and 12.99m for axes), before the event resumes following the standard rules (minimum starting distance 11m for knives, 13m for axes).

Titles to win: World Champion in Long Distance Knife/Axe Throwing

Duel Cup

As usual, the Duel Cup will also be held. Pairwise throwing, the participant who hits the target faster after the signal goes on to the next round. An electronic system will determine which thrower sticks it first!

The Duel Cup rules will only change slightly for 2015.

World Championship Precision

For the title of World Champion in Knife/Axe Precision Throwing, we will use the walk-back-mode.

Only the 20% best throwers from the standard precision events (including axe 5m) are qualified for this event. Minimal number of participants per title: men 20, women 5.

The event will be held at the following marked distances: Knife 3, 4, 5, 6, 7m, axe 4, 5, 7, 8, 10m.

The thrower will throw at 4 target groups (we say he makes 4 “runs”). At each target group (consisting of three targets), he will throw one round of three throws per distance mark - starting behind the closest distance mark and moving back behind the next distance mark after completing the previous round. He will thus throw at all distance marks in one run. The number of throws in one run at a target group is thus: 5 distances x 3 throws per round = 15 throws.
The thrower does not have to stand at the distance mark, but can move back at maximum 99cm.

Ranking of Countries

The three countries with the best throwers will be recognised.

The country ranking will be based on the normalised cumulative precision scores of the 5 best throwers of each country (male and female combined). The score is thus based on the results of the six knife and axe precision events. Countries with less than five participants who have thrown the full six precision events will not be included in the ranking.

Speed

Put as many knives in the target as you can in 20 seconds. Distance minimum 3m.
Detailed speed throwing rules: PDF / OpenOffice.

Silhouette

Knife throwing into targets that are grouped around a silhouette. Hits inside the silhouette will cost you a penalty of minus 10 points. Distance minimum 3m.
Detailed silhouette throwing rules: PDF / OpenOffice.

SNIFE

A fusion of Snooker and Knife Throwing. The target consists of coloured circles ("balls"), and you have to announce the balls or play them into a certain order. Distance minimum 3m.
Detailed SNIFE throwing rules: PDF / OpenOffice.