OTSM Championships

By Eric Todd

MEET REPORT AND RESULTS

2016 Old Time Strongman Championships

Another chapter of USAWA’s Old Time Strongman Championship is in the books. This is one of the newer championships in the USAWA.  It was started by Thom VanVleck several years ago, and has been hosted by me for the past 3 years.  This year’s event proved to be our best turnout since it has been contested in the big tin-can with ten competitors.  The weather could not have been more cooperative.  It was a great day to be an all-rounder.

The day started off with a bang. My 3 month old black lab/redbone hound mix Archibald was on hand to support us all day.  Before the meet he was causing a commotion over behind some equipment by the wall.  When we looked to see what was going on, it appeared he was doing battle with a critter, which turned out to be a woodchuck.  Before long, it became obvious that Archie would be the victor, and he proudly made a victory lap around the barn with the critter hanging from his mouth.

Anyhow, after the excitement, it was time for the lifting to begin. We had a wide array of competitors with different lifting experience.  Abe Smith made his way back into the USAWA.  Abe saw lots of success competing for Clarks gym a number of years ago.  At a lighter bodyweight with huge poundages lifted, Abe has always been tough to beat in all-round.  President Denny Habecker came from Pennsylvania.  Denny is a seasoned all-rounder and Olympic weightlifter.  His travel partner was one of the senior members of the USAWA, Art Montini.  Dean Ross from Oklahoma was there.  Dean has been a highland games thrower for many years, and now is a stalwart in the USAWA.  My good friend and training partner Lance Foster was there.  Lance has competed in strongman, powerlifting, Highland Games, and all-round.  Scott Tully and Heather Gardner came from Salina, KS to compete.  Scott, who was a huge presence in Strongman for many years, also competed in powerlifting and highland games.  Heather trains at Scott’s gym, Driven Fitness, and has primarily competed in powerlifting.  Greg Cook made his return to all-round.  Greg is an old school powerlifter who I competed with in strongman for a number of years.  Ben Edwards also came to us from Kansas.  Ben has competed in all-round and highland games, but is probably best known for being one of the most successful grip competitors in our area.

We started off with the Dinnie lift. There were some great lifts here, with four lifters going over 600 pounds.  Abe Smith’s 650 without the aid of a hook grip was maybe the most impressive, along with Heather’s 480 record attempt.

The next discipline was the Thor’s hammer. I had heard that in training, Ben had been hitting record poundages, so I knew I would have my work cut out for me to keep pace.  Well, we both hit our stride in this one.  We both hit the all-time record on the Thor’s hammer in competition of 55 pounds.  In a record attempt, I also hit a 60 pound lift, to again beat the all-time record.

In the third lift of the meet, we contested the Saxon Snatch. Though not Art’s favorite lift, he did comment to me that he would be making the implement when he got home.  Scott’s best in the competition was 100 pounds.  But in a record attempt, he nailed 110 for the all-time record in an attempt that looked effortless.

In the last lift of the day, we did the Hackenschmidt Floor Press. Scott opened very conservatively, but ended with a top lift of 355.  Abe wowed everyone again with a 335 lift at 183 pound body weight.  Heather challenged the guys with her 175 lift.

In the end, Abe’s incredible strength per body weight was insurmountable. Particularly impressive as he had not trained for these specific disciplines.   Heather was the women’s champion.  Results are as follows.

Meet Results:

