USAWA

Ruby, Beata, Emily , Dolores, Chloe, Natalie and Amy

Steve, Denny, Sam, Stanley, David, Brandon, George, Leo and Paul

Joshua, Mark, Sanjiv, Steve, Paul, Matt

Overall Podium: Chloe, Mark and Josh

155kg Straddle Deadlift

I was very fortunate to be able to go to Belfast, NI for the 2025 IAWA World Championship.  22 athletes from the USA, England and Northern Ireland converged on the Resurgence Training Facility in Lurgan for 2 days of competition.  Stevie Shanks was an amazing host and everything ran smoothly.   Several folks had travel woes with Storm Amy (an extratropical cyclone) impacting ferry service, flights and even rail service.  Everybody eventually made it to the venue on time to weigh-in and lift.

Lifting started at 10:00 AM both days and was wrapped up at 4:30 PM Day One and 3:00 PM Day Two.  This was accomplished by Steve Gardner announcing, Paul Barette keeping score, Simon Truesdale and Michael Wilson loading and everybody helping with officiating.  The meet was organized into (3) flights with women in the first flight, up to 90kg men in the second flight and 95kg and up men in the third flight.

Day 1 featured the One Hand Clean & Jerk; Clean & Push Press; Pullover and Press; and the Straddle Deadlift.  There were several impressive lifts.  The following are the top lifts for the day

• Chloe Brennan – 47.5kg Right Hand Clean & Jerk
• Matt Jones and Joshua Davidson – 65kg Right Hand Clean & Jerk
• Chloe Brennan – 80kg Clean & Push Press
• Mark Haydock – 105kg Clean & Push Press
• Chloe Brennan – 75kg Pullover & Press
• Mark Haydock – 135kg Pullover & Press
• Chloe Brennan – 175kg Straddle Deadlift
• Mark Haydock – 260 kg Straddle Deadlift

Day 2 featured the Continental Snatch; Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod; Zercher.    The following are the top lifts for the day

• Chloe Brennan – 70.5kg Continental Snatch
• Joshua Davidson – 85kg Continental Snatch
• Dolores McGuckin – 70kg Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod
• Stanley Hamilton – 125kg Vertical Bar Lift – 2” Rod
• Chloe Brenna – 150kg Zercher
• Joshua Davidson – 192.5kg Zercher

Chloe is the defending IAWA World Champion.  Dolores is new to all-round weightlifting but put in an amazing performance.  Mark is a long-time competitor and has dominated the master’s men in international competition.  Joshua is an open lifter who takes technical expertise to the next level.  Stanley is a relative newcomer to all-round but has competed in grip sport and likely has the strongest grip in Ireland.

Stevie Shanks did a record day lift setting the All-Time record for any age or weight class in the 2 x 1” vertical bar lift.  I think the support of his family helped a lot.  His Mother, Father and brother were in attendance.  His Father, Jack Shanks, was the first person since Donald Dinnie to lift the Dinnie stones.  Mark Haydock became the most recent hoisting them on Monday following the competition.

Dolores and June did a record day lift setting a record in the Team Deadlift.

Personally, I went 19 for 21 with (4) personal records.  I was most proud of my 155kg Straddle Deadlift.

Top 5, Award Winners and USA Athletes:

• 1st – Chloe Brennan – Overall and Top Open Women
• 2nd – Mark Haydock – Top Masters Men
• 3rd – Joshua Davidson – Top Open Men
• 4th – Steve Sherwood
• 5th – Dolores McGuckin – Top Masters Women
• 10th – Emily Haydock – Top Junior Women
• 13th – Leo Moss – Top Junior Men
• 15th – Denny Habecker (top USA finisher)
• 17th – Sanjiv Gupta

Travel to Lurgan was a little tricky, fortunately my wife joined me for the trip.  We flew from Denver to Detroit (2 hours) and then Detroit to Dublin (6 hours).  From Dublin we rented a car and drove on the left-hand side of the road to Lurgan (2 hours).  The facilities and staff at the Ashburn hotel were very nice. 

The awards banquet was held at the Courthouse Bar which offered excellent food served by an amazing staff.  Stevie invited a friend of his to perform and she had an amazing voice to go along with her guitar playing.

Ireland and Northern Ireland offered some great site-seeing.  We visited Trinity College in Dublin, Great Causeway in Northern Ireland and my wife took in Belfast during day one of competition.  I enjoyed the food and the people were really friendly.  The area has a rich history with castles and vistas.  There has also been political strife which is still evident if you know what to look for.  Fortunately, all-round weightlifting is kind of like the Olympics where everybody can come together to celebrate sport.

On the way home, I heard the unfortunate news that Stevie Shanks suffered a heart attack following the banquet.  He was rushed to the hospital and a stent was put in.  He was allowed visitors, is recovering well and looking forward to training and competing soon.