Zercher Classic
by Al Myers
ZERCHER STRENGTH CLASSIC
The Zercher Strength Classic, the oldest meet in the USAWA, just concluded with another year of competition. This long-standing meet has been a fixture at Clark’s Gym since the early 80’s to honor the St. Louis Strongman Ed Zercher.
Four brave lifters showed to tackle this 13 event affair – all held over the course of one day. Joe Garcia came out the champion of the meet, with a 7470 pound total. Newcomer Dave Emslie came in second over a couple of wily veterans Bill Clark and Al Springs. Bill Clark commented in a letter to me with the results that Dave “may be a tough competitor in the future in many lifts.”
I was glad to see Bill lifting in the meet. He put up a solid hip lift of 805 pounds, even though he commented in his letter that he had hoped to get 1000 pounds, but said he must be careful with the replaced hip and broken femur. For those unaware of Bill’s joint replacements, he has had more than most people have fingers!
Afterwards there was a record day session, as if the 13 event Zercher meet wasn’t enough! Many new USAWA/IAWA records were set by Joe, Bill, and Dave. It looked like a great day of lifting!
MEET RESULTS:
Zercher Strength Classic
Clark’s Gym
Columbia, MO
March 29th, 2014
Meet Director: Bill Clark
Officials: Bill Clark, Joe Garcia
Lifts: Leg Press, Clean and Press- Heels Together, Continental to Chest and Jerk, Deadlift – One Arm, Hack Lift, Deadlift – heels Together, Zercher Lift, Steinborn, Bench Press – Feet in Air, Hand and Thigh, Neck Lift, Hip Lift, Harness Lift
Joe Garcia | Dave Emslie | Bill Clark | Al Springs | |
AGE | 60 | 73 | 81 | 72 |
BWT | 214 | 175 | 238 | 196 |
Leg Press | 400 | 400 | 200 | 300 |
C&P | 155 | 95 | —– | 95 |
C&J | 165 | 105 | —– | —— |
DL-1 | 225R | 225R | 155R | 155R |
Hack | 280 | 250 | 185 | 250 |
DL-HT | 280 | 250 | 135 | 250 |
Zercher | 225 | 200 | —– | 125 |
Steinborn | 145 | 105 | —– | 105 |
BP-FIA | 215 | 165 | 100 | 135 |
H&T | 1175 | 475 | 325 | 400 |
Neck | 405 | 235 | 100 | 145 |
Hip | 1665 | 805 | 805 | 705 |
Harness | 2065 | 1105 | 1105 | 875 |
TOTAL | 7470 | 4270 | 3105 | 3545 |
ADJ PTS | 7779.6 | 5524.9 | 3587.2 | 4234.4 |
NOTES: All lifts in pounds. BWT is bodyweight in pounds. ADJ PTS are adjusted points corrected for age and bodyweight.
RECORD DAY LIFTS
Bill Clark
Crucifix 10lbs
Curl – Cheat 45 lbs
Deanna Lift 235 lbs.
Deadlift – Left Arm 155 lbs.
Dave Emslie
Crucifix 50 lbs.
Curl – Cheat 95 lbs.
Deanna Lift 430 lbs.
Deadlift 215 lbs.
Deadlift – No Thumbs 265 lbs.
Deadlift – Middle Fingers 145 lbs.
Deadlift – Ring Fingers 145 lbs.
Deadlift – Index Fingers 145 lbs.
Pullover – Stiff Arms 65 lbs.
Pullover and Press – Wrestlers Bridge 65 lbs.
Joe Garcia
Crucifix 70 lbs.
Curl – Cheat 135 lbs.
Deanna Lift 430 lbs.
Deadlift – Fulton DB, Left Arm 157 lbs.
Saxon Snatch 65 lbs.
Brick Holdout – Right Arm 14 lbs.
Brick Holdout – Left Arm 14 lbs.
Dave Beversdorf
Leg Press 700 lbs.
Bryan Mann
Leg Press 700 lbs.
Bench Press – Feet in Air 325 lbs.