Powerlifters from the Hardcore Gym and Rip Hit Strength and Conditioning (RHS&C) showed their strength prowess on Labour Day as they won the marquee titles at the inaugural Clash of the Champions event at the National Gymnasium.
Hardcore Gym’s Vijai Rahim stole the show in the men’s group by winning the overall best lifter title.
RHS&SC’s Andrea Smith won the same title in the female open category besting arch rival Chloe Hunter of Buddy’s Gym.
Smith’s total was 370kg. Her best lifts were 132.5kg (squat), 67.5kg (bench press) and 165kg (dead lift) which amounted to 448.551 wilks points.
Hunter equaled Smith’s total after squatting 132.5kg, bench pressing 77.5kg and dead lifting 160kg. However, her bodyweight (58.4kg) was more than her rival’s (53.9kg) and that cost her via wilks points. Her wilks points accumulated to 442.779.
Rahim, arguably Guyana’s current strongest man pound for pound showed why he has won multiple powerlifting titles. The Berbician gladiator lifting in the 66kg weight class lifted a total of 672.5kg.
He squatted 250kg, bench pressed 147.5kg and dead lifted 275kg to record 538.942 wilks points.
83kg winner Rudolph Blackmon (720kg total) placed second overall with 507.960 wilks points. National lifter Osmond Mack (660kg total) who defeated Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby (655kg total) in the 74kg division was third with 478.434 wilks points.
Britney Mack, daughter of Osmond Mack broke every record previously set by Steffie DeNobrega in the female sub-junior division. The 15-year old fourth form student of North Georgetown Secondary totaled 267.5kg. Lifting in the 52kg division, Mack squatted 115kg, benched 45kg and dead lifted and impressive 107.5kg.
Other categorical winners included Marino Jeffrey (93kg), Karel Mars (105kg), Colin Chesney (120kg) and Rondel Clementson (120+kg).
Jeffrey’s total was 682.5kg, while Mars, Chesney and Clementson recorded totals of 725kg, 815kg and 660kg respectively.
Following the event, all of the lifters received monetary tokens. Sponsors included IPA, New GPC, Banks DIH Limited and Sterling Products.
