by John McKean
(WEBMASTERS NOTE: This little email came to me Monday morning from John McKean regarding the festivities at Art’s Birthday Bash over the weekend. It started my day off with a laugh, so I want to share it with everyone.)
Hi Al, Great meet yesterday! I’ll do a write up ,later, but wanted you to have these records right away! Funny thing , before guys arrived Art had 3 boxes of donuts ready, one of our VFW trainees (not a competitor) teased Art and said ,”those are bad for you,ya know”. To which Art sternly replied ” I NEVER eat donuts!”. Yet less than a minute later, even I was speechless as Art washed a big gooey donut down with thick black coffee! The young trainee blurted out, “Art, ya just told me you never eat donuts!” Art just growled back, “Well, I have to have BREAKFAST!” OK, here’s the lifts! JOHN
MEET REPORT
On a perfect Fall day with hazy morning sun, a slight nip to the air, and truly outstanding tree colors, Art’s Birthday Bash had competitors from Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia , Alaska, Aliquippa, Pittsburgh, and Lebanon (PA). We’d worried early in the morning that few would show with the World meet just the week before, another USAWA contest out West, and other conflicting scheduling that seem to crowd Art’s long standing, well established meet date. But no worries, as Art’s family alone took up the slack with sons Rob and Paul & their wives attending, plus grandson Chris, and great grandson Benson!
First to arrive, tho, was hardy ole Dale Friesz bouncing in on his one good leg and his steel “pogo stick” calf on the other.Yep, drove all the way up on his own from Virginia ,too! He did those one finger deadlifts like a maniac, and unlike other years I MADE him name the lift on his card ,rather than stick me with a bunch on abbreviations to try to figure out what finger was what. Well, he said he was more than happy to give me the finger multiple times, but I did notice on several of my lifts that he judged, the down signal seemed several minutes, rather than seconds!
It was so neat to acquire 3 new USAWA registrations this late in the year, but Art’s family has expanded our population! This may be the first meet ever with 4 generations competing at once! In fact, with a photo to prove it (coming later) we established the first 4 generation deadlift record ever! This was,of course, the closing lift of the meet and really left all departing with the great spirits of this popular annual event!
Cleveland had a huge showing with Dennis & Flossy Mitchell, Scott and Kathy Schmidt, Jim Malloy, and John Kurtz. They were all buoyed up by the terrific weather and smooth drive over, and lifted great! Of course Denny & Judy Habecker traveled an equal distance thru breathtaking mountains and matched the enthusiasm of the Ohio gang!
Old, now 85 years worth, Art was still the “wonder kid” of this whole affair. Obviously everything he touched was a new world record (his motto: if ya can’t outlift them early, outLIVE em!!), but the veteran ironman actually performed an easy hand & thigh of 430 and a 701 pound hip lift! His boundless energy is inspirational to all, and I can foresee having to draw those damn meet shirt logos for the next 40 or 50 years!!
As usual, an ambitious schedule is planned already throughout the USAWA for next year! But plan on coming to Art’s 86th birthday party in October for some genuine iron gaming thrills!
MEET RESULTS
Art’s Birthday Bash
Ambridge VFW Barbell Club
Ambridge PA Sunday
Oct. 14, 2012
Meet Director: Art Montini
Officials (3 official System used): Art Montini, John McKean, Dennis Mitchell, Scott Schmidt, Denny Habecker, Dale Friesz, Jim Malloy
Benson Montini – BWT 44 Kg, age 8 years
Crucifix 10 pounds
Finger Lift – Right Middle Finger 27 pounds
Deadlift – Trap Bar 135 pounds
Deadlift – Right Leg 20 KG
Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip 74 pounds
Dennis Mitchell – BWT 153 3/4 pounds, age 80 years
Deadlift – Stiff Legged 85 KG
French Press 37.5 pounds
Deadlift – Left Arm 60 KG
Deadlift – Right Arm 60 KG
ate 95 donuts (beating Art’s record,barely!)
Kathy Schmidt – BWT 165 pounds, age 55 years
Deadlift – Trap Bar 77.5 KG
Jefferson Lift 60 KG
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip 70 KG
Dale Friesz – BWT 75KG, age 72 years
Deadlift – Fingers, Middle 75.5 KG
Finger Lift – Right Ring Finger 50.5 KG
Finger Lift – Right Index Finger 101.1 pounds
Finger Lift – Left Ring Finger 50.5 KG
John McKean – BWT 75KG, age 66 years
French Press 45 pounds
Curl – Reverse Grip 70 pounds
Hack Lift 274 pounds
Zercher Lift 224 pounds
Anderson Squat 315 pounds
Bench Press – Hands Together 115 pounds
Hack Lift – Right Arm 204 pounds
Art Montini – BWT 79 KG, age 85 years
Zercher Lift 70 KG
Deadlift – Fulton Bar 165 pounds
Deadlift – Trap Bar 200 pounds
Hand and Thigh Lift 430 pounds
Hip Lift 701 pounds
Denny Habecker – BWT 188.25 pounds, age 70 years
Arthur Lift 143.3 pounds
Bench Press – Alternate Grip 175 pounds
Bench Press – Feet in Air 195 pounds
Bench Press – Reverse Grip 175 pounds
Clean and Jerk – Dumbbell, Right Arm 65 pounds
Rob Montini – BWT 225.25 pounds, age 64 years
Snatch – From Hang 50 KG
Bench Press (feet on floor) 205 pounds
Jerk – From Rack, Behind Neck 135 pounds
Scott Schmidt – BWT 239 pounds, age 57 years
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Right Hand 92.5 KG
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Left Hand 87.5 KG
Clean and Press – Behind Neck 60 KG
Curl – Reverse Grip 47.5 KG
Jim Malloy – BWT 262 pounds, age 71 years
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Right Hand 145 pounds
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 bar, 2″, Left Hand 135 pounds
Curl – Reverse Grip 95 pounds
Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip 135 pounds
Christopher Montini – BWT 137 KG, age 34 years
Good Morning 75 KG
Lateral Raise – Lying 50 pounds
Lateral Raise – Standing 50 pounds
Jerk – From Rack, Behind Neck 70 KG
Teeth Lift 78 pounds
