by Al Myers
Dates: Between March 1st and March 31st, 2011
Entry form must be postmarked by April 5th, 2011
Must be a current USAWA member to be eligible for competition
Entry Fee: None
Official USAWA rules apply as outlined in the Rule Book
Lifts:
Bench Press – Alternate Grip
Squat – 12” Base
Deadlift – Dumbbell, One Arm
PDF Entry Form – EasternOpen
by Al Myers
I am excited to announce this year’s Dino Gym Challenge. Every year I change “the theme” of the Dino Challenge to keep it refreshing and interesting. This year is no exception. For the FIRST TIME, the USAWA will sanction a Strongman Competition. All lifts done will be exhibition lifts – meaning they are NOT USAWA official lifts, and they will not be “record eligible”. That is one neat thing about the USAWA, our rules allow competitions to be sanctioned with exhibition lifts. There is not a better way to “try out” a new lift than having it in a competition for everyone to contest. To me, this seems like the BEST WAY to form an opinion of a new lift (before it is presented for lift approval). But I’m getting off track, this ANNOUNCEMENT is for a different type of Strongman Competition than what most people are used to. This competition will be based on OLD-TIME STRONGMEN and the feats they did in their performances or shows. There won’t be any aluminum kegs, steel logs, concrete stones, or adjustable steel yokes in this one. I consider those implements as MODERN strongman stuff!! Guys like Arthur Saxon and Hermann Goerner didn’t have access to those kind of things!
I picked 5 events for this competition based on 5 famous strength feats of 5 well-known Old Time Strongmen. The events will be:
1. Goerner Stroll – Carry two barbells one rod (16.5 feet)
2. Louie Cyr Press – One dumbbell overhead with one hand, anyway. May use both hands to get it to chest.
3. Apollon’s Lift – Overhead lift with 2″ bar, anyway. We will use my replica.
4. Dinnie Lift – Two loaded VBs with ring handles. One must be loaded 75% or less than the other.
5. Saxon Snatch – Snatch with a loaded plank, 3″ thick
I also want to point out that this competition will be DRUG TESTED, so all competitors will be drug-free just like these Old-Time Strongmen were! The rules of the USAWA will apply, which will make this Strongman Competition slightly different than the format of other Strongman Comps. The lifter will get three attempts on each event, and the lifter will PICK the weight they want to try. This way ANYONE can compete and perform within their capabilities and not be limited by “set equipment weight”. Each lifter’s maximum weight per lift will be added, forming a TOTAL POUNDAGE, which will be adjusted to points using the USAWA’s adjustment guidelines for age and bodyweight.
Put this EVENT on your schedule and be part of something new!! All lifts will be further highlighted in future USAWA Daily News stories on the website.
ENTRY FORM – DinoEntry2011
by Al Myers
Al Myers (left) and Dave Hahn (right) at the 2010 USAWA Team Nationals.
Last month at the USAWA Team Nationals at the Dino Gym we had a surprise attendee – Dave Hahn. I had previously exchanged a few emails with Dave, but it was a great honor to have him make it to the gym and get to actually meet him in person. I know several of the “oldtimers” in the USAWA probably know Dave and competed in meets with him 20 plus years ago. I am always looking back at old meet results and records, and his name is in ALL OF THEM. Dave knew and mentioned a couple of current USAWA members that he has fond memories of – Wilbur Miller and Charlie Scott. I enjoyed listening to his stories about these two. Dave was primarily an Olympic Lifter, but did compete in the early days of the USAWA. His last USAWA competition was in the early 90’s at Bill Clark’s annual Zercher Classic. Before this, he competed in many All-Round Weightlifting Meets directed by Bill Clark, then under the Region IV Missouri Valley organization. Dave had been a subscriber to Bill Clark’s newsletters since the early 1960’s. He commented to me that most of his early All-Round lifting was done at Bill Clark’s annual weightlifter’s picnics, which were held at a park in Columbia, Missouri.
I would like to mention a few of the records Dave established in the old Region IV Record List: Cheat Curl of 255# at 181# bodyweight in 1962, Strict Curl of 175# at 181# bodyweight in 1962, Right Hand and Left Hand Dumbbell Press of 115# at 181# bodyweight in 1962, Seated Press of 210# at 181# bodyweight in 1962, and a Standing Press Behind Neck of 190# at 198# bodyweight in 1961. These are just a few. Dave told me that he could press almost as much as he could Clean and Jerk, and thus he retired from Olympic Lifting when the Press was eliminated from competition.
Dave now lives in Overland Park, Kansas but works in Milwaukee. He commutes back home every weekend. He still trains with weights and looks in great shape.
Dave, thanks for taking the time to come to an All-Round Meet. We really enjoyed meeting you and having you at the Dino Gym. But next time I’m going to talk you into competing!
by Al Myers
Who is this lifter and which USAWA lift is he performing?
It’s time for another Quiz of the Week!! This one is going to be a little harder than previous ones, and it requires TWO ANSWERS.
Who is this lifter and which USAWA lift is he performing?
You must provide the answers to BOTH questions! The rules are the same as before – only 1 answer per day, and the person with the first correct answer wins. Answer must be sent to my amyers@usawa.com email address.
Winner will receive a USAWA Patch
by Al Myers
Bill Cookson, of the Dino Gym, won the Delaware Valley Postal Meet following his return to the gym from being overseas fulfilling his military obligations.
I just received the results of the Delaware Valley Postal Meet from John Wilmot, which is one of the four quarterly postal meets that are part of the USAWA Postal Series. The number of competitors was slightly down, probably due to the other All-Round competitions that were occurring at the end of September, but the quality of lifting was high. Bill Cookson made his comeback to the USAWA after being gone overseas on military duty by edging out Randy Smith. It came down to ONE POINT!! That is as close as it gets. Helen Kahn competed in her first USAWA event, and was the top woman lifter.
RESULTS:
Delaware Valley Open Postal Meet
September 1-30, 2010
Meet Director: John Wilmot
Lifts: Bench Press – Reverse Grip, Squat – Front, and Continental to Chest
Lifters using a certified USAWA Official:
Helen Kahn – official Randy Smith
Bill Cookson – official Mark Mitchell
Kohl Hess – offiicial Denny Habecker
Andrew Hess – official Denny Habecker
Lifters using a non-certified official:
Randy Smith – official Helen Kahn
Denny Habecker – official Kohl Hess
John Wilmot – official Kay Wilmot
Women’s Division
| Lifter | Age | BWT | CLS | Bench | Squat | Cont | Total | Points |
| Helen Kahn | 58 | 156 | 75 | 65 | 75 | 80 | 220 | 271.6 |
Men’s Division
| Lifter | Age | BWT | CLS | Bench | Squat | Cont | Total | Points |
| Bill Cookson | 45 | 212 | 100 | 280 | 286 | 220 | 786 | 720.8 |
| Randy Smith | 55 | 195.5 | 90 | 195 | 255 | 235 | 685 | 719.1 |
| John Wilmot | 63 | 215 | 100 | 150 | 180 | 155 | 485 | 516.2 |
| Denny Habecker | 67 | 185 | 85 | 165 | 110 | 132 | 407 | 486.8 |
| Kohl Hess | 16 | 300 | 125+ | 165 | 242 | 198 | 606 | 484.1 |
| Andrew Hess | 46 | 310 | 125+ | 176 | 176 | 176 | 529 | 405.1 |
NOTES: BWT is bodyweight in pounds. CLS is bodyweight class in kilograms. Total is total pounds lifted. Points are adjusted points for bodyweight and age correction.