Tag Archives: Heavy Lift Championships

Past Review of the Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

A project I’ve been wanting to do for a long time is a complete review of the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.  Well, I decided it’s time to get that project started!

The Heavy Lift Championships is the longest running Championship event in the USAWA next to the USAWA National Championships.  I’ve been delving into a literature review of this Championships, and have meet results dating back to 2000. I have bits and pieces of information prior to this.

I am missing the results from 1999, 1997, and 1995.  If anyone has those results please send them to me so I can get this summary complete.  As far as I can tell the first USAWA Heavy Lift Championships was held in 1995.  The late Dale Friesz provided me with much of this information prior to his death. Before the first official “Heavy Lift Championships” Bill Clark and Steve Schmidt hosted several years of a heavy lift meet, titled the Backbreaker.  I consider that meet the precusor to the Heavy Lift Championships.

I would like to add additional blogs highlighting some of these Championships once I get all the past results.

HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

DATE PROMOTER LOCATION MENS CHAMPION WOMENS CHAMPION
5/7/2016 Denny Habecker Lebanon, PA James Fuller Cassie Morrison
5/2/2015 Eric Todd Cameron, MO Eric Todd Mary McConnaughey
5/3/2014 Al Myers Holland, KS Eric Todd none
5/4/2013 Frank Ciavattone Walpole, MA Al Myers Colleen Lane
5/12/2012 Roger LaPointe Bowling Green, OH Eric Todd none
5/21/2011 Denny Habecker York, PA Joe Garcia none
11/6/2010 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Steve Schmidt none
5/16/2009 Denny Habecker Lebanon, PA Al Myers none
11/15/2008 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Steve Schmidt none
11/9/2007 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Steve Schmidt none
11/12/2006 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Steve Schmidt none
8/27/2005 Frank Ciavattone Walpole, MA Frank Ciavattone Cara Collins
8/28/2004 Denny Habecker Lebanon, PA Frank Ciavattone Stephanie Meyer
11/9/2003 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Steve Schmidt none
10/19/2002 Frank Ciavattone Walpole, MA Frank Ciavattone Care Collins
11/10/2001 Bill Clark Columbia, MO Abe Smith none
11/5/2000 Bill Clark Columbia, MO John Monk none
????
12/5/1998 Frank Ciavattone Walpole, MA Frank Ciavattone Cara Collins
????
10/27/1996 Kerry Clark Columbia, MO John Carter none
?????

 

Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

2016 USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Meet Results:

Heavy Lift Championships
Habecker’s Gym
Lebanon, PA
May 7th, 2016

Meet Director: Denny Habecker

Officials: Denny Habecker

Lifts: Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift

 Lifter  Age BWT  Neck H&T Hip TOT  PTS
 James Fuller  44  249  500  1000  1510  3010  2513.5
 Frank Ciavattone  61  300  300  802  1206  2308  2044.5
 Art Montini  88  173  155  400  703  1258  1818.2
 Dean Ross 73  255  155  653  846  1654  1741.8
 Barry Bryan  58  191  250  503  806  1559  1703.3
 Rocky Morrison  54 300  330  603  1106  2039  1695.6
Cassie Morrison 20 194 325 350 806 1481 1348.2

Notes: BWT is bodyweight in pounds. All lifts recorded in pounds. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall points corrected for age and bodyweight corrections.

Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

Group picture from the 2015 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.

Group picture from the 2015 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships.

Yesterday Eric Todd hosted the 2015 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships at his gym in Cameron, Missouri.  Actually ET lives outside of Cameron in the boondocks and his address is listed as Turney, MO which I’ve yet to identify.  I’m betting it is a collection of deer blinds. (the road leading into his place is Deer Creek!).

But on to the big meet! I’m writing this report because Eric deserves high praise for his efforts yesterday, and I know he is too modest to truly report the day’s events as they unfolded.  ET has one of those unique gyms that only hardcore lifters would appreciate.  It is a big Quonset shed which he refers to as his “big tin can”.  Inside the gym really reflects ET’s personality – all serious heavy duty equipment with loads of strongman stuff, rusty bars and plates, concrete platforms, and a big American Flag hanging on one end.  No frills here. It’s a serious place. It provides the perfect training environment for someone who wants to get strong.

I consider the Heavy Lift Championships as one of the premier championships the USAWA hosts every year.  It has a rich history, and it’s longevity rivals our USAWA Nationals.   We have tried to make this meet a rotational annual event to provide opportunities around the country for participation. This was Eric’s first promotion of the Championships, and he did a superb job!  Very few places have the adequate equipment to put on the Heavy Lift Championships, but ET has all the iron anyone needs (I counted 24 100 pound plates laying around!).

A great turnout made the day a great meet. I didn’t lift as I figured I was more needed officiating and scorekeeping.  It was great seeing Mary Mac there as well as young Christian.  He’s a junior lifter just getting involved in the USAWA and he shows A LOT OF PROMISE!  This was his first experience with the chain lifts, and with a little more seasoning will only increase his poundages.  Mary has been involved with the USAWA for many years off and on.  It is so nice to see her back getting involved this year.

