Edwards takes 2 gold, Abdool, Jagnarine, Stoby & Rahim also strike gold

Mar 21, 2010 Sports

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Story and photos by Franklin Wilson

Guyana’s most celebrated Powerlifter ‘Big’ John Edwards competing in the men open 125kg and men’s masters 1B did not disappoint his fans and country as he smashed three records on his way to winning both divisions on the final day of the 4th IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Bench Press & Powerlifting Championships which concluded yesterday at the Princess Hotel.
John set new squat, deadlift and overall records and was the only Guyanese to rewrite the books on the final day of what was an action-packed two days of competition.
Puerto Rico’s junior athlete Ramon Burgos (90kg class) also set three records (squat, bench press & total) competing in the men’s open. Burgos also won the men’s junior division.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Adrian Brown (100kg class) erased the old squat, deadlift and overall records on his way to taking gold in this division ahead of Guyana’s Karel Mars.
The other lifer entering his name in the record books was United States Virgin Islands male open athlete in the 125+ division, William Schoulen who achieved a new squat standard of 370kg (815 pounds).
One of the highlights of the day however, was the battle between the Guyanese pair of Farouk Abdool and Mark Seymour for the gold medal in the men’s open 110kg division. The contest went down to the final deadlift attempt by both athletes but it was Abdool who prevailed with his final successful attempt of 265kgs to Seymour’s 250.
The difference between the two was just 12.5kgs, Abdool’s winning total was 702.5 to Seymour’ 690. Kenrick McField of the Cayman Islands took the bronze medal in this category.
Karel Mars on debut had to settle for the silver to T&T’s Adrian Brown in the clash of the 100kgs. Brown new record total of 755 was beyond Mars’ silver medal performance of 727.5. The Twin Island Republic lifter also set a new deadlift record of 277.5 and a new squat standard of 307.5.
The old squat mark (292.5) was set by Puerto Rico’s Ricardo Garcia last March, the deadlift (275) was held by Lawrence Johnson of the Cayman Islands and set in April 2007 while the overall of 742 was held by T&T’s Mark Johnson (March 2008).
William Schoulen erased his old squat record of 365 achieved last March replacing it with the standard of 370. Hayden Hudson of Trinidad and Tobago took the silver medal in this division.
Edwards (125kg division), was his exceptional self, showing immense focus in achieving greatness for his country and himself once again, the two-time Caribbean champion, two-time Regional champion and one-time Pan American champion, stormed to victory in the men’s masters 1B class ahead of two Trinidad and Tobago athletes, Anthony Farnum and the visually impaired Carlos Green in that order.
‘Big’ John totaled 860 (squat 350; bench press 215; deadlift 295) the same weights achieved in the men’s open class. The squat, deadlift and total are new records in the open division; all previously set by Edwards himself last March. The old squat mark was 337.5; deadlift 285 and total 835.7.
Green turned the tables on Farnum in the open category, taking the silver ahead of his countryman.
Puerto Rico’s Ramon Burgos displayed great form and poise in taking the men’s junior 90kg division along with the open division. His gold medal total was 787.5 (squat 310; bench press 177.5; deadlift 300).
The squat, bench press and total were all new records in the open category and like Edwards, the previous marks (squat 295.0; deadlift 300.0; total 757.5) were all set by him {Burgos} last March.
In the case of Winston Stoby, Bhojkumar Jagnarine and Vijai Rahim who all competed on day one, Friday, they had to await the outcome of competition on the final day to know their status. At the end, Stoby took the gold in the masters M2 open division with a total of 652.5 (squat 242.5; bench press 137.5; deadlift 272.5).
Countryman Errol ‘Big Man’ Henry copped the silver medal with Thomas Cincich of the United States of America taking bronze.
Jagnarine headed a one/two finish for Guyana in the men’s M1A class with a best squat of 235; bench press 112.5 and deadlift of 272.5 for a total of 620.
18-year-old sensation Vijai Rahim who did not succeed in breaking the sub-junior deadlift World Record won this category ahead of countryman Tariq Immamdeen and Jameal Welcome of the Cayman Islands. Rahim’s winning total was 447.5 (squat 172.5; bench press 82.5; deadlift 192.5).
Guyana, in line to win their first team title, won 9 gold medals, 6 silver and 3 bronze for a total medal haul of 13, the largest ever in its Powerlifting history at the Caribbean level.
The announcement of the team winner and overall champion were made last evening at the farewell banquet which took place at the Princess Hotel. Honorable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony was scheduled to deliver the feature address.

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