GAPF gearing up for multiple c/ships local, regional & Int.

May 31, 2011 Sports

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Teams shortlisted for overseas competitions

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) in its continuing efforts to maintain dominance at the Regional and International levels and continue its consistency of multiple competitions locally, have released its programme of activities for the remainder of the year.
The Federation apart from announcing the dates for local tournaments has also released the names of various teams that will aim to keep the Golden Arrowhead aloft on the Caribbean and World stages.
The annual Intermediate and Claude Charles Memorial (Masters 1 – 1V) Championships are slated for Sunday June 26 at the Critchlow Labour College (tentative), Woolford Avenue.
The Intermediate Championships according to the federation is geared for continued development of the novice lifters in all categories; sub junior, junior, open and masters while the Claude Charles Memorial Masters (M1 – M4 Category) competition is aimed at affording the veteran lifters the opportunity to continue being competitive.
The categories are as follows – M1 (40 – 49) M2 (50 – 59), M3 (60 – 69), M4 70 Upwards!
Nomination forms can be downloaded from the GAPF website www.powerliftingguyana.com or uplifted from the office located at 8 North Road Lacytown (Basic Beauty Hair Salon). Forms can be submitted to any senior official of the Federation in advance to facilitate the data entry into the computerized scoring system. Deadline for nominations will be June 24th.
Equipment check and weigh in time on competition day will be 09:30hrs with lifting set to begin at 11:30hrs; admission will be free.
Athletes are reminded that the strict lifting attire code will be in effect in keeping with the rules and regulations of the governing International Powerlifting Federation.
Among the highlights at these championships will be the attempt by ‘Big’ John Edwards to become the second Guyanese lifter after Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney to break the 800lb squat barrier. John’s best squat to date is 771.75lbs / 350kgs.
This will be Winston Stoby’s final rehearsal before the World Championships and he will be attempting to break the World Dead Lift Record of 265kgs in his category – Masters M2.
Stoby’s best dead lift is 272kgs lifting in the 75kg weight class with a bodyweight of 73kgs which is well within the 74kg new weight class. A repeat of this lift in Canada in September will see Guyana gaining its first ever World Champion (Masters).
The battle of the new boys will also be a highlight next month, the likes of Gumindra Shewdas of Corriverton, Berbice, Praimchand Singh and Osmond Mack of Georgetown and Godwin Edwards of Linden will all be aiming for glory in their respective categories.
Sammy Barker Classic
In memory of the late Samuel Barker, the GAPF will be bringing off the inaugural Sammy Barker Memorial Classic (Powerlifting Raw) in Barker’s hometown, Linden. The date is Sunday July 31st and it is expected to be very exciting and entertaining. Barker was the live wire of the sport in the Bauxite Mining Town. According to the federation the tentative venue is the Linmine Constabulary Sports Club.
This competition is the brainchild of the GAPF and is a fitting tribute in honour of the man who championed strength sports in Linden. It will be open to all serious persons involved in lifting weights nationwide.
Essentially an unequipped event where Powerlifting reverts to the true form of the sport without the use of aids such as squat and bench press suits along with certain types of knee and ankle wraps.
The competition will be divided into three weight categories comprising Lightweight (53kg – 66kg), Middleweight (74kg – 83kg) and Heavyweight (93kg – 120+kg) and winners will be determined by the internationally recognized Wilkes format which applies the total amount of weight lifted against the lifter’s bodyweight.
Trophies as well as cash prizes to aid in the purchase of supplements will be awarded to the first three lifters in each category as well as a Champion of Champion Best Lifter overall cash bonus and trophy for the winner.
A video highlight of Linden’s very own Dawn Barker lifting her way to Gold at the Caribbean Championships will be shown as well as her lifts in Miami at the Regional level.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from website www.powerliftingguyana.com or uplifted from office located at 8 North Road Lacytown and submitted to any senior official of the Federation in advance to facilitate the data entry into the computerized scoring system. Linden athletes can uplift their forms from Upper Demerara Barbell Club. Deadline for nominations will be July 24th.
Equipment check and weigh in time will be 09:00hrs with lifting set for 10:30hrs.
Senior Nationals
The GAPF’s marquee event, the Senior National Open Championships will be held on Sunday October 30 at a venue to be decided in the capital city.
List of upcoming International events
North American Regional Powerlifting Championships – Miami, Florida, USA July 4th – 9th, 2011
Pan American Powerlifting Championships – Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 17th – 19th, 2011
World Masters Powerlifting Championships – September 29th – October 4th, 2011, St. Catherine, Canada
Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships – Bournemouth, England, December 17th – 19th, 2011
Athletes selected for upcoming International events
North American Regional Powerlifting Championships
Athletes – 1. Dawn Barker – Caribbean women open champion 84+ kg class
2. Karel Mars – Caribbean men open champion 105kg class.
3. Kenneth Melville – Caribbean men junior champion 105kg class
Pan American Powerlifting Championships
Athletes – 1. Randolph Morgan – Defending Pan American men open champion 83kg class
2. John Edwards – Defending Pan American men open / masters m1 champion 120kg class
3. Gumendra Shewdas – National novices men sub junior champion 53kg class
4. Anis Ade Thomas – Caribbean 2010 men junior champion 83kg class
World Masters Powerlifting Championships
Athletes – 1. John Edwards – Masters M1 champion – 120kg class
2. Winston Stoby – Masters M2 champion – 74kg class
All other masters domiciled in Guyana will be eligible for selection upon achieving qualifying standards at the National Masters Championships June 26th, 2011.
Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships
An 8-member team will be announced at the conclusion of the Senior National Championships in October. Qualifying standards will be in effect.

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