THE FIRST HAMBO THROWDOWN THRIVES ON SPORT AND SUPPORT
The inaugural Hambo Throwdown was an “amazing” success as the UK’s first functional fitness competition exclusively for wheelchair users.
Hosted by The Panic Gym in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and with first-time entries able to line up alongside experienced competitors, the event was organised by the Matt Hampson Foundation, with Matt himself among the supporters on the day.
Throwdown was sponsored by HCC Solicitors, InBody and PAS Nutrition, with support from the Foundation team of staff and volunteers as entrants faced four tough workouts spread across six hours of activity and four classes of competition.
Joe Clarke and Kylie Grimes, a three-time Paralympian, came through as the men’s and women’s winners at the end of a very competitive and close-scoring day.
Matt Hampson OBE, who created the Foundation to support and inspire young people after life-changing injury, said: “It’s an amazing event. As we always say, this is a very special community.
“The Throwdown enables everyone to be part of a collaborative effort, to work very hard and also have that aspect of competition you want while bringing encouragement and community to it, helping each other out.
“Everybody is able to compete on a level playing field and participate in their own way.
“You can see as well how much it means to the competitors but also to their families and friends, their partners and kids too, which is great.”
George Thompson, Foundation sports therapist and head of its Athlete Development Programme who led organisation of the inaugural event, said: “Competitive functional fitness has taken the world by storm over recent years but opportunities for the disability community have been lacking, often due to wider attitudes surrounding people with disabilities.
“There have been attempts to change this, though often aimed at the whole community which can leave some with more significant disabilities unable to compete and also to feel less welcome. But at the Matt Hampson Foundation we are determined to change these ideas and opportunities like the Hambo Throwdown provide a more level playing field.
“It was very tight on the scores in the end and the feedback from competitors, whether they were trying this kind of event for the first time or have more experience, has been very positive.
“Thank you to everyone who took part, to those who helped out on the day, to our hosts at Panic Gym and to all of our supporters and sponsors.”
Hambo Throwdown result
Men: 1 Joe Clarke, 2 Rob Davy, 3 Taylor Gough
Women: 1 Kylie Grimes, 2 Sophie Wilson, 3 Olivia Langley
Check out the Hambo Throwdown photo gallery.
