Gold Cup 2016: My Take
by Thom Van Vleck
Thom Van Vleck inducts Chad Ullom and Al Myers into the Hall of Fame at the awards banquet for the 2016 Gold Cup.
I was recently honored to be asked to help out at the the 2016 Gold Cup. To be honest the main reason for me to be there was to induct my friends Al Myers and Chad Ullom into the Hall of Fame. An honor they both deserved and I hope I did them justice with their induction speech. They are very deserving.
I helped out with the set up, take down, and other logistics of running the meet. It was held in the old Union Pacific train depot in downtown Abilene, Kansas. A very historic city and a great place to hold a meet. The location was perfect, the meet was well run, and I don’t think you could ask for a better set up for some great lifting. Al Myers was the Meet Director and he did a great job and had lots of help. Steve Gardner announced and he is very smooth on the microphone and his knowledge of the lifts makes him the right man for the job.
I also had the privilege of judging most of the meet. I am a level 2 judge and I have judged at some big meets over the years for the USAWA and IAWA. I take it very seriously. Judging also gives me a front seat to all the action (plus I don’t have to load….I’ve done my fair share of that,too!).
All in all, another great meet. While Al did a great job this was like every other USAWA meet I’ve ever been a part of. Everyone chips in to make it happen! Great job to all!