|
May 19, 2001
Missouri
Strongman Amateur
Contest
in St. Louis, Missouri.
What a day and what a contest!
Everything from the weather, competitors, promoters and audience
made it fun.
Bill Holland's NASS continues to
grow and become the leading organization in amateur strongman.
Combine that with three great promoters. Willie Wessels, two time
world champion powerlifter, fierce strongman competitor and fun
promoter, Rick King owner of Eagle Gym, compitor and one of the
first in the US to promote strongman and Jim Davis, arguably the
leader in strongman promotion in the US. Even the infamous Phil
Pfister helped out with the announcing along with Rick King.
Proceeds from the contest went to both Childrens Miracle network
and Whit Baskin.
And the competition was fantastic.
Unfortunately there where two
injuries as well. Strongman is a SERIOUS sport. The Weak Get
Eaten!!!
NASS contest are great for
competitors of all body weights since they have weight classes
that cut off every 25 pounds, plus in this contest an overall
lightweight and an overall heavy weight winner with a 225 pound
cut off. In the top pro shows there are no weight classes and the
smaller guys really don't have much chance to be competitive.
(It's still a lot of fun though). There where 39 competitors in
all.
(Click on Links
to See Photos)
The first event was a Conan's
Wheel. Light's had 500 pounds and Heavy's had 600. There was a 90
second time limit but once you set the apparatus down once you
where done. 3 lightweights made over 3 turns and one their
respective weight classes. Brad Pitt in 175 and Chris Brock in 200
both went a little ever 3 laps plus 29 feet and Jeff Neuhalfen in
225 went a bit over 3 laps. The Heavy's had a bit tougher of a
time with their 600 pounds with Jared Sprybrook winning 250, Kris
Asseley at 275, Derrick McPhearson 300 and Chris Lowe in Supers.
Some guys had an easy time with
the Viking Press while many couldn't get one rep. The Light's had
225 pounds and the Heavy's had 300 pounds. They each had 60
seconds to do as many reps as possible. Brad Pitt smoked the 175
with 7 reps, James McGlynn edged out Dan Fagan in 200 with 10 and
Bill Porter worked to beat Ron Fortin with 15 crankin reps. In
Heavy's Jared Sprybrook again took 250 with 12, Kris Asseley the
only 275 did well at 10, Derrick McPhearson walloped 300 with 13
as did John Barett in Supers with 15 reps.
Next we had the tire flip with
each using a 600 pound tire for 80 feet with a 60 second time
limit. Oddly enough the Light's pretty much spanked the Heavy's on
this event. Brad Pitt of course took 175 again, Chris Brock
actually set the mark of the day in 200 with 34:46 seconds and Ben
Moore beat out the 225. Ditto on Jared in the 250 and Kris in the
275, Chris Koch handily beat the 300 as did Mike Wortham in the
Supers.
The Carry and Drag was gruesome.
The carry was an S-10 Pickup for 60 feet and drag back a sled the
same 60 feet. Light's using a 500 pound sled and Heavy's a 700
pounder. The sled was like glue in the asphalt. Only 4 in each
class finished this event. Shane Musselwhite the 16 year old
superman won this one in the 175, Chris Brock at 200 again beat
the whole field finishing this in 39:67 seconds and Heath Allison
edged out the 225 with a finish. Jared in 250 of course beat all
the Heavy's with a strong finish here, Kris Asseley finished the
truck but injured his knee and was done for the contest, Chris
Koch handled the 300 again with a finish and John Barrett edged
out the Supers.
The loading event moved fast
even with the Monstrous 54 inch platforms. Heavy's Loading 5
stones, I believe 180, 220, 245, 270 & 300 pounds. Only 2 got
all five. The Light's loaded Kegs of 170, 190, 210, 230 & 250.
Quite a few finished all five and it was a race for time. Brad
Pitt at only 175 loaded all 5 and again handily beat the 175,
James McGlynn loaded all five barely edging out Chris Brock to
take the 200 and Jeff Neuhalfen loaded all 5 beating a few other
225's on his tail. In 250 Jared of course nailed all 5 but had to
work to beat Steve Rowley who also loaded 5 just a little slower,
Derrick McPhearson edged Chris Koch in 300 both loading 4 stones
and Lynn Southerland beat the supers loading 4 just a bit faster
than Chris Lowe.
Individual Weight class winners
were as follows:
175 pound class - Brad Pitt had no difficulty winning 4 of 5
events handily.
200 pound class - James McGlynn was steady and it won the class
for him.
225 pound class - This one was tight with Bill Porter barely
taking first.
250 pound class - Jared
Sprybrook won every event and was really the man of the day.
275 pound class - The trophy went to Kriss Asseley who was doing
great until his injury.
300 pound class - Derrick McPhearson barely won in a close contest
Supers - John Barrett toughed out the win in a very close 3 way
contest.
In NASS overall is a new contest
in a sense with just a light and heavy cut off. Here are the
overall results:
Lightweight Overall Top Five
1. Chris Brock - 35 points - Chris had more first place finishes
and was steady all day.
2. James McGlynn - 35 points
3. Bill Porter - 30 points
4. Ben Moore - 26.5 points
5. Jeff Neuhalfen - 25.5 points
Heavyweights Overall Top Five
1. Jared Sprybrook - 47 points - Jared was hands down winner all
day.
2. Steve Rowley - 27 points
3. Derrick McPhearson - 25 points
4. Chris Kock - 21 points
5. John Barrett - 18 point
This wraps a great contest from
both the promoting side and the competitor side. It's really
exciting to see this sport continue to grow. Please keep up your
support.
Please forgive me if a
misspelled any names.
Jeff Bach
www.theweakgeteaten.com
|
