by Steve Gardner
NEWS FROM THE IAWA(UK)
Mark Rattenberry, of the Tiverton Club, walked 503 meters in his Inman Mile Walk.
Mark Rattenberry making a record attempt at the Inman Mile at Tiverton at the weekend, he beat the previous best mark of 268 metres by walking an amazing 503 Metres with one and a half times bodyweight. The event was all for charity, and Mark was joined in the attempts by Gary Ell, Axel Amos and Tom Cleverly, well done lads!
by Al Myers
John Vernacchio repeated as meet director again at the USAWA Nationals Championships in 1989. The meet was held in Plymouth Meeting, the site of the prior 1988 Nationals. It was a grueling 2 day affair, with many of the same lifts contested as the year before. The meet climaxed with the Hip Lift, with Steve Schmidt hitting the best Hip Lift of the meet with a great lift of 2400 pounds which gave him the BEST LIFTER of the meet for the second time in two years. Cindy Garcia won the BEST LIFTER in the womens division for the first womens CHAMPION (no women competed in the first ever championships). Meet attendance at this Nationals exceeded the prior year with 34 lifters competing in 1989. Several “well recognized” USAWA members made their USAWA National Championships debut in this meet: Noi Phumchaona, Howard Prechtel, Dennis Mitchell, Joe McCoy, and Frank Ciavattone.
The one unique feature of the 1989 USAWA National Championship was that it was held IN CONJUNCTION with the 1989 IAWA World Championships. The same lifts were contested and a USAWA lifters lifts would count for both Championships!!! This is the only time in the history of the USAWA and the IAWA that this has happened.
MEET RESULTS
1989 USAWA National Championships
June 24-25, 1989
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Meet Director: John Vernacchio
Lifts: One Hand Deadlift, Neck Lift, Clean and Press heels together, Zercher, Hip Lift, Bench Press feet in air, Pullover and Push, One Hand Snatch, Continental to Chest, Front Squat
Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Steve Schmidt, Missouri
2. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
3. Tim Bruner, Texas
4. John McKean, Pennsylvania
5. Phil Anderson, Texas
6. Brian Meek, Texas
7. Bill DiCiccio Sr., Pennsylvania
8. John Carter, Missouri
9. Jim Bufalini, Pennsylvania
10. John Vernacchio, Pennsylvania
Women: Top Two Placings
1. Cindy Garcia, Missouri
2. Noi Phumchaona, Ohio
Best Lifter Awards:
Women Open – Cindy Garcia
Women Master – Noi Phumchaona
Men Open – Steve Schmidt
Men Master – Art Montini
Men Junior – Frank Shuba, Jr.
by Steve Gardner
RESULTS OF THE 2012 IAWA WORLD TEAM POSTAL AFTER ONE LEG
(Leg 2 to be completed by End of July – Steinborn, OH C+Jerk, and Zercher)
For the World postal League, teams have been permitted to lift with only one referee if it has not been possible for those teams to have 2 or 3 referees. Where only one referee was used, those results have not been submitted for records ratification. Two guests (non IAWA members) have also been permitted to lift to assist in the making of teams, and once again their results were not eligible to be forwarded for records ratification.
