Author Archives: KCSTRONGMAN

Newcomer of the year-Runner up: Greg Cook

ET presents Greg Cook his Newcomer of the year-runner up award.

ET presents Greg Cook his Newcomer of the year-runner up award.

By Eric Todd

 

In the National awards nominations for 2017, Greg Cook was voted runner up in the newcomer of the year category. Since Al figured I would see Greg before he would, he gave me the plaque to present to Greg on behalf of the USAWA.  I took the opportunity to do so before lifting commenced at the Old Time Strongman Championship.  Greg was the Old Time Strongman Champion is 2017, besting several former champions.  This probably had something to do with his winning this award.  Congrats to Greg for this well deserved recognition!

Old Time Strongman Championship

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Group picture from the 2018 OTSM Championships

By Eric Todd

Since it’s inception back in 2011, the Old Time strongman championship has been a mainstay in the USAWA.  It is often one of the better attended championships in our organization.  The turnout was good again, and the lifting phenominal.  There have been 6 lifters who have won this meet in the men’s division, and 3 of them going at it this day.  When the dust settled, there was still only 6 men who have won this saught after title. We had lifters from 4 states.  Missouri was represented the Lance Foster, John Strangeway, Greg Cook and Chris Todd of KCSTRONGMAN.  Kansas was Chad Ullum and Scott and Heather Tully of the Dino Gym, and John Douglas of Ledaig Heavy Athletics. Oklahoma was Dean Ross of Dino Gym.  And Pennsylvania was your President, Denny Habecker of Habecker’s Gym.

The first lift contested was the Saxon Snatch.  As this is a lift that can leave you quickly with just a few more additional pounds, it was a rather tightly contested race.  We had three lifters tie for top honors at 100 pounds (Scott Tulley, “Scottish” Johnny Strangeway, and Chad Ullum, with Chris Todd and Greg Cook slightly back at 95).  Scott was close on his third attempt at 115, which would have bested his all-time record in this dicipline.  What impressed me the most was Scottish Johnny’s beautiful split style and Chad’s painful looking modified style, due to flexibility issues.  That, and Heather Tully keeping pace with the boys with a 70 pound effort.

Dean Ross lift a Cyr Dumbbell

Denny Habecker lifting a Cyr Dumbbell

After the Saxon Snatch, we moved to the Cyr Press.  Johnny had the top mark on this lift with 125 pounds, with a good record attempt at 135.  Otherwise, I was most impressed with the ease Chris Todd lifted the 115 pound dumbell, when I had to convince him to go there instead of 110.  He was easily good for more.

The third lift would be the Dinnie Lift.  This is where we witnessed the most impressive lift of the meet.  There have been a number of 700 pound lifts in the Dinnies since the Old Time strongman part of USAWA was concieved.  However, there had only been 1 lifter go over 800 pound.  It was grip phenom Adam Glass, with a lift of 822.  That was a bit of an outlier, though, as my 770 effort was the closest.  No lifter had previously been in the neighborhood of Glass.  That all changed today.  I knew something big was going to happen when former champ Chad Ullum was still warming up at 700 pounds.  And big it was when Chad called for, and successfully lifted 825 on his second attempt.  This would go a long way in the overall tally.

Chad Ullum dominates the Dinnie Lift

Chad Ullum dominates the Dinnie Lift

After feasting on sandwiches and Little Debbie snack cakes, we began the fourth and final lift, the Dumbbell to shoulder.  From experience, I know that if done correctly, your top lift will be a painful, lengthy effort.  These guys did not disappoint.  While the top lifts in this discipline were 240 pounds by Chad and John Douglas, my favorite effort was Denny’s 90.  On his second attempt, after a long, arduous effort that almost resulted in success, but ultimately failure, Denny almost packed it in.  However, after a minute to collect himself, he called for 90 on a third.  This time, Denny was determined and made it in short fashion.

Chris "Leroy" Todd with a good dumbell to shouler

Chris “Leroy” Todd with a good dumbell to shouler

In the end, Heather Tully was our Women’s Champion.  This increases her reign as Queen of the OTSM to 3 championships in a row.  Chad Ullum reclaimed the crown he first won in 2012 in Kirksville, MO.  His HUGE Dinnie lift was too much to overcome.  2nd place was John Strangeway.  Last year’s champion, Greg Cook took 3rd place honors.  Final results are as follows:

MEET RESULTS:

