The final hurdle, people say, is the most cruel. Wall Balls involves striking a target (10 feet tall for men; 9 feet tall for women) with a ball (4-9kg depending on your level and whether you compete as a pro or an amateur). You need to squat with the ball before each strike and if you don’t, prepare to be called out by the station’s judge. Tired and sweaty though one might be towards this point, do not splash yourself with water: you don’t want the ball slipping through your fingers. Also, have a friend in the crowd who you can give your top to: trust me, you will be stripping off. Wall Balls – and the race – are over once you reach 75 strikes in women’s and women’s doubles races, and 100 strikes in men’s, men’s pro, women’s pro, men’s doubles and mixed doubles races.