2016 OTSM Championships
September 10, 2016
ET’s House of Stone
Turney, MO

Meet Director: Eric Todd

Officials: Eric Todd, Lance Foster, Denny Habecker

Lifts: Thor’s Hammer, Hackenschmidt Floor Press, Saxon Snatch, Dinnie Lift

Lifter Weight Age Dinnie Thor’s Saxon Hacken Total Ajd Age Adj Place
Eric Todd 259 41 700 55 105 400 1260 983.808 1003.484 2
Dean Ross 253.5 73 400 30 65 215 710 558.912 748.942 5
Denny Habecker 196.5 73 350 25 55 215 645 581.468 779.166 4
Art Montini 176 88 230 12.5 30 100 372.5 358.047 533.49 9
Lance Foster 340 50 480 32.5 60 175 747.5 511.664 567.947 8
Ben Edwards 231 41 500 55 80 245 880 726.528 741.059 7
Greg Cook 254 59 600 40 70 225 935 735.097 882.116 3
Scott Tully 356.5 40 600 40 100 355 1095 733.76 741.2 6
Abe Smith 183 37 650 30 80 335 1095 1028.315 1028.315 1
Heather Gardner 215 35 400 25 65 175 665 570.437 570.431 1
Extra attempts for record Lifter Weight
Hackenschmidt Floor press Dean Ross 225
Dinnie Lift Heather Graham 480
Thor’s Hammer Eric Todd 60
Saxon Snatch Scott Tully 110

All weights recorded in pounds.

Lifter of the Month – Aidan Habecker

by Al Myers

The LIFTER OF THE MONTH for AUGUST goes to Aidan Habecker!

Aidan had a great summer of lifting in the USAWA.  He competed in Boston at our USAWA National Championships, and then wrapped up the summer by winning the PRESIDENTIAL CUP AWARD at the Presidential Cup.  I like to see young lifters in the USAWA as I know that will be our future.  Most young lifters are intimidated by the many lifts of the USAWA and don’t want to get involved because of that.  Not Aidan!  I’ve watched him compete many times and he’s always excited about trying something new. He has the best coach as well with Grandpa Denny.  I see a very bright All Round future for this young man!

Congrats Aidan.

Updated Rulebook

by Al Myers

I have just finished updating the USAWA Rulebook from the changes voted on and made at the Annual Meeting. One new lift was approved this year – the Reg Park Bench Press.  The rules for this new lift are now in the USAWA Rulebook.  The Rulebook is available for free download on this website.

We are now on the 9th Edition of the USAWA Rulebook.  The Rulebook is 120 pages long and is over 35,000 words.

New Scoring Program

by Al Myers

Rocky Morrison at the USAWA National Championships in Boston.

Rocky Morrison at the USAWA National Championships in Boston.

Developing a new scoring program has been a project I have wanted to get completed for a long time.  And BIG THANKS to Rocky Morrison it has been accomplished!  Rocky is a new lifter in Frank Ciavattone’s Club who has become really involved in the USAWA this past year.  I met Rocky at the USAWA National Championships this past summer and we immediately hit it off.  Even though Rocky is new to the all round lifts he lifts like a seasoned veteran. His technique is fantastic, and he puts up some big weights!  He’s super friendly and likes to really help out.  This was obvious to me as he really gave Frank alot of assistance at Nationals.

On top of all this – he’s also a software specialist.  As I explained what I was hoping to develop he immediately agreed to do it!  Rocky’s new scoring program is much expanded on our previous scoring program.  It is very user friendly and gives compiled listings of best lifters, placings, and lifter certificates.  This Excel spreadsheet is compatible with the most recent Excel program.   I will keep the old program on the website for a while yet for those that have old versions of Excel and don’t plan to upgrade.  I do recommend you download and save the old scoring program  if you want to keep it as I will eventually remove it as we transition to Rocky’s scoring program only.

The USAWA Scoring Program can be found on the website under “Scoring Information”.

 

Lifter of the Month – Dave Glasgow

by Al Myers

Dave Glasgow in action at the USAWA Club Championships.

Dave Glasgow in action at the USAWA Club Championships.

Dave Glasgow has been selected as the USAWA Lifter of the Month for July.  Dave has taken charge of the USAWA Club Championships promotion over the last several years and has done an excellent job.  His club, the Ledaig Heavy Athletics, has a fantastic private training facility that caters to the Highland Games and Weightlifting.  This year at the Club Champs in July there were several other competition conflicts going on which hurt attendance but Dave continued with the promotion regardless.  He could not even find any other Ledaig club members to form the 3-person club team so he took on the Dino Gym by himself!

Dave has been a real leader in the USAWA over the past several years.  He has supported the USAWA through club membership, training new lifters, promotion of meets, writing blogs for the website, and attending several competions per year.  We need more Dave Glasgow’s in the USAWA!! Congrats Dave!

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