David ‘Rules’ Mitchell

My first proper throw was at Pontefract on the 15th May 2016. That was the start of an obsession with all target sports although throwing remains my primary passion.

Within 2 weeks I had scavenged carboard for targets and was throwing everything from 5” nails to homemade bagakay. By the end of June, I had read most available books on the subject, developed a learning strategy, got JT throwers, proper home targets and joined KATTA.

At the end of Summer 2016 I had attended half a KATTA tournament and the Viking day, been introduced to double bit axe and obtained my first “no-spin” knives and shuriken. I finally joined the 21st Century via the FB group and my collection of throwing implements became notorious.

There is no way to really progress in throwing without other throwers so by the end of 2016 I had travelled to Woodend and Hull, joining the Field Archers and Warriors and shared double bit experience with the Chuckers as well as weekly Sundays at Pontefract.

Injury and illness slowed things down in Winter but we had a positive 2nd of January meet at the Pontefract range which reminded me of how lucky I was to have access to help and support from John, George, Richard, Col, Graham and Jules. In February I visited Austin, home of IKTHOF, the travel time giving me the chance to absorb the Thronin podcasts and crank up my research.

My first real competition experience was the inaugural KATTA National Championship at Woodend in June 2017 where I helped organise the no-spin and double bit events. It was a bittersweet experience ranging from disastrous (conventional knives score worse than 2016, no-spin less than half practice scores) through good (new quick draw technique worked, 5th in double bit) to outstanding (medals). My throwing name arrived, a consequence of my unusual approach to the sport.

Four days later and a year after taking up throwing, after a crazy journey across Germany I was lining up at the first World Double Bit Championship.

Knife Throwing Resume

2016 3rd Viking Charity Throw
Decided I wanted to be competent to compete in every discipline.

2016 7th KATTA tournament
First day only, learned how to score!

2017 1st UK Tournament, Huthwaite
1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place 5m Axe | 3rd Place 4m Axe

2017 1st World Championship Double Bit Axe, Laubach-Munster, Germany
Finalist (36th out of 86 in mens division – tbc)

2017 Eurothrowers European Championships, Alsómocsolád, Hungary

2018 KATTA UK Double Bit Axe Tournament, Huthwaite, UK

2018 KATTA UK National Tournament, Huthwaite, UK
1st Place Speed Throw

2018 Eurothrowers World Championships, Rýmařov, Czech Republic

2018 Essex Backyard Throwers (KATTA) Tournament, UK
1st Place Speed Throw

2019 Italian National Championship, Pero, Milan, Italy

2019 KATTA UK National Tournament, Huthwaite, UK
1st Place 4m Axe | 1st Place No Spin | 1st Place Speed Throw | 3rd Place Long Distance Axe

2019 World Championship Double Bit Axe, Hällefors, Sweden

2019 Essex Backyard Throwers (KATTA) Tournament, UK
1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place 5m Axe | 3rd Place Axe Total | 3rd Place Silhouette

2021 KATTA UK National Tournament, Huthwaite, UK
1st Place Overall Axe (Walkback) | 1st Place Speed Throw | 1st Place Long Distance Axe | 3rd Place 5m Knife

German Open International DB 2021, Laubach, Germany
3rd Place International Team Event

2021 Italian Open National Championship, Carpi, Italy
3rd Place Speed Throw

2021 Woodend Autumn Open, Huthwaite, UK
1st Place 7m Knife | 1st Place 5m Axe | 1st Place Long Distance Axe | 1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place Overall Axe | 2nd Place Long Distance Knife | 3rd Place Overall Precision | 3rd Place Overall Knife | 3rd Place Double Bit | 3rd Place Silhouette

2021 Grizzly Bears Axe & Knife Throwing Competition, Louth, UK
1st Place 3m Knife | 1st Place 4m Axe | 1st Place Pendulum | 2nd Place Overall Precision | 2nd Place Overall Knife | 2nd Place 5m Knife | 2nd Place 7m Knife | 2nd Place 7m Axe | 3rd Place Overall Axe | 3rd Place 5m Axe

2022 Norfolk Flingers Chuck In The Muck 2, Norwich, UK
1st Place 3m Knife | 1st Place 5m Knife | 2nd Place 7m Knife | 1st Place Knife Overall | 1st Place Snife | 1st Place Silhouette | 3rd Place 4m Axe

2022 UKDBA National Double Bit Championships, Thirsk,UK
1st Place Team Event

2022 Asgard Cup, Laubach, Germany
2nd Place Team Event

2022 KATTA UK National Tournament, Huthwaite, UK
1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place Walkback Axe | 3rd Place Double Bit | 2nd (AKA Too Slow!) Duel Cup 

2022 Doublebit World Championship, Barrington, NS, Canada
28th in Qualifiers

2023 Axemore UKDB Prequel, Thirsk, UK
1st Place Mens Individual | 1st Place Teams

2023 Swedish Open, Arboga, Sweden
1st Place Overall Knife/Axe/No Spin | 1st Place Silhouette Axe | 1st Place Long Distance Axe | 2nd Place Axe Walkback | 2nd Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place No Spin Silhouette

2023 UKAT World Championship, Vitré, France
3rd Place Speed Throw

2023 KATTA UK National Tournament, Louth, UK
1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Place No Spin Long Distance | 3rd Place Long Distance Axe

2023 Essex Backyard Throwers (KATTA) Tournament, UK
1st Place Speed Throw | 2nd Quick Draw | 3rd Place Snife | 3rd Place 7m Axe

2024 KATTA UK National Championship, Louth, UK
1st Place Speed Throw | 1st Place Long Distance Axe | 1st Place Long Distance No Spin | 3rd Place Mountain Man | 4th Place Overall Knife and Axe

2024 UKAT World Championship, Louth, UK
2nd Place 5m Axe

2024 World Double Bit Championship, Thirsk, UK
My fourth and final World Double Bit Championship