Monthly Archives: May 2012

Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

Group picture from the 2012 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships: (front left to right) Roger LaPointe, Al Myers, Denny Habecker, Eric Todd, Scott Schmidt (Back) Dave Polzin

This past Saturday Roger LaPointe, of Atomic Athletic, hosted the 2012 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.  It was held in conjunction with his annual promotion, the Atomic Athletic Great Black Swamp Olde Time Strongman Picnic.  After last year’s Heavies in York, I didn’t know if that meet could be topped, but after attending Roger’s event I think it was!   The combination of the championships and the picnic were a perfect fit – it led to a festive environment along with many spectators.  Roger did an EXCELLENT JOB of bringing everything together to celebrate a day of strength. Along with the Championships, there were several strength shows by other strongmen going on.  All of this was topped off with a big meal for everyone in attendance.  I won’t say anymore about the picnic activities as I will leave that story for Roger to tell later.

Myself (left) and Roger LaPointe (right). Roger did an outstanding job of promoting the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships!

The meet itself was well attended for a Heavy Lift Championships. All together 7 lifters entered – a mixture of heavy lift veterans and a couple of new lifters to the “chain lifts”.  This meet doesn’t appeal to all lifters, and generally the Heavy Lift Champs doesn’t get more entries than this, so I was very pleased with the turnout.  It ended up “being a battle” between Eric Todd and myself for the overall champion.  It came down to the last event, the Hip Lift, to decide the day’s champion.  I was in order before ET, so I pushed myself and got a 2000# Hip Lift to put a little pressure on him.  He responded well, and put up with a personal record Hip Lift of 2075# to edge me out by only 3 adjusted points. I will have to do some research on this, but I’m guessing this is the closest finish for the overall lifter EVER in a Heavy Lift Championships.  Eric was the one who “stole the show” of the day on the whole – he started off the meet with an overall ALL TIME USAWA & WORLD RECORD in the Neck Lift with an unbelievable lift of 905 pounds!!!  His new record topped Chad Ullom’s 900 from last years Heavy Champs, which has now become the norm for being one of the best in the Neck Lift.   It was a really impressive lift, and I expect will inspire Chad to lift even more.  I fully expect one of these two lifters to be the first to break the “magic barrier” of 1000 pounds in the Neck Lift.  It will happen.  I was glad to see ET enter this big meet and win this championships. Most don’t know this, but ET has been competing in the USAWA longer than I have (by 6 months).  He has never really traveled far to meets in the USAWA as he has been focused on his pro strongman career.  He is a gifted all rounder and I kidded him he is still a youngster (at 37) in the USAWA and his best years are still ahead of him.

Dennis Mitchell giving an interview to the local TV station.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dennis Mitchell.  Dennis is now 80 years old and was the oldest lifter in this meet.  For his age, Dennis is remarkable.  Most guys his age would never take on lifts like the Heavy Lifts.  Dennis is a “master” at these lifts, and constantly surprises me with his lifting.  He told me last weekend that this month marks 69 years since he began lifting weights (that’s right, 69 years!!!!).   Also, he has competed throughout this whole time. That is one long lifting career!!!  I was glad to see Dennis get recognized by being interviewed by the local TV station.

Another lifting milestone was achieved this past weekend as well.  Our USAWA President Denny Habecker told me that Saturday marked 50 years since his first lifting competition – to the day!!!   I made sure to celebrate this occasion with Denny after the meet.  Denny multi-tasked all day as a lifter and as the head official, as well as bringing the heavy bar and accessories for the meet.  Many things happen in the USAWA only because of Denny!! He finished with a record lift in the Hip Lift at 944 pounds.