Lifts in Leg 1: Snatch – One Arm, Pullover and Push, Jefferson Lift
1. Dino Gym – USA
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Al Myers | 111.5 | 115 | 45 | 72.5R | 170 | 260 | 502.5 | 426.3 |
| Chad Ullom | 112.9 | 115 | 40 | 67.5R | 160 | 240 | 467.5 | 375.5 |
Team Total: 970 KGS Amended Points: 801.8
2. Powerhouse 1 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Mark Price | 94.4 | 95 | 47 | 55R | 160 | 195 | 410 | 387.0 |
| James Gardner | 92.1 | 95 | 28 | 55R | 130 | 220 | 405 | 358.8 |
Team Total: 815 KGS Amended Points: 745.8
3. Powerhouse 2 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Graham Saxton | 121.7 | 125 | 50 | 37.5R | 130 | 250 | 417.5 | 355.1 |
| Luke Davis | 80.0 | 80 | 27 | 45R | 110 | 192.5 | 347.5 | 334.0 |
Team Total: 765 KGS Amended Points: 689.1
4. W Australia 1 – AUS
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| John Mahon | 108.1 | 110 | 28 | 50R | 140 | 202.5 | 392.5 | 319.2 |
| Peter Phillips | 104.9 | 105 | 58 | 52.5R | 95 | 180 | 327.5 | 321.9 |
Team Total: 720 KGS Amended Points: 641.1
5. Tiverton 1 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Gary Ell | 86.7 | 90 | 41 | 42.9L | 107.9 | 192.9 | 343.7 | 321.4 |
| Mark Rattenberry | 63.9 | 65 | 49 | 27.9L | 75.4 | 160.4 | 263.7 | 306.3 |
Team Total: 607.4 KGS Amended Points: 627.7
6. Hoghton Barbell – ENG (Calvin is a guest lifter from Burton – not an IAWA member)
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Mark Haydock | 115.0 | 115 | 37 | 70R | 130 | 284 | 484 | 381.3 |
| Calvin Smith | 74.5 | 75 | 19 | 35R | 62.5 | 130 | 227.5 | 233.0 |
Team Total: 711.9 KGS Amended Points: 614.3
7. Granby Grippers – ENG (Only 1 ref for Steve but 2 for Daniel)
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Daniel Andrews | 65.7 | 70 | 15 | 30.5R | 50.5 | 100 | 181 | 226.9 |
| Steve Andrews | 70.4 | 75 | 52 | 47.5R | 115 | 160 | 322.5 | 376.0 |
Team Total: 503.5 KGS Amended Points: 602.9
8. Powerhouse 3 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| John Gardner | 137.2 | 125+ | 29 | 55R | 140 | 220 | 415 | 300.0 |
| Paula Delemata | 49.6 | 50 | 38 | 20.5R | 42.5 | 100 | 163 | 292.8 |
Team Total: 578 KGS Amended Points: 592.8
9. Castlemilk Expendables 1 – SCO
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Andy Tomlin | 91.2 | 95 | 44 | 47.5L | 100 | 165 | 312.5 | 292.3 |
| Matt Finkle | 67.3 | 70 | 45 | 35R | 75 | 145 | 255 | 289.9 |
Team Total: 567.5 KGS Amended Points: 582.2
10. Tiverton 2 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Tom Perry | 87.2 | 90 | 21 | 37.9R | 117.9 | 177.9 | 333.7 | 304.9 |
| Patrick Burt | 71.9 | 75 | 23 | 27.9L | 80.4 | 160.4 | 268.7 | 275.9 |
Team Total: 602.4 KGS Amended Points: 580.8
11. W Australia 2 – AUS
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Sam Trew | 116.5 | 120 | 29 | 52.5L | 110 | 215 | 377.5 | 295.5 |
| Paul McManus | 112.5 | 115 | 38 | 50R | 100 | 180 | 330 | 262.9 |
Team Total: 707.5 KGS Amended Points: 558.4
12. Habeckers Gym – USA
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Denny Habecker | 87.0 | 90 | 69 | 30R | 100 | 135 | 265 | 324.9 |
| Rudy Bletscher | 97.5 | 100 | 76 | 25R | 54.4 | 100 | 179.4 | 228.0 |
Team Total: 444.4 KGS Amended Points: 552.9
13. Castlemilk Expendables 2 – SCO (George Dick had 2 Refs But Jim Madden is a guest – not IAWA Member)
