The Greatest Little Meeting in the World
You know a meet is great when you throw badly and still enjoy it. That is how I’ve felt after competing at the Sparkassen Fränkisch-Crumbach Hammermeeting the past two years. After returning to the meet this year I can tell you it feels even better when you walk away with a great result.
The Setting
I have a great sense of direction, but I’ve been to Fränkisch-Crumbach three times and I still don’t know exactly where it is. In general terms, the town of 3,000 people lies about an hour south of Frankfurt. But the great American invention of straight roads have yet to arrive to the area so I end up taking a new route each time. When you finally arrive, you feel like you’ve set foot in hammer throwing mecca.
Now the meet doesn’t have the largest budget in the world, the most stars, or even the best results each year. But it brings the best atmosphere I have ever seen. When the Russian federation asked Sergej Litvinov Jr. about the meet, he described it as “a bunch of Germans sit around, drink beer, and watch hammer throwing.” That pretty much describes the scene. This year an estimated 1,500 spectators showed up to watch a world class field headlined by the new women’s world record holder Betty Heidler. In speaking with the meet director, it was a record attendance. The meet has grown each year in its 9 year history and this year they added a larger stage, video screens, and a larger seating area to accomodate more fans.
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Wearing superhero tights should be mandatory at Fränkisch-Crumbach. It looks like a blast.
Training must be going well. You look really quick in that video. Hopefully 70m comes soon. Keep it up.