I was glad to see competing the two newcomers, wily veteran Olympic Lifter Dave Polzin, and the big talented young kid Thomas Casillas.  Both have tremendous abilities, and with a little practice on the Heavy Lifts will be very good Heavy Lifters. Dave really impressed me after the meet when he did a 198# Clean and Press at the age of 62 for an age group record!!!  Andrew Durniat made an appearance as well in one of the strongman shows.  I hadn’t seen Andrew in a year, but immediately I could tell that he has added some muscular size since then.  He did a 166# one arm snatch for a new record.  This is one of the best one arm snatches of the year in the organization.  Andrew’s strength in a lift like this shows that he is “way more” than just a grip lifter.  I’m hoping that we will continue to see Andrew compete in the USAWA, as he is a great person as well as a superb lifter.

Athletic Atomic club member Dave Polzin performed a 198# Clean and Press at the age of 62!!!!

Another all -round lifter who was in attendance but did not compete was the Cleveland lifter John Kurtz.  John trained under the legendary Howard Prechtel and obviously has a wealth of information.  I enjoyed visiting with him throughout the day and getting to know him.  His name is “littered” throughout our USAWA record list with impressive records, and it was nice to be able to “put a name with a face”.   He has had some health issues of late, but he still looked like he was in lifting shape to me!!!  I hope to see him get “back into action” in USAWA competition.  The only person I have not mentioned yet is Scott Schmidt.   I saved Scott for last because I want to make sure everyone knows how much he contributes to our organization.  Scott is part of the 5-person executive board that governs the USAWA, and is very influential “behind the scenes”.  He is always very helpful at meets, and one of the better officials in the organization.  He put up a great lift of 1005# in the Hand and Thigh as well and placing third overall in this meet.

MEET RESULTS:

Heavy Lift Championships
Bowling Green, Ohio
May 12, 2012

Meet Director:  Roger LaPointe

Lifts:  Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Harness Lift

Officials:  Denny Habecker, Dennis Mitchell, Scott Schmidt, Eric Todd, Al Myers

Announcer: Roger LaPointe

Scorekeeper: Al Myers

Loader: Jeff Rybek

LIFTER AGE BWT NECK H&T HIP TOT PTS
Eric Todd 37 252 860 1200 2075 4135 3266.6
Al Myers 45 240 700 1100 2000 3800 3263.1
Scott Schmidt 59 249 287 1005 1400 2692 2567.8
Dave Polzin 62 215 330 750 900 1980 2090.3
Denny Habecker 69 196 0 600 900 1500 1761.4
Dennis Michell 80 154 240 400 550 1190 1756.8
Thomas Casillas 15 305 0 600 0 600 496.9

NOTES:  BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  TOT is total pounds lifted.  PTS are adjusted points for bodyweight correction and age allowance.

EXTRA LIFTS FOR RECORDS:

Eric Todd  Neck Lift:  905#
Denny Habecker Hand & Thigh Lift: 705#
Denny Habecker Hip Lift: 944#
Dennis Mitchell Hand & Thigh Lift: 450#
Dennis Mitchell  Hip Lift: 625#
Thomas Casillas Hand and Thigh: 700#
Dave Polzin Clean and Press: 198#
Andrew Durniat Snatch – Left Arm: 166#
(33 years old, 230 lbs. BWT)

Rattenberry’s Inman Mile Walk

by Steve Gardner

NEWS FROM THE IAWA(UK)

Mark Rattenberry, of the Tiverton Club, walked 503 meters in his Inman Mile Walk.

Mark Rattenberry making a record attempt at the Inman Mile at Tiverton at the weekend, he beat the previous best mark of 268 metres by walking an amazing 503 Metres with one and a half times bodyweight. The event was all for charity, and Mark was joined in the attempts by Gary Ell, Axel Amos and Tom Cleverly, well done lads!