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Jim Madden | 89.9 | 90 | 43 | 37.5R | 125 | 130 | 292.5 | 273.2 |
| George Dick | 128.7 | 125+ | 63 | 37.5R | 75 | 160 | 272.5 | 251.8 |
Team Total: 565 KGS Amended Points: 525.0
14. Tiverton 3 – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Thomas Cleverley | 75.5 | 80 | 21 | 25.4L | 90.4 | 150.4 | 266.2 | 265.1 |
| Axel Amos | 83.0 | 85 | 23 | 27.9L | 85.4 | 150.4 | 263.7 | 247.9 |
Team Total: 529.9 KGS Amended Points: 513.0
15. Coalville Outcasts – ENG
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Mark Shaw | 77.2 | 80 | 51 | 27.5 | 60 | 132.5 | 220 | 242.2 |
| Jason Reed | 84.2 | 85 | 31 | 35 | 80 | 160 | 275 | 256.6 |
Team Total: 495 KGS Amended Points: 498.8
16. Powerhouse 4 – ENG (just 4 Andy)
| LIFTER | BWT | CLS | AGE | SN1 | P&P | JEFF | TOT | PTS |
| Steve Gardner | 140.2 | 125+ | 55 | 40R | 100 | 150 | 290 | 240.7 |
| Karen Gardner | 72.7 | 75 | 53 | 17.5R | 35 | 85 | 137.5 | 206.1 |
Team Total: 427.5 KGS Amended Points: 446.8
TEAM RANKINGS
1. Dino Gym – USA 801.8
2. Powerhouse 1 – ENG 745.8
3. Powerhouse 2 – ENG 689.1
4. W Australia 1 – AUS 641.0
5. Tiverton 1 – ENG 627.7
6. Hoghton Barbell – ENG 614.3
7. Granby Grippers – ENG 602.9
8. Powerhouse 3 – ENG 592.8
9. Castlemilk Expendable 1 – SCO 582.2
10. Tiverton 2 – ENG 580.8
11. W Australia 2 – AUS 558.4
12. Habeckers Gym – USA 552.9
13. Castlemilk Expendables 2 – SCO 525.0
14. Tiverton 3 – ENG 513.0
15. Coalville Outcasts – ENG 498.8
16. Powerhouse 4 (Just 4 U Andy) – ENG 446.8
IAWA WORLD TWO MAN TEAM ALL ROUND WEIGHTLIFTING POSTAL CHAMPIONS AT LEG ONE STAGE:
Dino Gym – USA Al Myers and Chad Ullom
THE IAWA NATIONS CUP AT LEG ONE STAGE:
Top Two Teams from each Country Count towards the ‘ Nations’ Team Score (1st = 15pts, 15th = 1pt)
1. ENGLAND 27pts
2. USA 20pts
3. AUSTRALIA 18pts
4. SCOTLAND 12pts
Lifters Rankings – Amended Totals at Leg One stage:
1. Al Myers 426.3
2. Mark Price 387.0
3. Mark Haydock 381.3
4. Steve Andrews 376.0
5. Chad Ullom 375.5
6. James Gardner 358.8
7. Graham Saxton 355.1
8. Luke Davis 334.0
9. Denny Habecker 324.9
10. Peter Phillips 321.9
11. Gary Ell 321.4
12. John Mahon 319.1
13. Mark Rattenberry 306.3
14. Tom Perry 304.9
15. John Gardner 300.0
16. Sam Trew 295.5
17. Paula Delemata 292.8
18. Andy Tomlin 292.3
19. Matt Finkle 289.9
20. Patrick Burt 275.9
21. Jim Madden 273.2
22. Thomas Cleverley 265.1
23. Paul McManus 262.9
24. Jason Reed 256.6
25. George Dick 251.8
26. Axel Amos 247.9
27. Mark Shaw 242.2
28. Steve Gardner 240.7
29. Calvin Smith 233.0
30. Rudy Bletscher 228.0
31. Daniel Andrews 226.9
32. Karen Gardner 206.1
Top Ten Lifters – O H Snatch
1. Al Myers 61.5
2. Steve Andrews 55.3
3. Mark Haydock 55.1
4. Chad Ullom 54.2
5. Mark Price 51.9
6. Peter Phillips 51.6
7. James Gardner 48.7
8. Andy Tomlin 44.4
9. Luke Davis 43.2
10. John Mahon 40.6
Top Ten Lifters – Pullover and Push
1. Mark Price 151.0
2. Al Myers 144.2
3. Steve Andrews 134.1
4. Chad Ullom 128.5
5. Denny Habecker 122.6
6. Jim Madden 116.7
7. James Gardner 115.1
8. John Mahon 113.8
9. Graham Saxton 110.5
10. Tom Perry 107.7
Top Ten Lifters – Straddle Deadlift
1. Mark Haydock 223.7
2. Al Myers 220.5
3. Graham Saxton 212.6
4. James Gardner 194.9
5. Chad Ullom 192.7
6. Steve Andrews 186.5
7. Mark Rattenberry 186.3
8. Luke Davis 185.0
9. Mark Price 184.0