I was so glad to see our Prez Denny back in action.  Actually I was  a little surprised to see that he was lifting in this meet!  It’s so obvious that Denny loves the USAWA!  Art made the trip with him and put up great lifts.  Sometimes I forget Art’s age – because it’s hard to believe that someone who is 87 would actually being doing a hardcore meet like this!

Of course Dean Ross was here.  These past few years there has not been a more active lifter than Dean.   Dean lifted great – and even had the energy to do some records afterwards.  KCSTRONGMAN gym member Lance Foster made another solid performance.

The big showdown was between ET, Chad, and Joe.  I knew this would be an interesting day.  All three of these guys looked in great shape, and all three of them are past Heavy Lift Overall Champions.  Chad came out of the gate hard (ok….I had to get that horse race joke in there somewhere since the Kentucky Derby was going on at the same time as this meet) with a HUGE personal record Neck Lift of 1020# to put him in the early lead.   Then after the Hand and Thigh Lift Joe took over first for a while, even though ET lifted his best H&T ever with a 1510# lift (breaking my record of 1505#).  For those of you that have been around a while know that when ET started the USAWA over 10 years ago he put up a 1475# hand and thigh the FIRST TIME he ever tried it.   I knew this day was coming that he would break 1500, and I predict that he will go well over 1600 before long.

The last lift of the Heavy Lift Championships is the Hip Lift.  I knew this was going to decide who the Overall Champ would be.  Chad was conservative with his opener, which gave the advantage to Joe and Eric.  I kept waiting for ET to declare his opener and he kept putting it off.  Joe came in at 1670#, and then ET declared 1870 to start which put the pressure on Joe.  Joe made the big jump with him, but just came up a hair short.  Looking back Joe should have jumped to only 1800 which was all he really needed in the end.  ET then went on to break the overall record in the 115K class with a 2270# lift and the overall title.

This was one of the best Heavy Lift Championships I have been part of.  Lots of great lifters and lots of great lifts.  I’ve always been a big fan of the history of the heavy lifts, and in my book this meet put Eric Todd into the group as one of the best heavy lifters in the history of the USAWA.

MEET RESULTS:

2015 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships
May 2nd, 2015
Cameron, Missouri

Meet Director:  Eric Todd

Meet Scorekeeper:  Al Myers

Meet Officials ( 3 official system used): Al Myers (head), Denny Habecker, Art Montini, Eric Todd, Joe Garcia, Lance Foster, Chad Ullom

Lifts:  Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift

WOMENS DIVISION

 LIFTER  AGE  BWT  NECK H&T  HIP  TOT  PTS
 Mary McConnaughey  55  311  180  400  810  1390  1152.1

Extra for Records:

Mary McConnaughey – Hand and Thigh Lift 500#

MENS DIVISION

 LIFTER  AGE BWT  NECK H&T HIP TOT PTS
 Eric Todd 40  252  900  1510  2270  4680  3734.2
 Joe Garcia 61  209  550 1270  1670  3490  3710.7
 Chad Ullom 43  261  1020 1270  1850  4140  3343.3
 Denny Habecker 72  195  0 620  900  1520  1831.8
 Art Montini 87  175  180 400  700  1280  1829.2
 Dean Ross 72  252  240 700  760  1700  1786.2
 Christian Schimpf 16  151  200 500  760  1460  1704.1
 Lance Foster 49  319  340 700  870  1910  1482.1

Extra Attempts for Records:

Dean Ross – Reeves Deadlift 205#
Dean Ross – Peoples Deadlift 295#
Dean Ross – 12″ Base Deadlift 225#
Dean Ross – Heels Together Deadlift 225#
Dean Ross – 2 Bar Deadlift 200#
Eric Todd – Index Finger Lift Right 135#
Eric Todd – Index Finger Lift Left 120#
Denny Habecker – 12″ Base Deadlift 225#

NOTES:  Age is age in years. BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  All lifts recorded in pounds.  TOT is total pounds lifted.  PTS are overall adjusted points for age and bodyweight corrections.

Heavy Lift Update

by Eric Todd

As the Heavylift championship is coming right up, I wanted to post an update.  First of all, I wanted to touch base on the record breaking event following the meet.  I will have all records for the 3 lifts being contested in the championship; however, if you want to attempt a record in any other discipline, you need to email me at SalGuimino@yahoo.com so that I can be sure to print off the records for that list.  It will also help me be sure to have the appropriate equipment out in the barn.

Secondly, I wanted to give directions for anyone who does not know their way through God’s country.

from the North: take I-35 south until you pass Cameron.  About 4 miles past Cameron, you will come to the HWY 69 exit.  Take that exit, and take a let on 69 at the top of the ramp. Take 69 South 5 or 6 miles until you get to 292 on the left.  Take 292 maybe a mile to the first right, deer creek.  Wind around on deer creek for a spell until you get to the first left, 286.  Take 286th about a mile.  Mine is the third house on the right.  The meet is in the big tin can.