USAWA History – 1989 Nationals

by Al Myers

John Vernacchio repeated as meet director again at the USAWA Nationals Championships in 1989.  The meet was held in Plymouth Meeting, the site of the prior 1988 Nationals.  It was a grueling 2 day affair, with many of the same lifts contested as the year before.  The meet climaxed with the Hip Lift, with Steve Schmidt hitting the best Hip Lift of the meet with a great lift of 2400 pounds which gave him the BEST LIFTER of the meet for the second time in two years.  Cindy Garcia won the BEST LIFTER in the womens division for the first womens CHAMPION (no women competed in the first ever championships).  Meet attendance at this Nationals exceeded the prior year with 34 lifters competing in 1989.  Several “well recognized” USAWA members made their USAWA  National Championships debut in this meet: Noi Phumchaona, Howard Prechtel, Dennis Mitchell, Joe McCoy, and Frank Ciavattone.

The one unique feature of the 1989 USAWA National Championship was that it was held IN CONJUNCTION with the 1989 IAWA World Championships.  The same lifts were contested and a USAWA  lifters lifts would count for both Championships!!!  This is the only time in the history of the USAWA and the IAWA that this has happened. 

MEET RESULTS

1989 USAWA National Championships
June 24-25, 1989
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

Meet Director: John Vernacchio

Lifts: One Hand Deadlift, Neck Lift, Clean and Press heels together, Zercher, Hip Lift, Bench Press feet in air, Pullover and Push, One Hand Snatch, Continental to Chest, Front Squat

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Steve Schmidt, Missouri
2. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
3. Tim Bruner, Texas
4. John McKean, Pennsylvania
5. Phil Anderson, Texas
6. Brian Meek, Texas
7. Bill DiCiccio Sr., Pennsylvania
8. John Carter, Missouri
9. Jim Bufalini, Pennsylvania
10. John Vernacchio, Pennsylvania

Women: Top Two Placings
1. Cindy Garcia, Missouri
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio

Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Cindy Garcia
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – Steve Schmidt
Men Master – Art Montini
Men Junior – Frank Shuba, Jr.

World Postal LEG 1

by Steve Gardner

RESULTS OF THE 2012 IAWA WORLD TEAM POSTAL AFTER ONE LEG  

(Leg 2 to be completed by End of July – Steinborn, OH C+Jerk, and Zercher)

For the World postal League, teams have been permitted to lift with only one referee if it has not been possible for those teams to have 2 or 3 referees. Where only one referee was used, those results have not been submitted for records ratification. Two guests (non IAWA members) have also been permitted to lift to assist in the making of teams, and once again their results were not eligible to be forwarded for records ratification.

Lifts in Leg 1: Snatch – One Arm, Pullover and Push, Jefferson Lift

1. Dino Gym – USA

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
 Al Myers  111.5  115  45  72.5R  170  260  502.5  426.3
 Chad Ullom  112.9  115  40  67.5R  160  240  467.5  375.5

Team Total: 970 KGS   Amended Points: 801.8

2.  Powerhouse 1 – ENG

 LIFTER  BWT  CLS  AGE  SN1 P&P  JEFF  TOT PTS 
 Mark Price  94.4  95  47  55R  160  195  410  387.0
 James Gardner  92.1  95  28  55R  130  220  405  358.8

Team Total: 815 KGS  Amended Points: 745.8

3. Powerhouse 2 – ENG

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Graham Saxton 121.7 125 50 37.5R 130 250 417.5 355.1
Luke Davis 80.0 80 27 45R 110 192.5 347.5 334.0

Team Total: 765 KGS   Amended Points: 689.1

4. W Australia 1 – AUS

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
John Mahon 108.1 110 28 50R 140 202.5 392.5 319.2
Peter Phillips 104.9 105 58 52.5R 95 180 327.5 321.9

Team Total: 720 KGS  Amended Points:  641.1

5.  Tiverton 1 – ENG

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Gary Ell 86.7 90 41 42.9L 107.9 192.9 343.7 321.4
Mark Rattenberry 63.9 65 49 27.9L 75.4 160.4 263.7 306.3

Team Total: 607.4 KGS   Amended Points: 627.7

6.  Hoghton Barbell – ENG  (Calvin is a guest lifter from Burton – not an IAWA member) 

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Mark Haydock 115.0 115 37 70R 130 284 484 381.3
Calvin Smith 74.5 75 19 35R 62.5 130 227.5 233.0

