Boomerang Association of Australia — News

3 July 2008

Five members of the BAA team to represent Australia at the 2008 Boomerang World Cup have been announced. From Melbourne, we have Rob Croll, Craig Carter, Jarrod Byham and David J Richardson; between them, they have won twelve Australian National Championships and set dozens of records.

Joining them in the team as an “honourary Aussie” will be the legendary Gary Broadbent from Ohio in the United States. A sixth thrower may be confirmed shortly.

The BAA is also happy to welcome TreeSmart as a team sponsor. TreeSmart is a carbon sequestration program aimed at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that has been created by the transport sector — in other words, by planting gum trees you can cancel out the global warming emissions from your car, or other, travel. TreeSmart are ensuring the Australian Boomerang Team flights to Seattle will be carbon-neutral, and will also provide team clothing.

 

11 May 2008

For the third time, Tim Lendrum has claimed the Australian National Championship. In Brisbane, in conditions ranging from light but shifty to moderately strong (but still shifty!) winds, he won four of the six events to record a narrow win over ten-time champion Rob Croll. In the final event, David Schummy slipped into third place.

Tim's successful weekend was topped by his setting of a new record, as he became the first Australian to make a perfect round in Trick Catch/Doubling, and then continued to an eventual score of 114 points, 20 more than the previous record set at last year's Nationals.

Jordan Neville held onto his Junior Championship from last year, while Chrissie Metzakis claimed the Women's Title.

In Association news, David J Richardson became President, while Peter Lewry (Vice-President) and Gary Neville (New South Wales state representative) also joined the committee.

30 October 2007

Two boomerang throwing world records were set over the past weekend at the Beach Boomerang Tournament in Viareggio, Italy. Initially, the current World Champion, German Fridolin Frost, extended his own Aussie Round world record from 96 to 99 points (out of 100). Shortly afterwards, his fellow countryman Alex Opri followed his lead by equalling the Accuracy record of 99 points (out of 100). Alex now shares that record with another two German throwers, HG Hoffmann and Thomas Szartowicz. Coincidentally, all three of these previous records were set at the same Swiss tournament in 2005.

Despite their obvious form, both were still easily beaten in the overall scoring by a masterful performance by Swiss star Manuel Schütz. Manu scored 95 in the Accuracy and Aussie Round competitions, completed Fast catch in 15.78 seconds, took an arguably disappointing (!) 68 catches during Endurance, kept his MTA aloft for 43.39 seconds, and also scored 379 in Trick Catch/Doubling (the second highest score ever, and just behind his own record of 390).

In local news, Boomerang Bulletin #119 will be mailed to members shortly.

30 July 2007

A few snippets: the latest Boomerang Bulletin (by new editor, Bob Burwell) has been mailed out, Tim Lendrum equalled the World Record for Aussie Round (96 out of 100 points) last month at Mulgoa on the outskirts of Sydney, a few more events are on the Events page, and the next General Meeting of the BAA will be held at the August 12 event in Sydney.

12 May 2007

A selection of photographs have been posted from the National Boomerang Championships in the new-look Gallery. The new Gallery allows much greater opportunities for members to contribute their photos directly, as well as all sorts of features like rating individual photographs. So click on Pics in the header and enjoy!

25 April 2007

The National Boomerang Championships were held in Albury over the past weekend, and the overall winner and new Australian Champion is Victorian Craig Carter. Despite his many successes as a Junior, this is the first time Craig has held this title at senior level. He placed third in 2004 and 2005.

Beaten only by a countback after he finished equal to Craig on overall points, Tim Lendrum of New South Wales was second. Tim has placed first or second in all five Australian Championships he has attended. In third place, despite a competition absence of several years, was another former Australian Champion, Queenslander David Schummy.

Winning five events, Margaret Patterson comprehensively won her first Nationals Ladies Title, while newcomer Jordan Neville did much the same in claiming the Junior Title. Jordan also came third in the Fast Catch event overall.

The other big news of the weekend was the setting of a new Australian record in the Trick Catch/Doubling event. After nine long years, Roger Perry's score of 92 at the 1998 World Cup was broken as Victorian David J Richardson scored 94 (out of 100) on Saturday, missing only his second hackey catch, but promising he would make the perfect round in the future!

Results and photos will be posted in the near future.

