Records broken at Sussex Christmas Tree Throwing Championships

24th November 2023

 

Both the men’s and women’s records in the Sussex Christmas Tree Throwing Championships were broken in this year’s competition.

 

Now in its third year the 2023 competition attracted a record number of participants and spectators.

 

Held on Sunday 19th November 2023, the event saw around 30 competitors throwing six-foot fir trees in the yard outside the Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm festive shop.

 

Both previous male and female winning distances were smashed. James Gardiner of Hailsham threw his tree a distance of 10.56 metres, 1.5 metres longer than the previous record, while the women’s champion, Becky Palmer of St Leonard’s, threw her tree 6.91 metres, 41 centimetres further than the 2022 winner.

 

Each winner received a cash prize of £100.

 

James and Becky now the join the rollcall of champions, which currently includes 2021 winner David Elias from St. Leonards and 2022 winners Tadas Zakevicius from Seaford and Vicky Reeves from Battle.

 

Clive Collins, owner of Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm, said: “It is wonderful to see this competition going from strength to strength. We started it in 2021 as a way to bring some excitement back to the festive season after the uncertainties of 2020 and the pandemic. I’m pleased to says it has surpassed all our expectations and now attracts athletes from all over the South East.

 

“I thought the throws by Vicky and Tadas in 2022 would be hard to beat, but James and Becky have shown us there is always scope for a new record.”

 

The competition’s reputation has now spread beyond the borders of Kent and Sussex. On Friday 17th November, ITV This Morning visited the farm for a live segment presented by former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler. Then on Monday 20th November a report on the event was shown on ITV News Meridian.

 

Operating in East Sussex for over 30 years, Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm has one simple mission – provide the best-quality trees in Sussex at the best possible prices. Visitors will also find everything they need in the festive shop, which has be largest selection of decorations in Sussex, to make their Christmas perfect, from lights and stands to wreathes and small gifts.

 

The farm is open every day until Christmas – 8 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday and 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday. They sell a wide range of tree types, including Norway Spruce, Pine trees, Nordman, Balsam, Fraser and Concolor firs, and trees can also be ordered online by visiting their website.

 

This year, the farm is donating 30p from every tree that’s sold to the Bexhill Foodbank.

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For more information, interview requests and images, please contact Suzi Christie: suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk or call 07590 591140.

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Image: Owner Clive Collins, centre, with 2023 winners Becky Palmer and James Gardiner