Team Total: 711.9 KGS  Amended Points: 614.3

7.  Granby Grippers – ENG   (Only 1 ref for Steve but 2 for Daniel) 

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Daniel Andrews 65.7 70 15 30.5R 50.5 100 181 226.9
Steve Andrews 70.4 75 52 47.5R 115 160 322.5 376.0

Team Total: 503.5 KGS  Amended Points: 602.9

8.  Powerhouse 3 – ENG

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
John Gardner 137.2 125+ 29 55R 140 220 415 300.0
Paula Delemata 49.6 50 38 20.5R 42.5 100 163 292.8

Team Total: 578 KGS  Amended Points: 592.8

9.  Castlemilk Expendables 1 – SCO

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Andy Tomlin 91.2 95 44 47.5L 100 165 312.5 292.3
Matt Finkle 67.3 70 45 35R 75 145 255 289.9

Team Total: 567.5 KGS  Amended Points: 582.2

10.  Tiverton 2 – ENG

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Tom Perry 87.2 90 21 37.9R 117.9 177.9 333.7 304.9
Patrick Burt 71.9 75 23 27.9L 80.4 160.4 268.7 275.9

Team Total: 602.4 KGS  Amended Points: 580.8

11.  W Australia 2 – AUS

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Sam Trew 116.5 120 29 52.5L 110 215 377.5 295.5
Paul McManus 112.5 115 38 50R 100 180 330 262.9

Team Total: 707.5 KGS  Amended Points: 558.4

12.  Habeckers Gym – USA

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Denny Habecker 87.0 90 69 30R 100 135 265 324.9
Rudy Bletscher 97.5 100 76 25R 54.4 100 179.4 228.0

Team Total: 444.4 KGS   Amended Points:  552.9

13. Castlemilk Expendables 2 – SCO   (George Dick had 2 Refs But Jim Madden is a guest – not IAWA Member)

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Jim Madden 89.9 90 43 37.5R 125 130 292.5 273.2
George Dick 128.7 125+ 63 37.5R 75 160 272.5 251.8

Team Total:  565 KGS  Amended Points: 525.0

14.  Tiverton 3 – ENG

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Thomas Cleverley 75.5 80 21 25.4L 90.4 150.4 266.2 265.1
Axel Amos 83.0 85 23 27.9L 85.4 150.4 263.7 247.9

Team Total:  529.9 KGS  Amended Points: 513.0

15.  Coalville Outcasts – ENG     

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Mark Shaw 77.2 80 51 27.5 60 132.5 220 242.2
Jason Reed 84.2 85 31 35 80 160 275 256.6

Team Total: 495 KGS  Amended Points: 498.8

16.  Powerhouse 4 – ENG   (just 4 Andy)

LIFTER BWT CLS AGE SN1 P&P JEFF TOT PTS
Steve Gardner 140.2 125+ 55 40R 100 150 290 240.7
Karen Gardner 72.7 75 53 17.5R 35 85 137.5 206.1

Team Total: 427.5 KGS  Amended Points: 446.8

TEAM RANKINGS

1. Dino Gym – USA  801.8
2. Powerhouse 1 – ENG  745.8
3. Powerhouse 2 – ENG   689.1
4. W Australia 1 – AUS  641.0
5. Tiverton 1 – ENG  627.7
6.  Hoghton Barbell – ENG  614.3
7.  Granby Grippers – ENG   602.9
8.  Powerhouse 3 –  ENG  592.8
9.  Castlemilk Expendable 1 –  SCO  582.2
10.  Tiverton 2 –  ENG  580.8
11.  W Australia 2 – AUS  558.4
12.  Habeckers Gym –  USA  552.9
13.  Castlemilk Expendables 2 –  SCO  525.0
14.  Tiverton 3  – ENG  513.0
15.  Coalville Outcasts –  ENG  498.8
16.  Powerhouse 4 (Just 4 U Andy) –  ENG  446.8