19 April 2007

A reminder: the National Boomerang Championships are being held in Albury, NSW, this weekend.

10 March 2007

One of the most influential boomerang throwers in Australia passed away on March 9. Lorin Hawes was an American nuclear physicist who came to Australia in the 1950s, and in 1965 founded "The Boomerang Farm" on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Over the following decades hundreds of thousands of tourists visited, and even more boomerangs of his own design were sold. His "M17" design was one of the most distributed and praised boomerangs of the time, and modern versions can still be bought at the business he started but relinquished many years ago (http://www.stonesboomerangs.com/). Lorin also wrote a well-known book, "All About Boomerangs", in 1975.

9 March 2007

The BAA would like to congratulate Trent Carter, holder of five of the six main Australian Junior boomerang throwing records, for his victory at the International Table Tennis Federation's Venezuela Junior Open. In doing so, he became the first Australian to ever win a Junior ITTF championship. He will compete at the Chile Junior Open before returning home to Melbourne.

UPDATE: Trent fell at the quarter-final stage in the singles competition in Chile, but with a Paraguayan parter reached the final of the Doubles, and was only beaten after the full five games were completed.

16 July 2006

After a see-sawing final day of individual competition, we have a new World Boomerang Champion - but it is one who has been there before. Fridolin Frost (Germany) has collected his third World Cup Championship, with Matt Golenor (USA) and reigning champion Manuel Schutz (Switzerland) coming second and third respectively.

But the most notable news of the day from an Australian point of view was the stunning Accuracy display by 63-year-old Bob Burwell. Using a borrowed boomerang he was not familiar with, Bob blitzed the competition and won the event in a new Australian record of 88 points (out of 100).

14 July 2006

It's been a busy time at the World Cup's inn computer room, but here's an update:

• B-Motions, the German team, has once again taken out the team championship. Winning 4 of the 7 events, they had a handy margin to the second team, Fuijin's Posse from the USA. Australia came middle of the pack, falling to ninth after the final event. Conditions were variable; it has been hot and humid, and rain interrupted the third day of competition, but after debate the final events were all completed on the morning of "Gel Day". Winds have varied between calm and very strong - but generally not too gusty.
• Today was the first day of individual competition, with Fast Catch, MTA-100, and Aussie Round conducted. Winds were down for Fast Catch but slowly picked up and ultimately created some rather difficult conditions for Aussie Round. Reigning world champion Manuel Schultz (Switzerland) and previous champion Fridolin Frost (Germany) are currently tied on top of the ranking ladder. Rob Croll (25th) and Tim Lendrum (26th) are the best ranked of the Australians at the end of day 1. The individual championship will be completed tomorrow.
• For more information, a recommended information source is http://www.ifba-online.com/smf/BoomNews.php

27 June 2006

It's been a while since our last news, so here's the quick update:

• Congratulations to Roger Perry for winning the 2006 Western Australian Championships in April.
• The following week, also in Perth, Ian Sproul (WA) and Tim Lendrum (NSW) drew, therefore allowing both to collect their second National Championship win. Squeezed out by the narrowest margins to third place was Roger's son Grant (WA).
• Following some late withdrawals, the Australian team for the Boomerang World Cup in Japan has been revised. The team is now Rob Croll (VIC), Tim Lendrum (NSW), David J Richardson (VIC), John Metzakis (WA), John McDiarmid (WA), and in a late twist a German has become the sixth member of the team: Hans-Georg "HG" Hoffmann, who set a new world record in the Accuracy event late last year.
• Christene Metzakis (WA) and Bob Burwell (QLD) will also be involved in Women and Veteran teams in Japan, while BAA President Leonie Metzakis (WA) will once more be one of the head judges at the World Cup.

Look for updates on the World Cup, being held July 7-16 in Asahikawa, Japan, at this site!

27 February 2006

Four throwers were today named as part of the team of six that will represent Australia at the 2006 Boomerang World Cup in Japan. The throwers are:

• Rob Croll (Victoria)
• Tim Lendrum (New South Wales)
• Roger Perry (Western Australia)
• David J Richardson (Victoria) (Australian team debut)

Rob Croll and Roger Perry have represented Australia many times before, with Rob a two-time World Champion. In contrast, Tim Lendrum and David J Richardson both made their first international appearance at the previous World Cup, held in France in 2004. Tim is the current Australian Champion, while David is making his first appearance for the Australian team.

