"I wouldn't stand that close if I were you," warns Jo Shipley, as her colleague Tom White commences his run-up.
It's sage advice and I duck just in time as the size 10 black gumboot, released with all the gusto of a Brett Lee bouncer from Tom's right hand, whizzes just over my head and thuds onto the grass just beyond me.
Tom and Jo are finessing their throwing techniques for the much-anticipated return, after a 28-year hiatus, of the Golden Gumboot Throwing Competition to the Murrumbateman Field Days.
To say they each have some serious work to do on their throwing techniques would be an understatement.
Tom, who has been manager of the farming field days for the last 14 years says, "You kind of think in your head you know what to do but when you have a crack at it, it's a very different beast." You can say that again.
While today's practice session on the hallowed turf of the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds is Tom's first foray into the world of gumboot throwing, Jo has no excuses.
Having grown up in England, Jo is a stalwart of dozens of gumboot throwing events, or "Welly Wanging" as they are called in the Old Dart.
"As a child, it was a feature of every village fete," reveals Jo. "One thing I noticed about coming to Australia five years ago was how dry it was which means hardly anyone has gumboots. In England it's so wet that everyone has a pair of wellies (or two)."
It was a chance find while Tom was recently rummaging through old archives that resulted in the revival of the gumboot competition.
"The popular event was only held for two years, and then mysteriously swapped out for boomerang throwing," says Tom who also "dug up photographs of the triumphant 1995 and 1996 champions with details of their winning throws".
At the 1995 event, Marcus Bush of Yass tossed a standard size 8 men's gumboot a whopping 38.05 metres, which, without wanting to create too much embarrassment, is several times further than either Tom or Jo can muster on the best of their three practice throws. Yes, even wind assisted.
Tom hoped an old VHS tape of the 1996 event would provide some insight into the best throwing techniques.
However, rather than providing a crash course in gumboot throwing 101, it's more like watching a rural version of the 1990s TV games show It's a Knockout.
It opens with a lady who hurls a gumboot with such uncoordinated zest that it spirals uncontrollably into the air, causing officials to yell "heads!". Everyone ducks. Luckily it lands safely in the marshalling area.
"But it looks like fun, and that's what it's all about," says Tom. And he's right.
With your Akubra-clad columnist still keen to discover the best technique (OK, so I may harbour a secret desire to enter), I track down Kerrie De Britt who took out the ladies' gong in 1995 with a throw of 22.81 metres.
When I push Kerrie for details of her winning technique, she is more than a bit coy.
"High and strong" is as much as she's willing to give away.
And understandably so, for she's planning to answer the call by Tom and Jo for all previous champions to return this year to defend their title.
"In 1995, I just walked up and had a throw," professes Kerrie. "Although I took it seriously, I didn't train then and I won't train now."
Well, at least that's what's she's telling us.
Murrumbateman Field Days
When: This year's fields days are on October 19-20. Early bird tickets on sale now until October 6 at www.mfdays.com. Free activities after entry include face painting, Noah's Racing Pigs, Hawkesbury Working Dogs, the Yass Antique Machinery displays - and of course, the Golden Gumboot Challenge.
Golden Gumboot Challenge: Trophies will be awarded each day in children, ladies, and men's categories. Free entry to the field days for previous Golden Gumboot winners who contact organisers in advance to announce they wish to defend their title.
Did You Know? In 1996 there was a failed attempt at the field days for the Guinness World Record for longest gumboot throw. The record currently stands at 63.98 metres for men and 40.87 metres for ladies.
Best technique: While Professor Ben Buchler of the ANU Research School of Physics admits a gumboot is "far from a perfect projectile", here are his gumboot throwing tips:
- Use the top of the gumboot as a kind of lever - like those dog ball throwers - so launch by holding the top of the gumboot and not the sole.
- There's no way to know exactly what launch angle is optimal, since it will depend on how the boot spins and initial speed, and the size of boot. Launching a gumboot at an angle of about 40 degrees off the ground is likely to be a good choice.
- Reduce the aerodynamic drag by ensuring the sole faces forward as it is released from the hand.
- Whether to throw underarm, side arm or overarm depends on an individual's biomechanics, but adopting the technique of a hammer thrower is likely to be the best option for most adults.
Oh, and before you follow his tips too closely, the good professor confesses to never having thrown a gumboot in his life. Good luck!
From the weird to the downright wacky
Emerging from their long winter slumber, many country towns in southern NSW are gearing up for their much-anticipated annual festival. Often this means weird and wacky competitions and races. And it's not limited to gumboot throwing. Murrumbateman Field Days aside, here are my top two picks. One to start training for, and one to watch.
Cherry pip spitting: Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. Spit a cherry pip as far as you can at the Young Cherry Festival. Several years ago, organisers were forced to provide "neutral" cherries to all competitors after it was discovered some European backpackers had brought in their own cherries in which they had sneakily replaced the natural pip with a shot of lead.
Oh, and if you'd rather eat your cherries than spit them, the cherry pie eating contest might suit you better. A word of warning, you'll likely need to scoff down 12 pies (standard meat pie sized) to even have a chance of a podium finish. What could possibly go wrong? Young is about a 90-minute to two -hour drive north-west of Canberra. November 29 to December 1. See www.nationalcherryfestival.com.au
Booligal Sheep Races: This fun-filled outback day kicks off with the Best Decorated Sheep competition before the main event - the races. Don't worry if you don't have a spare sheep grazing in your suburban backyard to lug along for the day, for you can hire a sheep for a heat. Or better, form a syndicate and your sheep could be the winner of the Booligal Cup! All proceeds go to local charities. Oh, and you'll probably need to make a weekend out of this one as Booligal is a six-hour drive north-west of Canberra. Saturday, October 5. See www.booligalsheepraces.com.au
WHERE IN THE REGION?
Rating: Easy - Medium
Clue: Fancy a drink? Of water.
How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to tym@iinet.net.au. The first correct email received after 10am, Saturday September 7 wins a double pass to Dendy, the Home of Quality Cinema.
Last week: Congratulations to Daniel Morrison of Downer who correctly identified last week's photo as Yankee Hat in southern Namadgi National Park. Daniel just beat Peter Stevenson of Macarthur to the prize who reports, "As well as the image of the 'hat', the kangaroos almost give it away, they are very common in that area."
SPOTTED
This tree stump at Mogareeka near Tathra appears to already be in training for the Golden Gumboot Challenge at the upcoming Murrumbateman Field Days.
Do you remember? Dairy farmer Cliff Young who at aged 61 won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne ultra marathon in 1983, training for the 875-kilometre route in his gumboots.
SIMULACRA CORNER
John Hyslop of Torrens recently spotted this driftwood cormorant (right) at the Mosquito Bay (near Malua Bay on the south coast) boat ramp. "It was probably waiting for a returning fisherman to throw him some fish scraps," muses John.
- CONTACT TIM: Email: tym@iinet.net.au/ or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times, GPO Box 606, Civic, ACT, 2601