IAWA WORLD TWO MAN TEAM ALL ROUND WEIGHTLIFTING POSTAL CHAMPIONS AT LEG ONE STAGE:

Dino Gym – USA   Al Myers and Chad Ullom

THE IAWA NATIONS CUP AT LEG ONE STAGE:

Top Two Teams from each Country Count towards the ‘ Nations’  Team Score (1st = 15pts, 15th = 1pt)

1.   ENGLAND   27pts
2.   USA  20pts
3.   AUSTRALIA  18pts
4.   SCOTLAND  12pts

Lifters Rankings – Amended Totals at Leg One stage:

1.  Al Myers 426.3
2.  Mark Price  387.0
3.  Mark Haydock 381.3
4.  Steve Andrews  376.0
5.  Chad Ullom 375.5
6.  James Gardner  358.8
7.  Graham Saxton 355.1
8.  Luke Davis  334.0
9.  Denny Habecker 324.9
10.  Peter Phillips  321.9
11.  Gary Ell  321.4
12.  John Mahon  319.1
13.  Mark Rattenberry  306.3
14.  Tom Perry  304.9
15.  John Gardner  300.0
16.  Sam Trew  295.5
17.  Paula Delemata  292.8
18.  Andy Tomlin 292.3
19.  Matt Finkle  289.9
20.  Patrick Burt  275.9
21.  Jim Madden  273.2
22.  Thomas Cleverley 265.1
23.  Paul McManus  262.9
24.  Jason Reed 256.6
25.  George Dick 251.8
26.  Axel Amos  247.9
27.  Mark Shaw  242.2
28.  Steve Gardner 240.7
29.  Calvin Smith  233.0
30.  Rudy Bletscher  228.0
31.  Daniel Andrews  226.9
32.  Karen Gardner 206.1

Top Ten Lifters – O H Snatch

1.  Al Myers  61.5
2.  Steve Andrews  55.3
3.  Mark Haydock  55.1
4.  Chad Ullom  54.2
5.  Mark Price  51.9
6.  Peter Phillips 51.6
7.  James Gardner 48.7
8.  Andy Tomlin 44.4
9.  Luke Davis 43.2
10.  John Mahon  40.6

Top Ten Lifters – Pullover and Push

1.  Mark Price 151.0
2.  Al Myers 144.2
3.  Steve Andrews 134.1
4.  Chad Ullom 128.5
5.  Denny Habecker 122.6
6.  Jim Madden 116.7
7.  James Gardner 115.1
8.  John Mahon 113.8
9.  Graham Saxton 110.5
10.  Tom Perry 107.7

Top Ten Lifters – Straddle Deadlift

1.  Mark Haydock  223.7
2.  Al Myers 220.5
3.  Graham Saxton 212.6
4.  James Gardner 194.9
5.  Chad Ullom 192.7
6.  Steve Andrews  186.5
7.  Mark Rattenberry 186.3
8.  Luke Davis 185.0
9.  Mark Price  184.0
10.  Gary Ell  180.4

TOP LIFTERS IN EACH DIVISION –  AT LEG ONE STAGE:

Top Junior 1st Calvin Smith  2nd Daniel Andrews
Top Female 1st Paula Delemata 2nd Karen Gardner
Top Open Lifter 1st Mark Haydock  2nd James Gardner
Top Masters 40+ 1st Chad Ullom  2nd Gary Ell
Top Masters 45+  1st Al Myers  2nd Mark Price
Top Masters 50+ 1st  Steve Andrews   2nd Graham Saxton
Top Masters 55+ 1st Peter Phillips
Top Master 60+ 1st George Dick
Top Master 65+ 1st Denny Habecker
Top Master 75+ 1st Rudy Bletscher

USAWA History – 1988 Nationals

by Al Myers

By now most USAWA lifters know that this year is a BIG YEAR for the USAWA.  At this year’s big event in Las Vegas this summer we will be celebrating the 25 year history of the USAWA and of  the USAWA National Championships.  I have made up several “special awards”  to recognize lifters who have had significant involvement in the USAWA National Championships through the years.  The awards are already done, and just waiting to be presented!  I also am going to have some posters made up to highlight the 25 year history of the USAWA. On this poster it will contain ALL of the past USAWA logos.  Each lifter that competes in Nationals will get one of these posters as part of their entry fee, and I will have more available for sale as well.