10. Gary Ell 180.4
TOP LIFTERS IN EACH DIVISION – AT LEG ONE STAGE:
Top Junior 1st Calvin Smith 2nd Daniel Andrews
Top Female 1st Paula Delemata 2nd Karen Gardner
Top Open Lifter 1st Mark Haydock 2nd James Gardner
Top Masters 40+ 1st Chad Ullom 2nd Gary Ell
Top Masters 45+ 1st Al Myers 2nd Mark Price
Top Masters 50+ 1st Steve Andrews 2nd Graham Saxton
Top Masters 55+ 1st Peter Phillips
Top Master 60+ 1st George Dick
Top Master 65+ 1st Denny Habecker
Top Master 75+ 1st Rudy Bletscher
by Al Myers
By now most USAWA lifters know that this year is a BIG YEAR for the USAWA. At this year’s big event in Las Vegas this summer we will be celebrating the 25 year history of the USAWA and of the USAWA National Championships. I have made up several “special awards” to recognize lifters who have had significant involvement in the USAWA National Championships through the years. The awards are already done, and just waiting to be presented! I also am going to have some posters made up to highlight the 25 year history of the USAWA. On this poster it will contain ALL of the past USAWA logos. Each lifter that competes in Nationals will get one of these posters as part of their entry fee, and I will have more available for sale as well.
Nationals is now less than 2 months away. I plan to take these next couple of months and “highlight” each of the past National Championships in our history. These meets are a big part of our history, and I think it is only right to recognize some of the lifters who helped get us to where we are today.
The following came from the Strength Journal written by Bill Clark following the first USAWA Nationals (September 10th, 1988):
Tireless John Vernacchio directed and lifted and led his Valley Forge team to first place in a one-man demonstration of dynamic energy July 9-10 in Plymouth Meeting, PA. as the new United States All-Round Weightlifting Association staged its first-ever National All-Round Championships.
Vernacchio thus completed his second in a three-sport round of national lifting championships. In 1987, he was the meet director (and organizer and lifter) for the National Masters Weightlifting Championships. In 1989, he’ll do the same for the National Masters Powerlifting meet for the USPF.
The meet was staged in the George Washington Motor Lodge (home of the other two nationals masters competitions), a fine venue which offers both lodging and lifting in the same building. Since John now owns all kinds of harness, we can assume that sometime in the future, we’ll see the IAWA Worlds here. The field was only 18 – but the lifters came from Missouri, Texas, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. A field of 18 may not sound great, but remember that the first National Masters Meet held in Columbia, MO in 1975 drew only 16. Now we’re looking for 200-plus at the World Meet in Florida this December and 27 nations are now involved. A dozen years from now, the all-rounds could be huge.
Steve Schmidt proved to be the best lifter in the meet, winning for the second time in the hip lift at Phil Anderson’s expense. Phil won the first meeting between the two strongmen in the nine-eventer against England last November. But Steve evened matters in January at the Zercher Meet in Columbia, MO making a 3100 harness lift to catch his Texas rival.