Two more throwers have yet to be named by the selection committee, and to determine this a series of competitions will be held in Perth in early March. The four throwers competing for the final two spots are Matt Barker, John McDiarmid, John Metzakis, and Josh Smith. John Metzakis and Josh Smith represented Australia at the 2004 World Cup.

Christene Metzkais (Western Australia) will also make her World Cup debut in Japan, having joined an International Women's Team.

19 June 2005

Hello to those who have come here due to the appearance of two Australian record holders on the Guinness World Records show, including David Schummy making a (non-returning) throw of 427.2 metres. This became the new world record for longest throw of any object.

We also have a bonus photo of Sadir Kattan with his record smallest returning boomerang.

Otherwise, look around, perhaps at our guide to how boomerang throwing really is a sport, or at our gallery of photos. If you wish to have a look at throwing in action, and get a lesson yourself, check out the list of some upcoming boomerang events and competitions, or contact one of our local throwers if there isn't one near you soon. You can even become a member of our club right here.

14 May 2005

Ken Arthur, thrower and Treasurer of the Boomerang Throwing Association of New South Wales for over three decades, has passed away. Funeral to be held at:

11am Wednesday 16 May 2005
St Michaels Catholic Church
204 Longueville Road (off Epping Road), Lane Cove

5 April 2005

Complete scores from the 2005 National Championships are now available to download in the member's section.

4 April 2005

After placing second in 2003 and 2004, young Tim Lendrum from NSW has claimed his first Australian Championship. Conditions in Albury were close to ideal on Saturday, before strong winds appeared on Sunday. Tim won the MTA (43.47 seconds), Aussie Round (139 points), and Fast Catch (22.54 seconds) events. Roger Perry (who last week won the Western Australian State Championship), Craig Carter (VIC), Rob Croll (VIC) and Josh Smith (WA) were the runner-ups.

Chrissie Metzakis (WA) is the 2005 Women's Champion, 11-year-old Louise Molluso (NSW) the Junior Champion, and Nick Gottschalk (VIC) the Veteran's Champion. Full scores, photographs, and meeting minutes from the big weekend will follow shortly.

10 March 2005

Filming for a new Guiness Book of Records television program is underway in Sydney, with Sadir Kattan and Rob Croll flown in from Melbourne, and David Schummy from Brisbane. They aim to film some record-breaking throwing — Sadir is known for making and throwing the world's smallest returning competition boomerang, while David Schummy is an ex-world Long Distance champion (and still Australian champion). Tim Lendrum is also likely to be called into play to launch some Maximum Time Aloft boomerangs to show just how long they can hover up there!

7 March 2005

The first of the year's State Championships has been held, with David J Richardson winning his first Victorian Title. In a reversal of last year's result, David won narrowly from Craig Carter (both won three of the six events). The event was held in Axedale, near Bendigo, with local Ben Loveland coming third. Many of the competitors involved will be present at the National Championships in just four weeks time. The scores are available in the member's section.

In other news, you may wish to check out the new website of Adam Carroll, who recently moved to Tasmania.

23 Februry 2005

The year is warming up, with competitions resuming, and the Victorian and Western Australian Titles on the line during the coming month, and then onto the Nationals in Albury on April 2-3. For the details, check out our new Events page (a link to it is also at the top of all pages).

The 2005 version of the BAA Handbook is currently being printed, and can now be downloaded in the member's section. Enjoy!

10 January 2005

Sad news reported by Bob Burwell:

Kevin Moran died on Thursday 6th of January 2005. Kevin was a good friend and keen boomerang thrower. When I first met Kevin I thought ‘Who is this unlikely looking boomerang thrower out there in open competition?’ Just goes to show you can not judge a book by its cover. It was not uncommon for Kevin to finish ahead of me in contests.

Kevin attended many World Boomerang Cup contests and will be remembered fondly by many.

Rest In Peace Kevin.

Update: the funeral was held on Wednesday 12 January, at 1:30 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bennett Street, Wentworthville, before moving to the Northern Suburbs Cemetery. Boomerang Bulletin #118 will celebrate Kevin's life and antics.

In happier news, members can now download Boomerang Bulletin #117 from the member's section. The full-colour printed version will be mailed shortly.

