Burton Record Session
by Al Myers
Group picture from the Burton Powerhouse Record Session.
I had an absolutely great time last weekend in England at the 2014 IAWA Gold Cup, promoted by Steve Gardner of the Burton Powerhouse Gym. I met so many great enthusiastic all rounders, and witnessed some outstanding lifting. Plus I got to share stories with many ole friends from overseas, and be part of the largest attended Gold Cup in IAWA history.
However, the fun didn’t end on the day of the Gold Cup for me. The Monday afterwards Steve hosted a Record Day Session in his gym for his gym members which my Dad, Denny, and I got to be part of. Since there were SO MANY lifters at the Gold Cup, it was virtually impossible for everyone to get their second Gold Cup lift in on the meet day. All of the Burton gym members, along with myself, my dad, and Denny postponed our second lifts for this record session to help accommodate getting the Gold Cup finished on time.
I truly enjoy getting the opportunity to lift in new gyms – especially gyms whose training focus is All Round Weightlifting. Steve has just recently moved his gym to a new facility which is much larger. This was my first time seeing his new gym, and I was very impressed! Steve has the gym set up with great lifting atmosphere, with the walls lined with many pictures, awards, and other items of motivation. I tried to take it all in – but know I missed some of it. It has to be one of the best All Round gyms in the World!
Eight Burton Powerhouse gym members took part in this Record Session (James Gardner, Chris Findon, Graham Saxton, Steve Gardner, Karen Gardner, John Gardner, Pete Tryner, and Paula Thompson), plus myself, my dad LaVerne, and Denny Habecker. This made for a full night of lifting! Steve ran the evening of lifting like he runs meets – very efficiently and quick. The two platforms were constantly in action with more record lifts being done. I was most impressed with Chris Findon doing a dumbbell Snatch of 48Kg after recent elbow surgery, Big Graham and John’s 2 man hack lift of 350 Kg, and Karen’s 90 kg Trap Bar Deadlift. And I got to add that getting to see Denny set another record in the Pullover and Push was a pleasure (remember to get the big belly bounce Denny!!!). Denny was eating so well on this trip that he went UP a weight class in 2 days after the Gold Cup and decided to pick his same Gold Cup lift for his record session lift!
Denny Habecker with a record 95 KG Pullover and Push.
I picked the Index Finger Hack Lift for my second lift – and succeeded with a 90 kg lift which I was pleased with. I still have the proof of that lift on my torn left index finger as I type. After watching John Gardner lift a huge thumbless grip DL at the Gold Cup, and since this is also on of my favorite lifts, I talked John into joining me for a 2 man thumbless deadlift. This is not an official lift in IAWA, so we were doing it just for fun. We lifted 345 Kgs, and just missed 365. We have our sights set on 400 KG now!
The evening ended with myself introducing the Burton Gym to teeth lifting. I made a teeth bit for them, and challenged Graham to a lift off. This was not really a fair fight, since Graham has never done any teeth lifting before and I have, but he was a gamer and took me on. We had lots of fun with it – and I bet the next time I go back to the Burton Powerhouse the gym will have mastered the teeth lifting and will be putting up big numbers in it.
All this was finished in an hour and a half. I want to thank Steve and all the members of the Burton Powerhouse Gym for all they do for the IAWA, and especially for their work in making the 2014 IAWA Gold Cup a great success!
MEET RESULTS (PDF) – Record_Session_at_Burton_27.10.14