Mobile phone throwing
Mobile phone throwing is an international sport that started in Finland in the year 2000. It is a sport in which participants throw mobile phones and are judged on distance or technique. In addition, people sometimes throw cell phones in anger, such as model Naomi Campbell.[1]
There are usually four categories in the sport:[2]
- Original (also called 'Traditional'): an over-the-shoulder throw with the farthest distance winning (best of 3)
- Freestyle: contestants get points for aesthetics and creative choreographics
- Team original: up to three competitors have one throw each with their scores added together
- Junior: for children aged 12 or younger
The phones used vary not just between events but between competitors, with any phone that weighs over 220 grams being acceptable.[3] At some events the choice is down to personal preference from those provided by the event organisers, while others provide only one model of phone.
Lawrence University has hosted a Rotary Phone Throw in 2005, 2006, and 2007. This competition has similar rules to the mobile phone throw, yet uses rotary phones.[4]
World and national championships
The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships have been held annually since 2000 in Savonlinna, Finland. The first national competition was held in Trondheim, Norway in June 2004, with several other countries across Europe also staging their own events. The first winter championships were held in Stoos, Switzerland in February 2005. Commonly, the prize for first place in a national event is entry to the world championships, and the grand prize for winning the world championship is a new mobile phone. Many events are supported by mobile phone recycling organisations and promote the recycling of the phones.[3]
In the UK the championships are held every August and organised by 8th Day UK Ltd. The first event in 2005 was held at Richmond Golf Driving Range, the 2006 event at Tooting Bec Athletics Track in London. ActionAid Recycling partnered the event to raise awareness for mobile phone recycling and raised money from donated phones for the first two years, but due to the involvement of a casino (Golden Palace) in the 2007 event and the associations this would have in relation to charity, are no longer involved. [5]
In 2007, the UK event was held at Old Hamptonians Rugby Club on the 12th August, with throws recorded from 3.70m to 95.83, a new unofficial world record. The men's winner was Chris Hughff, and the ladies winner was Jan Singleton, both successfully defending their 2006 titles. There were also throws recorded by a penguin and a gorilla[citation needed], prompting a new category - fancy dress, to be incorporated for 2008.[citation needed] The 2008 competition was held at the same location, with Jan Singleton defending her title and Jeremy Gallop claiming the men's title. Madeleine James set a new benchmark for the Under 3 Category of 1.57m.
The 2007 world championships were in Savonlinna as usual. The winner of the men's freestyle event, Taco Cohen of the Netherlands, won for a novel performance which incorporated juggling and acrobatics.[6][7][8]
2009 saw the UK event move to Battersea Park Athletics stadium, with Jeremy Gallop (89.10m) defending his title and Julia Geene (33.40m) winning the ladies event. Peter Yates set a new Vets record of 75.20m, and Oliver James set an Under 2 record of 2.05m. The fancy dress event was won by Morph, who threw 54.73m. The event was run alongside the Sumo Suit Athletics World Championships.
Other tournaments
Spain
The Spanish championships are held in Tarragona, Catalonia during the celebrations of 'Carnival' in February or March. The 2009 tournament was on Sunday 22nd Feb in the Francoli Park, Tarragona.
United States
There was a second cell phone throwing contest held in the United States July 5, 2009 at Szot Park in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It was sponsored by Family Wireless.[9]
On August 1, 2008 the United States held its first national championship in South Hadley, Massachusetts at Buttery Brook Park, sponsored by Family Wireless. [10] The United States event has also dedicated itself to recycling cellular phones. agona.
Liechtenstein
The first National Championships for Liechtenstein were held on the 29th of May 2010 in the town Ruggell. [11]They were completed in accordance with the Finish rules with the same four categories.
Johannes Heeb won in the men's category with a throw of 74.2m and the women's category was won by Stephanie Parusel throwing 48.5m. [12] Manuel Hug won the juniors with a throw of 55.9m while the team category was won by Team "Schulzentrum Unterland" with 196m. The current Swiss national record holder, Dino Roguljic made a "celebrity" appearance and managed to throw 66.2m
Records
The current (unofficial) records (as of August 2007) are:[5]
- Men's world record - 95.83 meters (314.4 ft) Chris Hughff (Aug 2007)
- Women's world record - 53.52 meters (175.6 ft) Jan Singleton (Aug 2006)
Both the above were set at the UK Championships.
Men's Seasons Best
- (Updated June 2010)
YEAR | DISTANCE | ATHLETE | PLACE |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | 48.00 | ![]() |
Finland |
2001 | 57.03 | ![]() |
Finland |
2002 | 66.72 | ![]() |
Finland |
2003 | 66.62 | ![]() |
Finland |
2004 | 82.55 | ![]() |
Finland |
2005 | 94.97 | ![]() |
Finland |
2006 | 92.30 | ![]() |
London |
2007 | 95.83 (WR) | ![]() |
London |
2008 | 85.95 | ![]() |
London |
2009 | 89.10 | ![]() |
London |
2010 | 74.20* [13] | ![]() |
Liechtenstein |
'*' 2010 results as yet not complete.