3 August 2004

A selection of photographs from the 2004 Boomerang World Cup have been added to the Galleries section.

7 July 2004

In one week, the 2004 Boomerang World Cup will start in Charleeville-Mezieries, in northern France, and run for a further week to determine the champion country and thrower. We will endeavour to provide some long-distance updates during the event -- I write this from Italy, on my way up to France for the big event.

6 May 2004

Scores for the 2004 Australian Boomerang Championships are now available to members in the members-only section. Photographs from the weekend have been added to the Galleries section.

In other news, David J Richardson will make a “guest appearance” as a Canadian in the team’s section of the World Cup.

26 April 2004

Roger Perry (left) accepts the trophy from Derek Garner
See hi-res picture

On Saturday 24 April 2004, at Frye Park in Perth, Roger Perry finally claimed his debut Overall Australian Boomerang Championship. In overcast and generally pleasant conditions, consistency was his strength. The organiser of these Championships, Roger won no events (in fact, the six events had six different winners) but with two seconds and two thirds, was good enough to win in a day when almost all throwers had an off event or two. Second and third place were jointly claimed by the young guns from the east: 16-year-old Craig Carter from Melbourne, and 19-year-old Tim Lendrum from the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

Saturday night saw Annual and General Meetings of the BAA, and changes on the night included the election of Leonie Metzakis to President, and Josh Smith as Vice-President.

On Sunday a Teams Tournament was held, to further aid the selection of the team to represent Australia at this year's Boomerang World Cup.

And the team to travel to Charleville-Mezieres in France in July for the World Cup consequently is:

• Roger Perry (Western Australia)
• Craig Carter (Victoria)
• Tim Lendrum (New South Wales)(World Cup debut)
• Josh Smith (Western Australia)
• Grant Perry (Western Australia)(World Cup debut)
• John Metzakis (Western Australia)

David J Richardson (Victoria) will also make his debut at the World Cup in the individuals' tournament. Leonie Metzakis (Western Australia) will resume her role as a World Cup referee.

Full scores, photographs, and meeting minutes of the big weekend in Western Australia will follow shortly.

9 April 2004

The 2004 Australian Boomerang Championships are only two weeks away. The team to represent Australia in this year’s World Cup, being held in France in July, will be announced after the Nationals.

28 March 2004

Rob Croll has had his supposedly iron grip on the Victorian State Titles opened. Craig Carter and David J Richardson fought it down to the final event, taking out five of the six individual events. In the end, Craig tipped David out with 8 overall ranking points to 10 as he and David finished 1-2 in MTA, Trick Catch, and Endurance. David won Aussie Round and Accuracy, with Trent Carter taking out the remaining Fast Catch event. Rob Croll placed second to fourth in all events, hence earning 17 ranking points and coming third.

The detailed scores from the day are available in the members-only area.

13 February 2004

Huge update in the members-only area. Boomerang Bulletin #115 is there for download (hard-copy in the mail shortly), lots of tournament results, minutes from recent BAA meetings, and a special bonus: Boomerang Bulletin #1 (actually, it had no name until some time later!)

29 January 2004

Members: we’ve had some delays printing the latest Handbook — but a .pdf version is available in the Members section if you can’t wait!

Also, for those who haven’t been to Canberra recently, check out the latest addition to the Galleries!

30 November 2003

A new page is up explaining how boomerang throwing is a sport. The Glossary has similarly been updated with information on competition events.

For our members, please note the 2003 BAA Handbook is being printed at the moment, and the latest edition of the Boomerang Bulletin will follow shortly.

20 November 2003

World and Australian boomerang throwing records have been added in the Articles section.

3 November 2003

Thanks to Leanne Loveland (the field and hospitality), Bruce Carter (referee and rule-changer-extraordinaire), and lovely spring weather (ow, who forgot the sunscreen?), the Axedale Boomerang Fun Day was a big success. Check out some of the action in the new photos posted in the Galleries pages.

18 September 2003

Another country Victoria event is coming up, as Sunday 12 October will feature the Axedale Boomerang Fun Day. Plenty of team events, and an ideal opportunity to enter the world of boomerangs. Axedale is just east of Bendigo..