2018 Old Time Strongman Championships
Turney, MO
September 8th, 2018

Meet director: Eric Todd

Official:  (1 official system used) Eric Todd

T-Shirts:  by MTI-HMB

Hostess with the mostest: Jenny Todd

Official photographer: Stacey Todd

Lifts: Saxon Snatch, Cyr Press, Dinnie Lift, Dumbbell to Shoulder

Loaders: All lifters

BWT Age Saxon Snatch Cyr Press Dinnie Lift

DB to

Shoulder

 Total Adj Age Adj Place
Men’s
John Strangeway 197 40 100 125 650 230 1105 994.9 1004.9 2
Dean Ross 249 75 50 50 400 80 580 460.6 626.5 8
Denny Habecker 196 75 60 70 400 90 620 559.7 761.2 5
Lance Foster 331 52 60 65 450 150 725 502.2 567.5 9
Scott Tully 350 42 100 120 550 150 920 621.5 640.1 7
Chris Todd 279 39 95 115 550 200 960 720.8 720.8 6
Greg Cook 258 61 95 105 550 180 930 725.6 885.2 3
Chad Ullum 242 46 100 120 825 240 1285 1035.6 1108.1 1
John Douglas 307 55 80 105 550 240 975 699.6 811.5 4
Women’s
Heather Tully 217 39 70 60 450 110 690 589 589 1

Extra attempt for record:

Dinnie Lift: John Strangeway 700

Cyr Press: John Strangeway 135

Front Squat: John Strangeway 420 (Judged by Eric Todd and Lance Foster)

Greg Cook-KCSTRONGMAN Biography

By Eric M Todd, Esq

Greg Cook places well in the 2016 Heavy Lift Championship

Greg Cook places well in the 2016 Heavy Lift Championship

Greg Cook has been a member of KCSTRONGMAN All-Round Club but for a short while; however, he has been a member of the KCSTRONGMAN family for about as long as anyone.  I first met Greg around 2003 when the website and forum first began.  Greg contacted me via the forum, and I invited him out to train.  Mind you, at the time our facility was rather humble (not that everyone would be impressed with our accommodations today, outside of the amount of weights and equipment).  Some in the basement, but lots of the training occurred outside. Though rather quiet by nature, Greg impressed me with his strength.  He fit right in.  Greg became a steady fixture of KCSTRONGMAN training days and competitions and made quite a mark for himself.  Ultimately, he rejoined us in the all-round realm of the USAWA a little while back.

Greg was born in Kansas City on July 6, 1957.He played both softball where he batted ambidextrously, and basketball where he shot ambidextrously.  He also ran the half mile in track and played football.  He had three brothers who were born before him;  he was constantly working to keep up with them.  Because he was smaller, slower, and weaker, Greg struggled to do so.  Prior to his freshman year of high school, Greg noticed a confederate of his who had some newly developed “pythons.” So, not like a young Chuck Atlas getting sand kicked in his face, Greg becomes intrigued and looked into how to make this happen.  He finds out it was through resistance  training and became hooked. Greg started lifting and in 4 years went from a pencil necked 6′, 145 pound freshman to 184 pound senior  lifting the following: 545 deadlift, 380 squat, and 300 bench.

Greg started lifting in the days prior to the prevalence of the internet.  So Greg was left getting his weightlifting information from Ironman, Muscle and Fitness, and Powerlifting USA.  After graduation, Greg went to work with his dad doing concrete, grading and sewer work, all of which is very physically demanding and lent itself to great strength and capacity in the strongman world.

Though Greg was training and working manual labor, his lifts began to stagnate.  He needed something to be training for. In 1983, when Greg was 26 a friend invited him along to lift in the Cloud County Powerlifting Meet in Concordia, KS.  Though they did not have suits and wraps, they went and competed anyhow.  This is where Greg’s competitive lifting career began.  He went on to compete in 5 powerlifting competitions over the years.  Greg’s best competition lifts were a 562 squat, 375 bench press, and a 672 deadlift, with a career best total of 1576.  His best gym lifts were 615/375/705. Greg graced the platform with greats such Doug Furnas and Ed Coan.  In training for the Ozark Powerlifting Championship in 1985, Greg trained with two lifters who used steroids to enhance their lifts.  While Greg saw what drugs could do to a fellow’s lifts,  his conscience would not allow him to take that direction.  He enjoyed powerlifting, but being rather introverted, the need to have someone to help you with your suit and wraps and such did not appeal to Greg.

Greg’s relationship with his father was not strictly business in nature.  Not only did they work together, they played together.  Greg’s dad was his best friend.  They hunter together, fished together, and could complete each other’s sentences.  When Greg’s father passed away in 2002, he was devastated.  He needed to fill a void that he was feeling.  That is when he contacted me.

Greg carries the Conan's wheel back in his strongman days at the Shocker Challenge in Salina KS

Greg carries the Conan’s wheel back in his strongman days at the Shocker Challenge in Salina KS

Greg was very successful in strongman as well.  In his first meet, the Battle of the Border in KC, he took first in the masters division.  He competed in a number of competitions in the area, almost always placing in the top few in the masters class.  He even placed 4th in Masters nationals in 2004.  Through all of his success in powerlifting and strongman, he never lost sight of his priorities.  Family was always first.