From the South:  take I-35 North until you get to the Lathrop/Polo exit, which is HWY116.  Take the exit, then take a right at the top on 116.  Take 116 a little over a mile, then take a left on HWY69.  Take 69 North about 4 miles, then take a right on 280th.  Take 280th about a mile to your first left, Deer Creek.  Take Deer Creek about a mile North until your first right, 286th.  Take 286th about a mile until you get to the third house on the right.  The meet is in the big tin can.

We have an excellent group competing for the Heavylift Chamionship, and I am very excited to be hosting.  See you next weekend!

Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

2014 USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Group picture from the 2014 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships (left to right): Dennis Mitchell, Dave Hahn, Chad Ullom, Eric Todd, Lance Foster, and Dean Ross

What a big day at the Dino Gym!!! Saturday, May 3rd, the Dino Gym hosted a “double-header” of strength events – the USAWA Heavy Lift Championships in the morning and the Kansas Strongest Man in the afternoon.  Six brave all rounders showed up to tackle the heaviest of the lifts in the USAWA.  Veteran Dennis Mitchell made the longest trek to Holland Kansas to compete, coming from Cleveland, Ohio.  I was very glad to see Dennis and Flossy here, as less than a year ago Dennis had a knee replaced and I didn’t think Dennis would be up to taking on these heavy types of lifts yet.  But Dennis was an eager as ever, and lifted solid in all lifts.  Eric Todd and Lance Foster from the KC STRONGMAN club made their appearance as well.  ET set the tone early on that he was going to be the guy to beat when he went three for three, and set the highest Neck Lift of ALL TIME with a 1080 pound successful lift!!!  I’ve seen ET lift over 1000 pounds several times in the Neck Lift to date, but I’m continually amazed at seeing it again.  This big lift of ET’s overshadowed Chad Ullom’s herculean Neck Lift as well. Chad lifted a personal record 1014 pounds in the Neck Lift.  Very rarely do you get to see two lifters put up these type of Neck Lifts on the same platform.  Eric went on to win the overall best lifter of the day, with Chad a close runner-up.

We had a welcomed newcomer to the USAWA on Saturday – if you could really call him that.  I say that because Dave Hahn of Overland Park, Kansas made his return to the USAWA after a 23 year absence!  The previous time he lifted in our organization was at one of Bill Clark’s Zercher Meets in the early nineties.  I was very impressed with Dave’s lifting ability – and he seemed to have knowledge of the heavy lifts as well.  He put up great numbers – 350 Neck, 520 H&T, and 900 Hip.  He took a shot at over 1000 in the Hip, and if not for a little balance issues, would have got it.  After the meet I told Dave not to wait another 23 years before lifting in the USAWA again!!

Now who have I forgot to mention????  I guess I saved the best for last – Dean Ross!  Dean has been one of the biggest supporters of the Dino Gym events over the years, and rarely misses anything!  He’s also been a tremendous supporter of the USAWA these past few years and probably does more USAWA events than any other lifter!  One thing about Dean – when he’s in attendance there’s never a dull moment!  I was most impressed by his 700 pound Hand and Thigh.   Also – once the meet was over Dean had to “hit to road” immediately to make it to Texas for a Highland Games the next day!

I hope all the lifters had a great time at this championships.  I know I pushed things along at a fast pace to get done in time for the strongman meet afterwards.  From start to finish the meet lasted just a little over 3 hours!   I especially want to thank my dad LaVerne for officiating and helping me out, all the guys who pitched in loading, Chad for helping me finish the awards and helping with the BBQ,  and Scott who was my partner in the day’s promotion.

MEET RESULTS:

2014 USAWA Heavy Lift Championships
Dino Gym, Holland, Kansas
May 3rd, 2014

Meet Director: Al Myers

Scorekeeper: Al Myers

Officials (3-official system used): Al Myers (head), LaVerne Myers, Lance Foster, Chad Ullom, Eric Todd, Dennis Mitchell

Lifts: Neck Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Hip Lift

LIFTER AGE BWT NECK H&T HIP TOT PTS
Eric Todd 39 247 1080 1350 1810 4240 3384.4
Chad Ullom 42 254 1014 1210 1610 3834 3107.5
Dave Hahn 76 152 350 520 900 1770 2560.7
Dean Ross 71 267 250 600 760 1610 1631.3
Dennis Mitchell 82 153 246 350 475 1071 1611.2
Lance Foster 48 332 300 600 850 1750 1320.9

EXTRA FOR RECORDS:

Dean Ross – Hand and Thigh 700#
Dean Ross – Hip Lift 800#
Dennis Mitchell – Hip Lift 600#

NOTES:  BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  All lifts recorded in pounds. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall adjusted points for age and bodyweight correction.

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