Big Throwers Meeting / European Championship in Knife Throwing and Axe Throwing
promoted by Knifethrowing.info and
Axtwerfen.de and Eurothrowers.orgTo promote the exchange between axe- and knife throwers in Europe, in 2001 the European Throwing Club Flying Blades (EuroThrowers) has started the "Big Throwers Meeting / European Championship". This event has since been established as the central annual competition and meeting place for throwers from all over Europe, and is assigned to a different country each year.
To understand why the Big Throwers Meeting / European Championship is really the most important event for knife throwers and axe throwers each year, just read the reports about the last years' events.
In 2011, the event was held in Herrischried, Germany, in 2012 we met in Forni Avoltri, Italy.
13th European Championship, 13th to 15th of September 2013, Nivnice, Czech Republic
The European Championship in Knife- and Axe Throwing will this year be held in Nivnice in the Czech Republic. The local organiser is the W Club, whose members (like Jiri or Fery) are very active in international competitions.
As usual, the most important goal is to get together knife and axe throwers from all over Europe for some days of throwing in a relaxed atmosphere. Meeting old friends and finding new ones, learning some new throwing tricks. And, of course, we'll have a competition. Touristic wise, Nivnice is perfect for hiking (ride by bike all the way to Prague, if you want), the surrounding South Moravian region has small medieval towns, prototypical castles and Austerlitz. More important, it's a starting point to visit eastern Europe: Prague, Vienna and Budapest are only a 2-3 hour drive away.
I would be happy to see you there! If you encounter troubles in planning your trip, don't hesitate to contact me or the local organiser!
Christian Thiel
Registration
If you are interested in coming to the Championship (or know for sure), please register here. This will also make sure you always receive the most up-to-date information.
Each participant is responsible for booking his own accommodation (see below).
Rules
The rules employed will be the standard European Knife and Axe Throwing Rules (Version 2010), which also state the knife and axe events that will be held. Please familiarise yourself with the rules (which are available in 7 languages) in advance.
The rules for the EuroThrowers Duel Cup have been updated somewhat since last year to give all throwers the same chances.
W-club competition
A special competition proposed by the local organisers: axe throwing 4m, you stay seated behin a table. The detailed rules will be explained on site.
Local Organisers
The European Championship in Knife and Axe Throwing / Big European Throwers Meeting is locally organised and held by the W Club (a member of the EuroThrowers association).
President: Dušan Dvořák, phone +420 737 646 257, macgyver.haje@seznam.cz
Communication contact: Majky, sedistuzkou@seznam.cz. She speaks Czech, English, German and Spanish.
Location
The competition will take place at:Nivnická RivieraNa výsluní
68751 Nivnice
Czech Republic
GPS: 48°58'13.551"N, 17°39'5.302"E
See the competition area on a mapHow to get there
Attention: Read about knife laws below.
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By car: Be sure to buy a road tax sticker (10 Euros for 7 days) at the customs or a gas station.
Praha D1/E 50 – Brno, Brno – Uherský Brod – exit from D1 to E 50 (in the direction to Slavkov u Brna), Uherský Brod – Nivnice highway No. 490 (before the railroad crossing turn to the right)
Ostrava D1 – Lipník nad Bečvou - Přerov – Hulín – exit from D1, to the left to the highway No. R 55 – in Otrokovice turn to the right to highway No. 55 – in Uherské Hradiště turn to the left to E50 – Uherský brod – Nivnice using the highway No. 490 (before the railroad crossing turn to the right)
Vienna E461 – Břeclav – highway No. 55 – to Uherské hradiště – turn to the right to E 50 – to Uherský brod – turn to the right to the highway No. 490 to Nivnice (before the railroad crossing turn to the right)
- By public transport: The next regularly served train station is Uhersky Brod, only 7km from Nivnice. From here, you can take a bus, or arrange a pick-up with the local organisers.
Bus: The closest stop in the small town of Nivnice is Nivnice škola. The bus schedules can easily consulted at thelocal bus operator (switch to English on the bottom of the page).
Train schedule: Can be consulted most easily (and in English) on the pages of theDeutsche Bahn.