I always enjoyed watching Greg’s progress by following his electronic training log on the KCSTRONGMAN forum.  The two things that impressed me the most were his capacity to get a great deal accomplished in a short amount of time and his ability to lift great amounts of weights through a short range of motion.  I always felt that all-round would be a great fit for him.

In 2014, Greg competed in his first USAWA meet.  It was my first time promoting the Old Time Strongman Championships, and Greg came out to lift with us.  At the end of the day, Greg’s efforts resulted in a third place finish.  He repeated that result in 2016.  In 2017, he bested that result by taking home first place honors from the Old Time Strongman Championship.  In 2018, Greg captured 4th place in his first ever Heavy Lift Championship.  Greg has fourteen national records to his credit.  He has also been awarded athlete of the month once, as well as runner up for newcomer of the year in the national awards.

Greg Cook executing the Hand and Thigh at the 2018 Heavy Lift Championship

Greg Cook executing the Hand and Thigh at the 2018 Heavy Lift Championship

Greg has been around the KCSTRONGMAN scene almost from its inception.  He was even instrumental in the completion of the big tin can we lift in, by helping us dig and pour the footers that it rests on.  He is signed up to defend his title in this year’s Old Time Strongman Championship.  I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Greg Cook in the USAWA.

Old Time Strongman Update

By Eric M Todd, Esq

2015 USAWA Old Time Strongman Championship featuring the late, great Art Montini

2015 USAWA Old Time Strongman Championship featuring the late, great Art Montini

There are a couple things I would like to mention in regards to the Old Time Strongman Championship on September 8.

  • I failed to add an entry deadline on the notice or entry form.  The entry deadline is August 25.  I need entries in hand by then in order to finalize awards and such for the event.  No late entries will be accepted.
  • MTI/myhmb is sponsoring the event by way of donating shirts for all competitors.  Check out their new website here: https://myhmb.com/
  • This event WILL BE DRUG TESTED!  Please be prepared to be chosen for drug testing, and do not enter if you will not pass.  I have the tests in hand.

That being said, I hope to see you all there.  I have seven entries in hand with a number more who have verbaled.  It should be a great day for lifting big weights!

Lance Foster-KCSTRONGMAN Stalwart

Lance Foster pulling a bus at the Gus Lohman Memorial Challenge back in his strongman days

Lance Foster pulling a bus at the Gus Lohman Memorial Challenge back in his strongman days

By Eric Todd

Back in 2006, KCSTRONGMAN had been going strong for 3 years.  Training partners came and went, but there were a couple regulars and always a steady stream of guys coming out to train.  I was ALWAYS getting email correspondence from people interested in coming out, but more often than not, it never got past the email stage for those who were new to the idea. However, I got an email from Lance Foster, and the rest is history.  Lance showed up and put it all on the line that day.  Lance became a stalwart of KCSTRONGMAN training days and contests.  When I sent out an email saying who is interested in competing in such and such competition, Lance was always on board.

Lance was born in St Joseph, MO on November 12, 1965.  Lance grew up on a farm that raised cattle and pigs, produced dairy, and grew tobacco.  Anybody that grew up on a farm as a child knows what kind of hard work this entails. Raising tobacco and pitching hay  goes hand in hand with the strength needed to be successful in strength disciplines. He attended North Platte High School, a small school in Missouri, where he played football and threw shot and discus in track and field.

As for many of us, prior to getting involved in strongman, Lance was drawn to watching “World’s Strongest Man” on ESPN.  It used to be broadcast quite regularly, and featured monster men who were capable of fantastic feats of strength.  The show appealed to guys like Lance and me, because these guys were doing things that seemed impossible.  However, Lance came across a forum that showed there were smaller amateur competitions at the local level.  These competitions seemed more doable, so he summoned the courage to take that first step, and he contacted me about training.  Little did he know when he took that first step that he would soon be not only competing at the local level, but also at state and national competitions.

Lance lifting his car at a strongman meet

Lance lifting his car at a strongman meet

Other training partners came and went, but Lance stuck around.  Lance has competed in strongman, highland games, highlander, and powerlifting.  He threw the shot put in the corporate challenge.  Now he participates primarily in all-round.  Lance is one who is always up for a challenge.  Almost any time I am looking at doing a meet, Lance is game.  Lance has even competed at the world level in all-round.

Lance shouldering a stone at "The House of Iron and Stone"

Lance shouldering a stone at “The House of Iron and Stone”

 

Lance has achieved quite a bit in all-round.  He is a certified level 2 official, which is the highest level you can currently attain. He has 38 national records and holds the world record for the 2″ bar straddle (which is known as the Jefferson Lift-Futon Bar in the US) in the 45+ year 125+ kilo category.  In 2012, Lance was chosen by his peers as runner-up for the sportsmanship award. However, even with those accolades, Lance says the thing he likes best about all-round is the camradarie. With Lance’s dedication to all-round lifting, and the USAWA, I trust he will be enjoying that camraderie for years to come!

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