Tag Archives: IAWA Award of Merit

Steve Andrews – IAWA Merit Award

By Al Myers

Steve Gardner (left) presenting the IAWA Merit Award to Steve Andrews (right)

Steve Gardner (left) presenting the IAWA Merit Award to Steve Andrews (right)

The second IAWA Merit Award of the night was awarded to Steve Andrews of England.  I have known Steve for many years, and have had the fortunate opportunity to share the platform with him several times at IAWA competitions.  Steve has always been a very complete All Round weightlifter, and is a technician in all lifts.  There’s really no lifts that he is not good at, and he ALWAYS places in the top when the points are calculated.  Past IAWA President Steve Gardner helped me out with Steve’s presentation, and gave his induction speech and presentation.  Steve G summed up Steve A’s IAWA resume perfectly, and gave a very moving speech which I would like to share in this blog.  Here it is, by Steve Gardner:

A little about Steve Andrews – 38 / 39 years in weightlifting by Steve Gardner

In 1979 Steve joined a night school for weightlifting in order to lose weight, later in 1980 he was introduced to the BAWLA All Round Scheme. (in the days before our drug free all round lifting organisation had begun) Steve, who was in his 20’s and had never been involved in sports, was surprised how much he loved the new challenge. At the Leicester club Frank Allen was always an inspiration to Steve, who also improved his ability by watching some of the other excellent technicians in all round weightlifting.

The rest is history, this multi-title winning British Champion especially enjoys his Single Arm lifting and is proud of winning the ‘best Single Arm’ title for many, many times over the years. Steve is proud of all his records and hopes to carry on lifting for as many years as his body will allow!

So Steve was lifting in All Round Weightlifting when we formed our International organisation way back in 1985, and without exception (I think) he is the only person who has lifted consistently throughout the last 33 years, even operations on elbows and stuff like that hasn’t kept him away for any lengthy periods, he is like the energiser battery bunny, he just keeps going and going. A competitor at Internationals abroad on occasions too, Steve has not missed many IAWA(UK) National events in all those years. Steve has been a referee for many years, and is always supportive and helpful to new lifters at events, always offering to help out with loading and whatever other tasks arise. Steve has become involved in the Committee work in more recent years, having held position as UK Chairman for some years now. Steve has also been active in supporting Frank Allen in running events and keeping the Leicester Club alive for many, many years too.

All in all, Steve’s dedication and unfaltering support to our beloved sport of all round weightlifting and all of those people involved therein is recognised as being outstanding, and deserving of the highest Award IAWA can present …the IAWA Award of Merit

Ladies and Gentleman I give you ‘Steve Andrews’

Frank Ciavattone – IAWA Award of Merit

by Al Myers

Frank Ciavattone (right) receiving the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit from IAWA President Al Myers.

The “second Frank” that was awarded the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit at the 2014 IAWA World Championships went to Frank Ciavattone. It was a great honor to me to be the one  that got to  make this presentation – as I’ve always looked up to Frank and have considered him a role model.  Below is my presentation speech, for those that were not there to here it firsthand.

I’m honored to be the one that gets to award the IAWA Award of Merit to Frank Ciavattone. This Presidential Award has only been given out a few times, as it represents recognition of the highest form in the IAWA. I could go on forever about Franks lifting accomplishments in the IAWA. As I was doing preparation for this presentation, I realized that Frank has won so many titles and has set so many records and has so many lifting accomplishments that this speech could get very long on me if I wasn’t careful. I’m not going to make Frank stand up here that long – so I’ll just hit a few highlights of his IAWA lifting career. I’ll try to keep this speech as short as I can here.

• Started training in 1971 under coach Joe Mills of the Central Fall Weightlifting Club
• Began involvement in the IAWA in 1988
• IAWA World Championship Meet Promoter 1993, 2000, 2014
• IAWA Gold Cup Meet Promoter 2010
• Holds MANY IAWA World Records
• First US lifter to lift the Dinnie Stones barehanded in 1995
• Won 20 IAWA World Championship titles
• Founder of Franks Barbell Club, and has mentored and coached many new lifters
• Best lifts: One Arm Hack 402.5#, One Arm Deadlift 562.2#, One Arm Ciavattone DL 331#, Neck Lift 808#,Hand and Thigh 1610#, Hip Lift 2515#
• Lifted overseas 7 times – in 6 IAWA World Championships and the Millennium Gold Cup

I’m sure I’ve left off many of Frank’s accomplishments within the IAWA in this short list – but you get the idea here – he has been a major contributor to the IAWA during the entire span of the history of the IAWA. I would like to say a few words about why Frank REALLY deserves this honor. I made this comment in Frank’s USAWA Hall of Fame writeup, and I would like to repeat it here as I think it sums up Frank Ciavattone – “Frank is the ultimate sportsman by demonstrating that a big man can be very strong without the use of drugs, showing that strength comes from within, and displays the unselfish attitude of always helping out his fellow competitors.”

When I first became involved in this great sport of all round weightlifting , I immediately took notice of Frank. We both shared being in the heavier weight classes together. But instead of becoming heated opponents, Frank encouraged me in ways I wasn’t expecting. My involvement in IAWA might not have matured like it has if not for Frank Ciavattone. He has been an inspiration to me, as well as many others, to become more involved in IAWA. Frank has always strived to “give back” to our sport more than he has taken. We would not be here this weekend if not for Frank.

Frank – I consider you a great friend. You are more than deserving of this Presidential Award of Merit and it is my privilege to be the one to get the opportunity to present this award to you. Thank you for all you’ve done for our sport.

Frank Allen – IAWA Award of Merit

by Al Myers

Frank Allen (right) receiving the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit from Steve Gardner (center) and IAWA President Al Myers (left).

It was a very exciting last weekend in Boston.  One of the most important aspects of the weekend was the presentation of the IAWA Presidential Award of Merit.  This the IAWA version of the “Hall of Fame”, and only goes to individuals that are extremely worthy.  Only a handful have been presented this prestigious award, and this weekend included the presentation of the Merit Award to two outstanding men.

To earn this award, a person must not only have shown outstanding accomplishments in performance in All Round Weightlifting in IAWA events, but have been a major contributor in other aspects as well – such as event promotions, leadership responsibilities within the organization,  and be of outstanding character.

It was an honor to be part of the induction ceremony honoring the great Frank Allen. Steve Gardner gave a very eloquent speech highlighting Frank’s illustrious career in IAWA.  Frank was an original member of IAWA, and was the promoter of the VERY FIRST IAWA World Championships in 1988.  He has attended practically every Worlds and Gold Cup through the years.  Congrats Frank!