- By plane: The airport of choice for the Czech Republic is Václav Havel Airport (PRG) in Prague. Fare examples (back and forth): Munich 150 Euros, Paris 120 Euros, Moscow 260 Euros, London 140 Euros/120 GBP, New York City 650 Euros/850 USD;
The law
There are no special laws in the Czech Republic concerning throwing knives. However, to help explain why you transport all those knives, it is always a good idea to carry a printout of the Championship invitation (that is, this page) with you, and your EuroThrowers membership-card (if available).
It has never been a problem to transport throwing knives on the plane in a checked-in suitcase. A printout of the championship invitation on top of the knives helps customs officers quickly decide you have a harmless reason for transporting those throwing knives.
In you travel, you might cross countries with special rules:- Germany, Italy: Do transport all of your knives in a bag or container that is locked with a padlock. It is heavily recommended not to transport those objects: Butterfly knives, throwing stars, flick / switchblade knives, and any knife whose blade is sharpened on both sides.
- Switzerland: Do not touch Switzerland! Here, throwing knives as such are illegal, and you will face serious persecution if they are found in your luggage. (One visitor to the last Championship got his knives confiscated at the Swiss border, and on top he got a heavy fine.)
- Austria: No limitations known.
- Remember to check the rules for additional countries you cross.
Schedule
| Friday 13 | ||
| Arrival | ||
| 12:00 | Registration open, training targets available | |
| 17:00 | Training ends; Break | |
| 18:00 - 21:00 | Members meeting of the EuroThrowers association | |
| Saturday 14 | ||
| 8:00 | Registration | |
| 9:00 | Briefing / Competition instructions | |
| 9:15 | The competition starts | |
| 12:30 | Lunch break (no throwing allowed) | |
| 13:30 | Western show | |
| 13:45 | Competition continues | |
| 19:00 | Closing of all targets | |
| 19:00 | Dinner | |
| 20:00 | Social evening, country style! | |
| Sunday 15 | ||
| 8:00 | Training | |
| 9:00 | Competition | |
| 12:30 | Duel Cup (and W-Club competition) | |
| 13:30 | Award Ceremony and Photos | |
| 14:00 - 15:00 | Presentation of (possible) future Competition Rules |
The schedule is tentative and likely to change until the event.
During the whole competition there will be a possibility of buying country, western and army handmade products: from leather (belts, sheath) to wood (country style decoration), to metal (knives). Most of the products are made by W-club members or their friends.
Accommodation, Fees
The fees can only be paid in Czech Koruna (CZK), so be sure to get some cash from the ATM on your way there.
The registration for the competition is 750 CZK (30 Euros), paid on site. There is an additional fee of 130 CZK (5 Euros) for participants who are not a member of the EuroThrowers club (or of a club that is a part of EuroThrowers).
The fee for the W-Club Competition is 260 CZK (10 Euros).
We would be pleased if everybody could wear the signs of a throwing club, so that we present ourselves as an organised group to the media people present. Members of the EuroThrowers should pin their membership badge to their shirt. And of course, everybody may visit the online-shop to buy a T-shirt or cap with the EuroThrowers logo in advance.
You will we able to buy food and drinks directly on site.
Accommodation
Each participant is responsible for booking his own accommodation.
Camping is possible directly at the competition site.
Hotel list
The prices given usually include breakfast. The staff usually speaks English or German. Distances given to the competition area.
The local organiser can be contacted if you are having trouble with your reservations.
Hotel Savary, 0km Hoštáky 85, 68751 NivniceFor the weekend, this hotel is reserved just for us! When you book, do mention that you are here for the throwers meeting.
dvoulůžkový pokoj (double room), 600 CZK/night (for two persons)
chata (bungalow), 400 CZK/night (for two persons), also available for 4 persons
Nivnická Riviéra, 0km Na Výsluní 400, 68751 NivniceHalf of this is reserved already for W Club members.
lůžkový apartmán (4 rooms), 1300 CZK/night
Several cheaper bungalow and apartment options are available, do ask for best choice for your travel group.
Other options
Hotel Monde (7,5km), U Brány (8 km), Penzion Rozkvět (6km), Sport Hluk (11 km), Penzion u Holuba (13km)
The image of the town of Nivnice is provided by author
palickap via wikimedia commons.
