- Title: GERMANY-HANDBAG CONTEST Handbag-throwing world championship held in Germany
- Date: 1st August 2015
- Summary: TEAM JAMAICA AND TEAM GERMANY VARIOUS OF TEAM FRENCH GUIANA THROWING HANDBAGS MEMBER OF TEAM NETHERLANDS THROWING HANDBAG SPECTATORS APPLAUDING JUDGES GIVING SCORE (SOUNDBITE) (German) JUDGE, IRMGARD KNUEPPEL, SAYING: "The most important thing is releasing the handbag at the right moment. You can prepare all you like, but the moment you let go of the bag is decisive. And we judges, Roberto and I, have the task of evaluating the secondary aspects - the feel for the bag, the release, the choreography, the look, everything that goes with that. Alongside the sporting aspect there is the question of grace. (JUDGE ROBERTO BLANCO ADDING) and the distance of course, that is important too." TEAM JAMAICA MEMBER THROWING HANDBAG SPECTATORS APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE)(German) TEAM JAMAICA THROWER, MARTIN HOHMOTH, SAYING: "You just have to smoke a bit of weed and then simply let go of the handbag, that's all there is to it." (TEAM JAMAICA THROWER JENS TJARGES ADDING) "And have a lot of fun of it. That is the most important thing." VARIOUS OF MEMBER OF DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TEAM AUSTRIA THROWING HANDBAG (SOUNDBITE) (German) MEMBER OF TEAM AUSTRIA AND DEFENDING CHAMPION, ANDY RULAND, SAYING: "Unfortunately, the competition is a bit tougher this year, especially the team with last year's world record holder in it. We know they are a big rival but we are going to go full throttle and do all we can to be world champions again." TEAM AUSTRIA MEMBER THROWING HANDBAG HANDBAG ON GROUND
- Embargoed: 16th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABJ9KL6K1QF0B4X69C3VW44JA7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fifteen teams battled it out for an unusual trophy in northern Germany on Saturday (August 1) - the "Golden Handbag", awarded to the winners of the annual handbag-throwing world championship.
A party atmosphere prevailed as the teams and judges arrived accompanied by cheerleaders. Although the participants were mainly German, they got into the spirit of representing countries from around the world by donning accessories ranging from an orange feather boa for the Netherlands to rasta caps for Jamaica.
This year's event in the city of Bottrop was the fourth world championship, so the competitors have had some time to perfect their technique. As judge Irmgard Knueppel explained, the key is in the release.
"You can prepare all you like, but the moment you let go of the bag is decisive. And we judges, Roberto and I, have the task of evaluating the secondary aspects - the feel for the bag, the release, the choreography, the look: everything that goes with that. Alongside the sporting aspect there is the question of grace," she said.
"And the distance of course, that is important too," chipped in fellow judge, Schlager singer Roberto Blanco.
Straining for the perfect balance of elegance and distance, participants also had to adhere to strict rules, including a handbag weight of one kilo for women and two for men.
While some teams were eyeing up the competition, others took a more relaxed approach.
"You just have to smoke a bit of weed and then simply let go of the handbag, that's all there is to it," Team Jamaica member Martin Hohmoth advised.
Defending champions Austria meanwhile had their eyes on the prize.
"Unfortunately the competition is a bit tougher this year, especially the team with last year's world record holder in it. We know they are a big rival but we are going to go full throttle and do all we can to be world champions again," Team Austria member Andy Ruland told Reuters.
As it turned out it did not need to worry: Team Austria romped to victory with a total distance thrown of 760.44 metres between the four team members.
That was enough to win the coveted Golden Handbag, although not to clinch the world record, which was smashed by last year's record holder from Finland, beating his own record with a gigantic throw of 35.32 metres. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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