Darkside Barbell at the 2013 GPC World Powerlifting & Bench Press Championships in Eger, Hungary. We arrived on Wednesday 25th, dropped our luggage off at our hotel and headed down to the competition venue to watch the remainder of the days lifting and to weigh in the first member of DSB who was competing the next day in the equipped bench press. Nick Chambers weighed in at 107.8kg, comfortably inside the 110kg class limit. The next morning we arrived at the venue early to give Nick the best chance to acclimatise to his surroundings and to get his rack height sorted for the bench on the main stage. Once this was sorted the guys competing on the Friday, Sam Colgate, Dan Russell, Scott Boardman and Adrian Tucker went and got weighed in. All made their respective weight classes although Dan gave the officials a bit more of an eyeful than they were expecting. So back to Nicks warm up, with plenty of people on hand to help load and hand the weights out for Nick, his warm up was smooth and efficient. His opening weight was 160kg, which he confidently pressed with ease, next weight 170kg, again he confidently set himself up and press the weight with ease, next lift was 180kg, unfortunately he missed his last lift. This was Nick’s first major competition, not only that, it was his first competition ever lifting in a bench shirt. Friday morning, again we arrived at the venue early to get the 4 lifters settled in, once the rack heights were sorted James Cox and myself went and got weighed in. James had been dieting for 6 weeks and had lost 11kg’s and hit his target of making the 100kg weight class, I had decided this year that I would lift in the 110kg class and weighed in at 103.8kg’s, once completed we headed back into the warm-up area to help the 4 lads lifting that day. Dan and Sam were in the first flight on the main stage, Dan’s opening squat was 240kg’s and was good, Sam was opening at 270kg’s, unfortunately was called early and high, no lift. Dan second squat was at 250kg’s, again good lift. Sam went to 290kg’s, got depth but couldn’t get out of the hole, no lift. Dan’s third squat was at 260kg’s, good depth but lost position on the way back up, no lift. Sam went again at 290kg’s and needed to get the lift to stay in the competition, he went down hit depth and powered out, good lift. The second flight were now up, Scott and Adrian. Scott’s opening squat was 250kg’s which he dispatched with ease, next up was Adrian at 300kg, it was a bit of a fight and although he completed the lift he was given 3 reds. Scott’s second was at 270kg, again another easy lift. Adrian went for 300kg’s again, this time was successful. Scott’s third attempt was at 290kg’s, he went down and started coming back up , no lift. Adrian came out for a crack at 321kg’s, a new European record and what a great lift, better than his second, good lift. There was a 5 minute break before the first flight were back up on stage for their bench press, a quick refreshment and we were back to it. Dan’s first attempt was at 160kg’s, which he made comfortably. Sam also opened at 160kg’s, but couldn’t lock it out, no lift. Sam came out for his second, with the same outcome, no lift. Dan’s second was at 170kg’s, he too failed. Sam needed to get this attempt right to stay in the competition, a little pep talk from me and onto the stage he went, cracking lift and the yell of relief from Sam spoke volumes as the 3 white lights appeared, good lift. Dan came out for his third attempt, again couldn’t lock it out, no lift. Back to the second flight with Scott and Adrian. Adrian was first to go at 180kg’s, it took him a while to get a touch, the press command came and he pressed it out with ease, good lift. Scott’s opener was 205kg’s, unfortunately the rack height was not set correct and Scott struggled to get his position right and the lift was failed. Adrian’s second attempt was at a new world record 207kg’s, but not this time, no lift. With the rack set correctly for Scott’s second attempt at 205kg, he stepped up and made it look very easy, good lift. Adrian came out for a second go at 207kg’s but again failed to get the lift. Scott’s third attempt was at 220kg’s, but also not this time for Scott. We were then onto the deadlfits and the first flight, up stepped Dan for his first lift at 230kg’s, very fast pull and 3 white lights, good lift. Sam’s opener was 240kg’s, he set himself up and pulled, slightly slower than expected but none the less a good lift. Dan second was 250kg’s, again, very fast and the white lights appear again, good lift. Sam also opted for a 20kg jump to 260kg’s but the weight stayed plated on the floor. Dan’s third was set at 260kg’s and again with a little encouragement from myself he stepped up and ripped the bar from the floor, good lift. Sam again came out for his last lift at 260kg’s but again the weight never left the floor, no lift. Scott and Adrian’s turn then followed after a 5 min break. Scott’s opener for the deadlift was set at 235kg, stepped up, fast pull, good lift. Adrian opened at 250, again stepped up, strong fast pull, good lift. Scott’s second was set at 250kg’s, again, simple, fast and another good lift. Adrian’s next attempt was at 270kg’s, better than his first attempt, good lift. Scott last attempt was at 262.5kg’s a new