Nationals is now less than 2 months away.  I plan to take these next couple of months and “highlight” each of the past National Championships in our history.  These meets are a big part of our history, and I think it is only right to recognize some of the lifters who helped get us to where we are today. 

The following came from the Strength Journal written by Bill Clark following the first USAWA Nationals (September 10th, 1988):

Tireless John Vernacchio directed and lifted and led his Valley Forge team to first place in a one-man demonstration of dynamic energy July 9-10 in Plymouth Meeting, PA. as the new United States All-Round Weightlifting Association staged its first-ever National All-Round Championships. 

Vernacchio thus completed his second in a three-sport round of national lifting championships.  In 1987, he was the meet director (and organizer and lifter) for the National Masters Weightlifting Championships.  In 1989, he’ll do the same for the National Masters Powerlifting meet for the USPF.

The meet was staged in the George Washington Motor Lodge (home of the other two nationals masters competitions), a fine venue which offers both lodging and lifting in the same building.  Since John now owns all kinds of harness, we can assume that sometime in the future, we’ll see the IAWA Worlds here.  The field was only 18 – but the lifters came from Missouri, Texas, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  A field of 18 may not sound great, but remember that the first National Masters Meet held in Columbia, MO in 1975 drew only 16.  Now we’re looking for 200-plus at the World Meet in Florida this December and 27 nations are now involved. A dozen years from now, the all-rounds could be huge.

Steve Schmidt proved to be the best lifter in the meet, winning for the second time in the hip lift at Phil Anderson’s expense.  Phil won the first meeting between the two strongmen in the nine-eventer against England last November.  But Steve evened matters in January at the Zercher Meet in Columbia, MO making a 3100 harness lift to catch his Texas rival.

Best master was Art Montini.  The 60 year-old Montini won the open 165-lb class with a 3165 total and came up with an adjusted total of 4662.42 points.  He edged Vernacchio, who had 4636.47 points, and struggled with a 1050 hip lift when at least 1400 was his goal.

RESULTS:

1988 USAWA National Championships
July 9-10, 1988
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania

Meet Director: John Vernacchio

Lifts: Leg Press, Clean & Press – heels together, Front Squat, Hand & Thigh, Bench Press – feet in air, Deadlift – one hand, Zercher, Hip Lift

Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Steve Schmidt, Missouri
2. Phil Anderson, Texas
3. Joe Garcia, Missouri
4. John Vernacchio, Pennsylvania
5. John McKean, Pennsylvania
6. Dan Ciccarelli, Pennsylvania
7. Italo Bonacci, Pennsylvania
8. Gonzalo Gonzalez, New York
9. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
10. Bill Clark, Missouri

Best Lifter Awards:
Men Open – Steve Schmidt
Men Master – Art Montini
Men Junior – Casey Clark
Men 40-44 Age Group – John McKean
Men 45-49 Age Group – Bill DiCiccio, Sr.
Men 50-54 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 55-59 Age Group – Gonzalo Gonzalez
Men 60-64 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 65-69 Age Group – Harrison Skeete
Team Champion – Valley Forge Club

I also want to mention of a few other USAWA members who competed in this FIRST-EVER USAWA National Championships.  Our USAWA Postal Meet Director John Wilmot was a participant as well as the famous all-round strength historian Tom Ryan. Both of these guys are still very involved with the USAWA today, and their involvement with the first ever Nationals shows that their involvement has been there from the very beginning.  I sure would like to see these two guys (as well as others that attended this first Nationals) make it this year to Vegas to help celebrate with us!!

1 … 3 4 5 6 7