Powerlifting enjoyed a powerful 2011

Jan 10, 2012 Sports

GAPF aiming to further consolidate in 2012

Powerlifting is not one of the more recognised and popular sports in Guyana but the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) continued its phenomenal rise and dominance at the Caribbean, Regional and International levels.
On the local scene, exciting new talent was unearthed both at the youth and open levels with the athletes from the Ancient County of Berbice dominating. History was created when Linden based athletes Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney and female sensation Dawn Barker became the first Guyanese lifters ever to squat over 800lbs and 500lbs respectively.
The City based lifters added their share of stardom to the whole with the ‘Resolute’ Winston Stoby setting an unofficial World Deadlift record of 611.88lbs in the Masters 2 category, while Guyana’s most accomplished lifter Randolph ‘The Accomplisher’ Morgan became the lightest ever Guyanese male (181lbs) to dead lift well over 700lbs.
On the International scene, the Guyanese strongmen and woman turned in outstanding achievements which included gold medal and record breaking performances at the 5th Annual Caribbean Islands Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships held in the Cayman Islands; North American Tournament of the Americas in Miami and crowned a fantastic year with a bronze medal at the World Masters in Canada through ‘Big’ John Edwards.
A continued challenge faced by the GAPF like many other federations/associations is the lack of finances which hampered them from defending its Men’s Team Title won at home in 2010 at the Caribbean level. The Federation also had to cancel its attendance at the Pan American Championships in Argentina.
Individually Randolph Morgan (Bench press 474.07lbs, Total 1,780.53lbs) and Dawn Barker (Squat 501.63lbs) created further international History by becoming the first ever Caribbean Power lifters to set Commonwealth records within their respective weight groups despite having their records broken later in the year.
Six Power lifters participated internationally in 2011 with five attaining International rankings; Dawn Barker at 13 (peaking early March at 5) in the Women Open 84+kg class, Randolph Morgan at 17 in the Men’s Open 83kg Class, John Edwards at 4 in the Masters M1 class, Karel Mars at 43 in the 105kg open class and Kenneth Melville at 15 in the 105kg Junior Class.
All are Caribbean Champions and ranked within the top 5 in the Commonwealth and South America for their respective categories.
The generous and dedicated support given by the small band of committed sponsors coupled with the modest inputs from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport were the fulcrum on which the many successes of the athletes were possible.
Persons of the caliber of Banks DIH’ George McDonald and Michael Perreira, Ansa Mc al Trading’s Troy Cadogan, Sterling Products’ Ramsay Ali, Manganese Re-union’s David Fennell, Jamie McDonald of Fitness Express and Dr. Frank Anthony of the Ministry of Sports and Keith Evelyn of Hand in Hand amongst others, stand out.
For the year 2012, it is the wish and fervent hope of dedicated President Peter Green that Powerlifting, Bodybuilding and Weightlifting join hands and work towards the creation of a Commission advancing the interests of their respective athletes culminating in the construction of an internationally acceptable Auditorium and Home with tangible assistance from the Ministry of Sport.
This he said will enable Guyana to become the number one choice to host world top class championships within the North, Central American, Caribbean and South American regions.
WADA Anti Doping Testing
John Edwards, Randolph Morgan, Karel Mars and Dawn Barker were given mandatory doping testing by the international body. All results came back negative. No OCT or ICT was carried out by the GAPF due to the prohibited cost of carrying out same.
Nevertheless the WADA has mandated that such tests be carried out effective 2012 and reports submitted.
The Guyana Olympic Association with assistance from the Ministry of Sport and the RADO have come on board with assistance in the form of testing to be carried out to selected lifters via the whereabouts programme which will have random testing carried at any given time in the year. Registration to this programme will be mandatory to all lifters aspiring to compete at the International level.
Coaches/Referee Certification
The Federation continued its programme of training local Coaches and Referees for certification by the World Governing Body. Preference for overseas training is given to lifters who are also knowledgeable enough to interpret the stringent and highly technical aspects of the three lifting techniques at the practical and theoretical examinations.
Marketing
With the aim of allaying the mental perception of the business community that it is “just another local organization coming with a begging bowl in hand” to quote a renowned local organiser, the GAPF will be launching a new Marketing Strategy that it hopes will appeal to the Business Community with the goal of forging a much greater and successful partnership to enable adequate funding ensuring that all of its outstanding athletes are given the opportunity to bring glory to themselves and Country.

International Rankings 2011
Dawn Barker 84.0+ kg    – World Ranking        – 13th
(Open women)       – Commonwealth Ranking    – 4th
– South America Ranking   – 3rd
– Caribbean Ranking   – 1st
National Ranking   – 1st
Randolph Morgan 83.0kg   – World Ranking       – 17th
(Open Men)       – Commonwealth Ranking   – 2nd
– South America Ranking   – 3rd
– Caribbean Ranking   – 1st
Karel Mars 105.0kg   – World Ranking       – 43rd
(Open men)       Commonwealth Ranking   – 7th
South America Ranking   – 5th
Caribbean Ranking   – 1st
John Edwards 120kg   – World Ranking       – 40th
(Open Men)       Commonwealth Ranking   – 4th
South America Ranking   – 3rd
Caribbean Ranking   – 1st
Kenneth Melville       – World Ranking       – 15th
(Junior Men)       Commonwealth Ranking   – 2nd
South America Ranking   – 2nd
Caribbean Ranking   – 1st
John Edwards 120kg   – World Ranking       – 3rd
(Masters M1 Men)   Commonwealth Ranking   – 1st
South America Ranking   – 1st
Caribbean Ranking   – 1st

OUTSTANDING POWERLIFTERS FOR THE YEAR 2011
FEMALE OPEN           Dawn Allison McCammon Barker 84.0+ kg class
Caribbean Champion and no. 1 ranked lifter 2011
Caribbean Best lifter female open overall title 2011
Caribbean Record Holder Squat 227.5kgs, Dead lift 182.5kgs, and Total 517.5kgs. 2011
North American Regional Tournament of the Americas female open Champion 2011
North American Regional Tournament of the Americas record Holder squat 237.5kgs 2011
First Guyanese and Caribbean female lifter to set a Commonwealth record Squat
227.5kgs 2011
International Powerlifting Federation IPF 2011 World Ranking – 13th
MALE OPEN           Randolph Reginald Morgan 83.0 kg class
Caribbean Champion and no. 1 ranked lifter 2010 & 2011
Caribbean Best Lifter title overall 2011
C/bean Record holder squat 297.5kg, Bench 215.0kg, Dead lift 295.0kg, Total 807.5kg
First Guyanese and Caribbean male lifter to set a Commonwealth record Bench press
215.0kg and Total 807.5kg IN 2011.
International Powerlifting Federation IPF 2011 World ranking – 17th
MALE JUNIOR            Kenneth Melville 105.0kg class
Caribbean Champion and no. 1 ranked junior lifter 2011
Caribbean runner up Best lifter overall junior 2011
Caribbean record holder squat 282.5kg, Bench 155.0kg, Dead lift 257.5kg, Total 695.0kg
International Powerlifting Federation IPF 2011 World Junior ranking – 15th
MASTERS OVERALL   John Edwards
Caribbean Masters M1 Champion and No. 1 ranked lifter 2010 / 2011
Caribbean Masters M1 Champion Overall 2010 / 2011
Caribbean record holder squat 350.0kgs, Bench 220.0 kgs, Total 860.0kgs
World Masters M1 Bronze Medalist 2011