Top Ten Men's Best Throwers of All Time
- (Updated June 2010)
RANK | MARK | ATHLETE | PLACE | DATE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 95.83 | ![]() |
London | 2007-08-12 |
2. | 95.59 | ![]() |
London | 2007-08-12 |
3. | 94.97 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
4. | 93.33 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
5. | 92.06 | ![]() |
London | 2007-08-12 |
6. | 90.00 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
7. | 89.62 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2007-08-25 |
8. | 89.00 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2006-08-26 |
9. | 85.74 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
10. | 85.43 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
Men's National Records
- (Updated June 2010)
DISTANCE | ATHLETE | PLACE | Year |
---|---|---|---|
95.83 (WR) | ![]() |
England | 2007 |
94.97 | ![]() |
Finland | 2005 |
93.33 | ![]() |
Norway | 2005 |
92.06 | ![]() |
South Africa | 2007 |
85.00 | ![]() |
Estonia | 2008 |
84.25 | ![]() |
Switzerland | 2005 |
83.69 | ![]() |
USA | 2008 |
74.20 | ![]() |
Liechtenstein | 2010 |
73.00 | ![]() |
Germany | 2006 |
70.64 | ![]() |
Netherlands | 2005 |
66.45 | ![]() |
Belgium | 2006 |
66.00 | ![]() |
Zimbabwe | 2005 |
65.10 | ![]() |
New Zealand | 2009 |
62.35 | ![]() |
Australia | 2006 |
61.58 | ![]() |
Canada | 2007 |
60.10 | ![]() |
Scotland | 2009 |
52.85 | ![]() |
Mexico | 2006 |
52.67 | ![]() |
Spain | 2005 |
49.76 | ![]() |
Austria | 2005 |
44.34 | ![]() |
Belize | 2006 |
43.59 | ![]() |
Russia | 2007 |
43.59 | ![]() |
Ireland | 2005 |
39.37 | ![]() |
Sweden | 2006 |
14.30 | ![]() |
Thailand | 2003 |
Women's Seasons Best
- (Updated July 2010)
YEAR | DISTANCE | ATHLETE | PLACE |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | - | - | - |
2001 | - | - | - |
2002 | 20.35 | ![]() |
Finland |
2003 | - | - | - |
2004 | - | - | - |
2005 | 38.74 | ![]() |
London |
2006 | 53.52 | ![]() |
London |
2007 | 52.05 | ![]() |
London |
2008 | 41.00 | ![]() |
Estonia |
2009 | 37.05 | ![]() |
Savonlinna |
2010 | 48.50* [13] | ![]() |
Liechtenstein |
'*' 2010 results as yet not complete. Other dates incomplete as no data available. Please help.
Top Ten Women's Best Throwers of All Time
- (Updated July 2010)
RANK | MARK | ATHLETE | PLACE | DATE |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 53.52 | ![]() |
London | 2006-08-20 |
2. | 50.83 | ![]() |
Finland | 2006-08-26 |
3. | 48.50 | ![]() |
Liechtenstein | 2010-05-23 |
4. | 43.34 | ![]() |
Finland | 2006-08-26 |
5. | 41.42 | ![]() |
Finland | 2005-08-27 |
6. | 41.00 | ![]() |
Estonia | 2008-08-23 |
7. | 38.91 | ![]() |
London | 2007-08-12 |
8. | 37.18 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2005-08-27 |
9. | 37.05 | ![]() |
Savonlinna | 2009-08-22 |
10. | 36.65 | ![]() |
Liechtenstein | 2010-05-29 |
Women's National Records
- (Updated July 2010)
DISTANCE | ATHLETE | PLACE | Year |
---|---|---|---|
53.52 | ![]() |
England | 2006 |
50.83 | ![]() |
Finland | 2006 |
48.50 | ![]() |
Liechtenstein | 2010 |
41.00 | ![]() |
Estonia | 2008 |
36.28 | ![]() |
Norway | 2006 |
34.09 | ![]() |
Hungary | 2007 |
31.59 | ![]() |
South Africa | 2006 |
28.21 | ![]() |
Australia | 2006 |
27.11 | ![]() |
Canada | 2009 |
24.60 | ![]() |
Germany | 2006 |
21.17 | ![]() |
Poland | 2006 |
14.99 | ![]() |
Sweden | 2006 |
Record Sources: [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
References
- ^ Naomi Campbell charged with assault
- ^ Savonlinna Festivals. Rules and regulations. Accessed 28 August 2006.
- ^ a b Lund, Christine. Savonlinna Festivals. Template:PDF . Accessed 28 August 2006.
- ^ http://thor.lawrence.edu/calendar/main.php?view=event&eventid=1178826571903 Accessed 3/17/08.
- ^ a b http://www.8thdayuk.com". Accessed 28 August 2006.
- ^ "Mobile phone throwing turns artistic in Finland". Reuters. August 25, 2007.
- ^ Michael Santo (August 27, 2007). "Juggling, Lobbing at the 8th Annual Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships". RealTechNews.
- ^ "Two Finns world champion mobile phone throwers". earthtimes.org. 26 August 2007.
- ^ http://www.cellphonethrow.com
- ^ http://www.cellphonethrow.com
- ^ http://www.handyweitwurf.li/
- ^ http://www.vaterland.li/index.cfm?id=9034&source=lv&ressort=home
- ^ a b http://www.handyweitwurf.li/CFDOCS/cmsout/admin/index.cfm?GroupID=171&MandID=5&meID=2453&
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20010219100758/http://www.fennolingua.fi/mobile.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20020810080239/http://www.fennolingua.fi/mobile.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20021121232047/www.fennolingua.fi/tulokset_eng.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20031204213704/http://www.fennolingua.fi/tulokset_eng.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20051124190803/http://www.savonlinnafestivals.com/en_MMtulokset.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20060903094511/http://www.savonlinnafestivals.com/en_MMtulokset.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070903201517/http://www.savonlinnafestivals.com/en_MMtulokset.htm
- ^ http://www.cellphonethrow.com/WINNERS.html
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20061013010735/www.actionaidrecycling.org.uk/newsstory_86.html
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070916015444/www.8thdayuk.com/default.aspx?tabid=980