Club Championships (Wednesday 6th May 2026)
Hacksaws Deliver World-Class Performance To Secure Top-10 Finish At Club Championships
Season 106 Club Championships Review
A competition featuring 61 of the strongest athletics clubs from across the Maxithlon world ended with a superb performance from Hacksaws, who battled their way to an outstanding eighth-place finish and firmly established themselves among the elite clubs in the sport.
In an event dominated by some of the biggest international names, Hacksaws amassed an impressive 52,468 points, placing them eighth overall and ahead of more than fifty clubs from around the globe. Only seven clubs managed to finish above them, underlining the scale of the achievement.
At the summit of the standings, Atletismo Castellonense claimed the Club Championship title with 61,679 points, ahead of TuS Erbse and Upol Gavirate. Yet among the British contingent, Hacksaws emerged as one of the standout stories of the competition.
Three Silvers Shine Bright
The cornerstone of the Hacksaws performance came from three exceptional silver-medal-winning displays.
Andreia Peralta produced one of the finest throwing performances of the championships, launching the shot to 20.78 metres to secure second place. Competing against an elite international field, Peralta demonstrated both power and consistency to claim a place on the podium.
In the combined events, Nadia Bottazzini once again showcased her remarkable versatility. Her score of 4,595 points in the Women's Pentathlon was enough to earn another silver medal and highlighted her ability to deliver across multiple disciplines under championship pressure.
pictured above Peralta, Bottazzini and McDougall with their silver medals.
The endurance programme produced the club's third medal through Kyle McDougall, whose superb run of 30:36.92 in the 10,000 metres earned a silver medal. McDougall stayed with the leading pack throughout before producing a determined finish to secure one of the club's most memorable results of the championships.
Together, Peralta, Bottazzini and McDougall were unquestionably the athletes of the tournament for Hacksaws, providing the club with three podium finishes against world-class opposition.
Strength Across Every Event Group
While the medal winners naturally grabbed the headlines, Hacksaws' eighth-place finish was built on contributions from every corner of the team.
Armando Tormo cleared 2.08m in the high jump
The jumping squad was particularly impressive. Armando Tormo cleared 2.08m in the high jump to finish fourth, while Alfonso Santos recorded 7.51m in the long jump, also securing fourth place. Those performances narrowly missed the podium but delivered major championship points.
Alfonso Tormo clearing 7.51m in the long jump
In the race walks, Juliano Aires produced one of the club's strongest non-medal performances, finishing fourth in the 10km Race Walk in 49:50.48. Karen Kiesel also impressed with fifth place in the women's 50km Race Walk in 4:19:37.92.
The middle-distance squad produced valuable points throughout the week. Laimis Vainilaitis ran 1:58.53 to finish seventh in the 800 metres, while Virna Capponcelli narrowly missed out on the top four in the women's 800 metres, clocking 2:11.31 for fifth place.
The throws continued to contribute heavily. Risto Riutta threw 69.85m in the javelin to finish seventh, while Vanessa Martinelli reached 65.40m in the discus to place eighth against some of the strongest female throwers in the competition.
Vanessa Martinelli throwing the discus 65.40m
Team Depth Makes The Difference
One of the most impressive aspects of the Hacksaws performance was the balance between the men's and women's squads. The men scored 26,311 points, while the women contributed 26,157 points, a difference of only 154 points.
That balance allowed Hacksaws to remain competitive throughout the entire championship programme rather than relying on one specific event group.
The relay squads also played their part. The men's 4x100m team finished tenth in 47.33, while the men's 4x400m squad recorded 3:39.41. The women's relay teams added further valuable points in fiercely contested races.
Finishing Among The Elite
When the final standings were confirmed, Hacksaws found themselves in eighth place, sandwiched between international powerhouses BMW Jelenia Gora and Hervas Team.
For a club competing against 60 rivals from across the athletics world, a top-ten finish represents a significant achievement. More importantly, the performance demonstrated that Hacksaws possess strength across every discipline, from endurance and race walking to jumps, throws and combined events.
The silver-medal trio of Andreia Peralta, Nadia Bottazzini and Kyle McDougall may have led the charge, but this was ultimately a genuine team effort.
In a championship packed with international quality, Hacksaws proved they belong among the very best.