USAWA

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.

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

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

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

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)