After a week of solid weather-watching, the BBC forecasted a largely dry day for 11th June so we locked ourselves in for the 2011 Milly Jam and prepared for some great British summer showers.
The Jam was the product of some fantastic team-work by skate park regulars & their friends with the support of Friend of Millhouses Park and Sheffield City Council and Parks. It was a loose-format, free-entry, skate & bmx competition with the focus on fun for all ages. Local skate and bike shops provided prizes and funding from the SW Community Assembly covered the cost of trophies, first aiders etc.
Estimates put the total number of attendees throughout the day near to the 1,000 mark, we had over 60 entrants and raised over £100 from sales of T-shirts featuring Izaac Cruickshank’s Jam Jar design. This will be used to start a fund for further improvements to the skate park.
Forecasts proved alarmingly accurate with a thorough soaking just before the start of the comp. Locals rallied to find brushes and the standing water was soon cleared to set the stage for an awesome afternoon.
12 and under skate and bmx sessions proved what great talent we’ve got coming through. Will Lester picked up the mic duties and judging for the skate session with input from Ravenous/Slugger skater Joe Marks to find a clear winner in Oliver Appleyard.
Former-Sheffield resident and pro bmxer, Tom Blyth showed his support for the event by making the trip down from Hull to judge BMX with Joel Culf on the mic. Theo Warden picked up the trophy for 12 and under bmx.
Tom Peter’s superbly crafted high-jump poles were rolled out when another shower saw us heading for the cover of the trees. No one could touch Will Lester’s pop on the skateboard and nothing could separate Jordan Waters and Sean O’Connell at a massive 1.05m.
13-16 Skate was a hard-fought contest with Jake Wainwright winning out in the end. Jamie Shipston locked-in grinds and tricks all over the park to pick up 1st in BMX.
Will Lester passed over skateboard judging and mic duties to the lads from The House to compete in the 17 and over category. A four-man final was needed to settle on a result which saw Will deservedly carry away the trophy.
The sound of jaws dropping around the park could be heard above James Folkes’ sound system* during the 17 and over BMX sessions
(*In the capable hands of Ed & Ash from Re-Cycle Rides). Ross Jarmen wowed the crowds, finding two alternative exits from the park to pick up 3rd place behind Jordan Waters and Shayn Steels.
Shayn blew minds again in the bmx high hop out of the bank – floating a massive 360 over the high bar and landing with barely a sound. It was Tom Wier who took the prize though with a 1.75m banger and Will Lester cleaned up in the skate category at 1.05m.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SKATE! PAGE.
Pictures from John Brighton:
1. Crowd shot 1
2. Crowd shot 2
3. Trophies
Pictures from Izaac Prados (More and a possible dvd to follow from Matt Van Elkan)
4. Joel Culf on the mic
5. Jamie Shipston on his way to 13-16 BMX 1st
6. Jake Wainwright – 13-16 Skate 1st
7. Ross Jarman’s 2nd exit from the park
8. Tom Peters puts his height poles to the test
Click here for a full breakdown of the results: Milly Jam results
Credits & Thanks
All the competitors & spectators
Bike Tree, Slide Boardstore, The House Skatepark, Slugger Skate Shop, J E James & Edinburgh Bikes for prizes
Izaac Cruickshank – Jam Jar design
Tom Peters – High jump Engineer
James Folkes, Ed & Ash from Re-Cycle for the sound system
Matt Van Elkan & Izaak Prados for photography & film
Rob & The House for advice, support, loan of the generator & judging
Ed & Ash for the Re-Cycle Bike Doctor clinic
Tom Blyth for judging & great support of the event
Joel Culf & Will Lester on the mic
Amie Rowland & June Burke at Sheffield City Council
Kevin Cheetham at Sheffield Parks
Tammy Barrass and SW Community Assembly for the funding
Tamsin at Ecclesall Saw Mill for the trophies
Everyone else who pitched in to make it an amazing day
Friends of Millhouses Park 