This Saturday past saw the 13th annual Old Time Strongman Championship. There was no championship held in 2020, due to the pandemic. It was on track to being the best attended OTSM championships, but due to illness, work obligations and other matters, we fell short of tying the top set in 2017 and 2023 by one competitor.
The day was a beautiful one in God’s country. the conditions of the ole tin can were tolerable. The weights were heavy, and the competitors were ferocious. I do not know when I have seen a more determined group. Many a time, I saw lifts that felt like they were going to fail, but the will of the competitor would not be denied. That is the stuff that keeps me hanging around.
Women’s class winner-Lilly Todd
We started off with the Saxon Snatch. The men’s division was dominated by Chad Ullom and Chris Todd. They both were successful with 90 pounds. That is not too far off the all time mark of 110 set by Scott Tully in 2016. The fight of the day was Everett Todd’s 30 pounds. He was denied several times for a lockout before finally making a clean lift. In the women’s division, the top lift was a 60 pound effort by Stacy Todd.
We then moved to the Habecker Lift, named after the honorable president Denny Habecker, who was MIA due to an illness. This lift almost crippled me once. Chad Ullom again had the top mark in the men’s division with 405 pounds. The women’s class saw the youngster Lilly Todd outdistance her ma 215# to 190#.
Men’s Division’s most decorates Old Time Strongman-Chad Ullom
The third lift was the Apollon’s Lift. a clean and press with a two-inch bar. The slight slant of the platform and the slope of the roof (believe me, there is a learning curve on that one) saw some people struggle with this one. Chris Todd easily set the top mark in the men’s class with a 175 pound effort. The lift of the day, though was from his daughter Lillian. The 2-inch bar gave her fits in the clean. In her last attempt, it appeared there was no way she would get the lift after multiple failures to clean it. With time winding down, she executed the clean, and finished off the press for the best effort in the women’s division of 90 pounds.
The last lift of the day was the Kennedy Lift. This is the lift in which we expected the highest poundage’s. Chad outdistanced the men’s field by almost 300 pounds, hitting a 705 pound effort. Stacy Todd bested the women’s division by 125 pounds. There were some stupid efforts in this lift. It was clear everone was going for broke to finish the meet.
Official results are as follow:
Old Time Strongman Championship ET’s House of Iron and Stone Turney, MO September 9, 2023
Meet Director: Eric Todd
Meet Announcer: Eric Todd
Score Keeper: Chris Todd
The three Official system was used for all lifts
Official: Eric Todd, Dave Glasgow
Loaders: Eric Todd, Dave Glasgow and most of the lifters
All lifts are recorded in pounds, as is the total. Adj is the adjusted score after Lynch and Age adjustment.
The description for the Leadership Award is as follows:
This is for an individual that has shown exceptional leadership qualities within the USAWA during the past year. Things that should be looked at are: going above the level expected of an Officer position, promoting sanctioned events with emphasis being on promoting National or World Competitions, promoting the USAWA by developing a strong club, writing articles for publications about the USAWA, or through other means.
Clint Poore, Buffville Gym
The winner in this category is Clint Poore. Clint has been tireless in his efforts to grow the USAWA. He has fielded a very successful club, Buffville Gym. He has been an instrumental member in the USAWA advisory committee. Clint was responsible for bringing back the Old Time Strongman World Championship, for which the participation was high. outside of that, he has hosted the following meets since the 2023 National Meet: Buffville Road to the Century Club, Buffville Road to the Century Club 2, Buffville Road to the Century Club 3, Buffville Cup III, Buffville Road to the Century Club IV, Buffville Cup II, Buffville Cup IV, the Hackendinnie Cup, and the Hackendinnie Classic. He even had his bid to host the National Championship in 2025 accepted at the national meeting. Congrats Clint, well deserved.
This goes to an individual who possesses and shows great sportsmanship within the USAWA. The act of sportsmanship may be by conduct at all events, or by a specific example of exceptional sportsmanship.
Chris “Leroy” Todd performs a People’s Deadlift at the OTSM Championship
This year’s runner-up in this category is Chris Todd. Chris was also selected as runner-up for this award back in 2022. Though a fine lifter in his own right, he maintains a pleasant demeanor no matter the how the chips fall. Chris will help anyone out on or off the platform.
Sanjiv Gupta completing a Bench Press-1 arm
The winner in this category this year is Sanjiv Gupta from Colorado. Sanjiv is relatively new to the USAWA, but has become an immediate contributor. He has started his own club and has already put on meets., Sanjiv took the test and completed his practical training sessions and became a level one certified official. He even took on the daunting task of helping out our record keeper. Through all of this, Sanjiv maintains a positive attitude. He always has a kind word to share and is always there to help out. Congrats guys! Well deserved!
This award goes to an individual who in new to the USAWA or has become involved again. It doesn’t have to go to someone in their first year of being involved in the USAWA.
Chip Hultquist
This year’s newcomer of the year, runner up went to Chip Hultquist out of Buffville Gym in Kentucky. Chip was the Buffville Push/Pull champion at 73 years old.
This year’s first place winner in the newcomer of the month category is Jeff Wenzel out of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, MO. Jeff was third place in the Zercher Strength Classic. He was tied for tenth in our 2023 Postal series, having lifted well in all four legs of the series. He also took second place in the Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon, losing only to Heavy Lifter extraordinaire, John Carter.
