by Al Myers
MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
DINO GYM CHALLENGE PRESENTS THE –
“Tom Ryan Memorial Meet”
A year ago we lost a very good friend and longtime supporter in the USAWA with the passing of Tom Ryan. I had known Tom for over 15 years and often communicated with him via emails weekly. He would help me with any historical question involving weightlifting as he seemed to remember everything from his time in the iron game. I often invited him to the Dino Gym for one of my competitions but his health prevented it in his later years. He told me many times that “if he could” he would make the trip to my place from his home near Atlanta.
So I’ve decided this year we will honor Tom in dedicating the Dino Gym Challenge to him. I was initially going to have this years meet as a tribute to John Grimek. I had even decided on lifts – picking some of Grimek’s pet lifts for the meet. But the other day working out I got to thinking about Tom and his passion for the All Rounds, and this lead to me making the change for this year. John Grimek was one of Tom Ryan’s heros in the sport. I knew Tom well enough that I know this would have amused him greatly in my chosing him over the great John Grimek!
I picked five of Tom’s favorite lifts for the meet, and ones he still holds USAWA records in. I’ve been fortunate to have witnessed many of them myself as years ago he would travel to Clark’s Gym for meets and record days that I was at. Tom still holds close to 25 USAWA records. He has outstanding records in the Weaver Stick (7 pounds), the One handed thumbless deadlift (254 pounds), and the Rectangular Fix (95 pounds done over the age of 60). It will take some great lifting at the Dino Challenge to see any of these marks of Tom’s exceeded.
MEET DETAILS:
Meet Director: Al Myers and the Dino Gym 785-479-2264
Meet Date: Saturday, January 27th, 2018 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Dino Gym, 1126 Eden Road, Abilene, KS 67410
Sanction: U.S.A.W.A Memberships cards can be purchased on meet day
Weigh-ins: 12:00 -1:00 PM the day of the meet
Divisions: Juniors, Women, Masters, and Open
Awards: None
Entry: None – but please notify me in advance if you plan to attend
Lifts:
Weaver Stick
Rectangular Fix
Deadlift – No Thumb, One Hand
Reeves Deadlift
Hip Lift
The lifts will be done is this order. After the meet there will be time for record day lifts.