Moving up to Queensland, where Genny and Jim Stone have just launched a website to highlight the boomerangs they make and sell. So check out Stones Throw Boomerangs!

5 July 2003

The Inaugural Bairnsdale Sporting Boomerang Fun Weekend will be held on 13-14 September 2003. There will be a spectacular night throw on the Saturday, followed by competition on the Sunday. Novices are very welcome.

9 June 2003

Lots of new pictures available now in the Pics section!

8 June 2003

Roger Perry has won the sixteenth annual Western Australian Championships, held at Southern River on Saturday 24 May. Ian Sproul came second, while a throw-off was needed to give Grant Perry third place ahead of John Macdiarmid.

Conditions were mostly good, with tricky light breezes on a warm clear day. Defending champion Josh Smith was down with the flu, as were quite a few throwers. In the individual events:

• Ryan Perry did very well in Trick Catch to win from the ever improving John Macdiarmid.
• No one really came to terms with Fast Catch, withÝRoger Perry winning despite a drop, in 25.45 seconds, from John Macdiarmid again. Roger Perry also took out Endurance and Accuracy.
• Aussie Round was a greatÝfive-way battle with Ian Sproul hitting form at the end of the day.
• Ryan Perry took out the Maximum Title Aloft title for the 4th year running!

Special thanks to Lance Thomas for the donation of the cool trophies.

8 May 2003

Rob Croll has won the 2003 Victorian Championship, held at the Seamist Farm west of Geelong. In very windy conditions, Craig Carter took out his very last Junior Title (only because next year he’ll be too old!), Leanne Loveland took out the Ladies Title, and Paul Heaton-Harris took out the Veterans Title, as well as the role of new President of the Victorian Boomerang Throwing Association.

A number of photographs from the day have been added to the Pics pages, including a spectaular collage titled ‘An Aussie Round Story’, which chronicles Paul’s five throws in the “King of Events”.

2 May 2003

Added some pics from Western Australia into the people gallery; also added a ‘Latest Updates’ section to the main Pics page so that you can easily tell what’s been added.

13 April 2003

Added a whiz-bang does-it-all scoresheet file, exclusively in the Members section. Save your time, get an error-free calculation of rankings, and get tidy summary sheets for all divisions.

6 April 2003

We’ve added two new sections to the site, as you can see in the green navigation bars at the top and bottom; these are the Pics section and the Members section. The first includes a series of galleries dedicated to Australian boomerangs and boomerang throwers, while the second includes member-only material such as electronic copies of our magazines and other exclusive items (so join us!).

4 April 2003

Bob Burwell has kindly provided a range of photos from the Boomerang Championships.

More detailed reports will be in the next Boomerang Bulletin.

24 March 2003

Rob Croll (right) accepts the trophy from Morris Maxwell
See hi-res picture

Victorian Rob Croll has won his tenth Australian Championship. Young star Tim Lendrum, the current NSW champion, took out second place. Despite little recent competition experience, Adam Carroll of NSW took out third place.

The Veterans Champion was Queenslander Bob ‘Living Legend’ Burwell (who reached sixty years of age on the weekend, and showed none of it by winning the Fast Catch competition, and placing fourth overall). The Junior Champion, for the last time ever, was Victorian Craig Carter (next year he will graduate to the Open division). The Ladies Champion was Margherita McCaughey from NSW, in her first entry to the Nationals.

The BAA also welcomes into the 2003 committee Bob Burwell, Western Australian Josh Smith, and ex-President Bruce Carter. Thanks are also due to the outgoing Victorian State Representative Rob Croll. Contact details for the new committee are noted on the club page.

(Note that there were several corrections to placings)

20 March 2003

Reminder: the Australian Boomerang Championships will be held on the fields of Xavier High School, Fallon St, North Albury, this very weekend. Competition on the Saturday starts at 10:00, and at 9:00 on the Sunday. Dinners and related happenings are at the famous Ettamogah Pub from 7pm on the Friday and Saturday nights. See you there!

13 March 2003

The local Federal parliamentarian, Mrs Sussan Ley MP, has kindly agreed to be at the presentation of awards at the 2003 Australian Boomerang Championships in Albury on March 22-23.

12 March 2003

Issue 114 of the Boomerang Bulletin, all forty pages of it, was mailed today to all members.

6 March 2003

Welcome to http://www.boomerang.org.au/