As a little girl, skating didn't go very well. As a teenager, she became good at it, skating on Lantinga skates. She won her first price in Oldeboorn on 24 January 1917 at a comptition with men's and women's where she finished second. On 26 January she competed, together with her brother Piet in Oldeboorn, winning the fourth price. On 28 January she won for the second time a first price in Terhorne. Days after this victory she won many 9 other races, including winning a golden watch in Bolsward. In later years she won many more competitions and was one of the best Frisian speed skaters. Her main rivals were: Feikje Rijpkema, Rienkje Paulusma and Gelsche Brouwer. Martha had a clear opinion about agreements who would win a competition and sharing the prize money. Hemminga never shared because, in her opinion, sharing is like coming homewith honor without money or coming home with money and without honor. Hemminga usually signed up for competitions via the Leeuwarder Courantthe localnews paper, which was delivered to their farm by post around noon every day. However, if the mail came too late, she was unable to register in time, and missed competitions. Sometimes she went to competitions by train. If it was possible she went on skates. If the ice wasn't strong enough, she walked. Sometimes it was a long journey across dark dikes and muddy trails, using a stall lantern if it was dark. For example, in February 1917, she went skating from Oldeboorn to Sloten where she won the competition. Arriving there, she had to compete in the first round against the strongest skater. For most competition the first round was a random draw who had to skate against who. According to Hemminga this method was not fair of organizing competitions. She also didn't like the timing races. Hemminga could ride the 120 metre in 12 seconds and the 160 metre in 16.8 seconds. During the last years of her career she lost of rising stars like Janna van der Meulen who was seven years younger. During the competition in Warga on 17 January 17 1924, Hemminga would have said to Van der Meulen: "Be a bit easy with me today, because I've been up all night, many of our pigs got piglets". Poet Cornelis Kasje wrote the poem about the Hemminga and Van der Meulen: Daar staat ze weer, die stoere ijsvorstin, Zij zal haar krachten nog eens tonen. Maar naast haar staat een jonge ijsheldin. Een nieuwe ster op het ijs, uit Frieslands schonen. Twee sterren op het ijs, een glorieuze kracht. De een straks zacht verbleekt, de ander een schitterpracht.
Personal
Hemminga was born on a form on Sitebuorren near Grou. She was one of the youngest the family Hemminga, consisting of 11 children. Her brother, Piet, was also a speed skater. She married Ruurd Jacobx Draaisma on 9 May 1923 in Grou. Hemminga is the aunt of successful speed skater Trijntje Hemminga.
Achievements
List is not complete. In total she won 48 first prices. ;1916-17 ;1919-20 ;1921-22 ;1923-24 Total price money 1923-24: f 280