personal best lift if he got it, he set himself and pulled, the down command was given but it was a no lift, a slight technical infringement robbing him of a new PB in the deadlift and total. Adrian was then up, we had worked out that he need 292.5kg’s to win, the bar was loaded, Adrian stepped up only to be pushed back as one of the judges spotted the miss-load, the bar was then re-loaded only for it still to be wrong, for the 3rd time of asking Adrian stood over the bar, a massive pull, only for the bar speed to slow as it past his knees before it then stopped, no lift but what a great effort. It had been a great day for all 4 of the lads lifting, so while we waited for the medal ceremony we refreshed ourselves with food and one or two beers. The medal ceremony began, first place 82.5kg Junior World Champion Dan Russell (670kg total), what a great result, he lifted out of his skin. Third place 82.5kg open Sam Colgate (690kg total), another cracking result and a big surprise for Sam who thought he had come 5th. Second place 90kg open Scott Boardman (725 total), this was a great achievement for Scott and put a few demons to bed, I was so pleased for him. Second place 90kg Masters 2 Adrian Tucker (771 total), great lifting from Adrian, new European Squat and Total records to boot. And so to the last day of competition, 2 lifters to go, myself and James Cox. We got to the venue nice and early and bagged our places in the warm up area. James was in the first flight, I was in the second. James crew consisted of Adrian, Ben and Paul, they got him though his warm up calmly and efficiently and out on stage he went. His first squat was set at 270kg’s, which he missed, no lift. His second attempt was at the same weight 270kg’s. This time down and up with plenty of power, good lift. His third attempt was at 280kg’s, unfortunately it was a no lift. A 5 minute break between flights and I was up, warm up had gone well but I decided to drop my opening lift to 330kg’s as I wasn’t happy with the platform. The weight felt light and with Scott calling my depth it was a good opening lift. For my second attempt I went for 350kg’s, again I felt the weight was light and there was no problem going down and up, another good lift. For my third attempt I went for 365kg’s, I think this was my best lift of the day and I walked away from the squats very happy. There was then a 30 minute break for the first flight to finish up there warm up for the bench. James opener was set at 170kg’s, unfortunately he missed it, no lift. He stayed at 170kg’s for his second lift, this time no mistakes, good lift. He set his third attempt at 180kg’s, but again a little mistake and missed the lock-out, no lift. After a short break it was my turn, my opening lift was 240kg’s, it wasn’t my best attempt and it took a while to get the touch, the press out was simple, good lift. My second attempt was at 255kg’s, I set myself up and lowered the bar and got the press command, as I started to press I felt the bar heading towards the rack, I pushed my elbow back to try and catch it, in doing that I lost tension in my wrist and felt a very acute pain in my forearm, when in turn made me miss my lock out, no lift. This also was the end of my bench press as my forearm had tightened further and I was struggling to grip anything, this was not how I had planned the competition. Another 30 minute break, and it was time for the first flight to be back up on stage for the deadlift. James’s opening attempt was 205kg’s, he set himself over the bar, reached down and drove up, good lift. His second lift was at 220kg’s, again, he set himself up, reach down and yes, another good pull, set the bar down, good lift. His third and final attempt was at 235kg’s, a new personal best. A little persuasion from his helpers, and he was up and ready, another great pull and a new PB, good lift. The mandatory 5 minute break and it was my turn, the warm up for the deadlift had highlighted the injury to my forearm, I was struggling to grip the bar so I dropped my opener to 200kg’s to get my one and only deadlift in. It was not the way I had wanted my competition to finish but in reflection I was pleased with way the day had gone. It was now time to relax and enjoy the medal ceremony, whist they were setting the stage for the ceremony lots of food and drink (beer) were consumed. James Cox was 7th overall in the 100kg open class, his first ever world championships and with a new PB in the squat and deadlift and his biggest total (685kg’s). First place 110kg Masters 2 World Champion Andrew Saunders (805kg’s), a new PB in the squat. This GPC World Championships was this biggest attended competition I have been too, over 650 lifters over the week. Many thanks to the organisers, a massive thanks to all the guys at Darkside Barbell without whom, none of these brilliant few days would have been possible. Further thanks must go to Ivan and all his crew at the The Castle Gym Academy, Logicalis for sponsoring the team, Sam, our team osteopath for keeping us all in one piece over the build-up and our family and friends that have made this journey with us. Pictures of the event will follow shortly.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 08:28:31 +0000
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