Best master was Art Montini. The 60 year-old Montini won the open 165-lb class with a 3165 total and came up with an adjusted total of 4662.42 points. He edged Vernacchio, who had 4636.47 points, and struggled with a 1050 hip lift when at least 1400 was his goal.
RESULTS:
1988 USAWA National Championships
July 9-10, 1988
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Meet Director: John Vernacchio
Lifts: Leg Press, Clean & Press – heels together, Front Squat, Hand & Thigh, Bench Press – feet in air, Deadlift – one hand, Zercher, Hip Lift
Men: Top Ten Placings
1. Steve Schmidt, Missouri
2. Phil Anderson, Texas
3. Joe Garcia, Missouri
4. John Vernacchio, Pennsylvania
5. John McKean, Pennsylvania
6. Dan Ciccarelli, Pennsylvania
7. Italo Bonacci, Pennsylvania
8. Gonzalo Gonzalez, New York
9. Art Montini, Pennsylvania
10. Bill Clark, Missouri
Best Lifter Awards:
Men Open – Steve Schmidt
Men Master – Art Montini
Men Junior – Casey Clark
Men 40-44 Age Group – John McKean
Men 45-49 Age Group – Bill DiCiccio, Sr.
Men 50-54 Age Group – John Vernacchio
Men 55-59 Age Group – Gonzalo Gonzalez
Men 60-64 Age Group – Art Montini
Men 65-69 Age Group – Harrison Skeete
Team Champion – Valley Forge Club
I also want to mention of a few other USAWA members who competed in this FIRST-EVER USAWA National Championships. Our USAWA Postal Meet Director John Wilmot was a participant as well as the famous all-round strength historian Tom Ryan. Both of these guys are still very involved with the USAWA today, and their involvement with the first ever Nationals shows that their involvement has been there from the very beginning. I sure would like to see these two guys (as well as others that attended this first Nationals) make it this year to Vegas to help celebrate with us!!
by Roger LaPointe
Ed Zercher performing a deadlift.
Wow! Imagine if they named a lift after you!
You know you have really done something amazing in the world of weightlifting when that day comes. Lots of people set records, but very few get that named lift. There’s the Hack Lift, the Zottman Curl, the Scott Curl and then there is Ed Zercher’s squat, called the Zercher Lift.
You can read all about the proper way to do a Zercher Lift in the USAWA Rulebook. Basically, it is a front squat with the bar held in the crook of your arms.
Various individuals will tout the benefits of a Zercher Squat and others will talk about the dangers. I prefer an unorthodox way of doing it, using a rotating thick bar, as the lift can be very hard on the biceps tendons. Basically, the smaller the diameter of the bar, the greater the biceps stress. However, few people know about some of the truly amazing lifting that Ed did before becoming known for his signature lift.
Edward Zercher’s Early Lifting
At the Fifth Annual Western AAU Weight Lifting Championships Ed Zercher (Bodyweight 156 Pounds), had the following lifts:
One Hand Snatch: 120 lbs.
One Hand Clean & Jerk: 130
Two Hand Military Press: 170
Two Hand Snatch: 145
Two Hand Clean & Jerk: 200
Total 765
Ed was also a Loader and Official in the meet. This was Oct. 27, of 1934.
The December 1934 issue of The Arena and Strength reports that Edward Zercher also had the 2 Hands Deadlift record (165 lbs. Bdwt.) of 536 pounds. We also have a photo of Ed doing a 536 Deadlift, but the caption says he weighed 155.
I highly recommend using bumper plates when training the Zercher Lift, as you can dump the weight without having the damage issues associated with iron plates. When those biceps tendons suddenly start hurting, it really is best to dump it quickly. If you don’t already know the “good pain vs. bad pain” difference, be prepared to learn.