Busy year for GAPF – President

Jun 02, 2012 Sports

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This year is shaping up to be a busy one for local powerlifters according to President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) Peter Green, who spoke to Kaieteur Sport recently outlining the list of events scheduled to be staged in 2012.
Green, who has been one of the architects responsible for the sport’s revival and prominence, said he is hoping that the corporate

community and other agencies recognise the importance of supporting the sport which has been doing exceedingly well locally, regionally and internationally.
Here below is a list of activities planned for this year:
1. Intermediate Competition – July
Round two for this year’s crop of newcomers continues with competition billed for Sunday July 1st, 2012 at venue earmarked to be the St. Stanislaus Auditorium Brickdam Georgetown.
This competition is open to lifters who had participated at the well attended Novices Competition held in Rosignol earlier this year along with newcomers who have not yet made their maiden appearance on stage. Registration is mandatory prior to participation.
Clubs and individual lifters are requested to contact Federation Officials Farouk Abdool (West Berbice) 330-2257, Egbert Jackson (Corentyne) 339 3509, Dawn Barker (Demerara) 642- 8322, John Edwards (All regions) 623-6550. Weigh in and equipment check is set for 08:30hrs with competition billed for sharp start at 09:30hrs.  The competition will be divided into three categories comprising the sub-juniors (U-18), juniors (U-23) and Open (over 23 up to 39).
2. Masters (Claude Charles Memorial) Championships-July
The annual Masters (Claude Charles Memorial) Champions will be held in tandem with the Intermediate Competition on July 1, 2012 at St. Stanislaus Auditorium and is open to all lifters 40 years and over. Categories include M1 (40 – 49), M2 (50 – 59), M3 (60 and over) and will be used as the yardstick for selection to the World Masters Championships billed for Texas USA in October 2012.
Feature lifters expected to compete are John Edwards M1 (2011 World Bronze medalist), Winston Stoby M2 (2012 World dead lift record holder) and the evergreen Mark ‘Uno’ Perry of Linden making a welcome return after a lengthy absence.
Overseas based lifters desirous of being a part of the National team will be requested to participate with the aim of establishing bona fide totals unless proof of any such totals can be given though participation in recognized powerlifting meets within their respective places of residence.
3. Inaugural Unequipped (Raw) Powerlifting Championships- September
This Competition is tentatively set for the month of September at Linden and will be named the Sammy Barker Memorial Championships in honour of the late Sammy Barker. The Competition will be open to all lifters desirous of competing without the aid of squat, bench and dead lift suits save for the basic equipment such as wraps.
Details will be made known at the July championship. Weight classes will be divided into Lightweight (59 – 66kg), Middleweight (74 – 83kg) and Heavyweight (105 – 120+kg) and will feature monetary prizes for the purchase of supplements amongst other prizes.
4. Senior National Open Championships- December
The Premier event of the Power lifting Calendar, billed for December 1st and 2nd in Georgetown at a venue to be finalized, this Championship will be divided into two categories – firstly The Club Championships (2 athletes per weight class) and secondly the individual championships.
Respective winners from this Championship will form the National team for International engagements billed for the Caribbean (March), Pan American (July) and Commonwealth (December) of 2013. All lifters (including the juniors) will be expected to participate in order to make their 2013 preliminary nominations totals.
International Meets for 2012
1. North American Regional Tournament of the Americas – July 24-29 in the Cayman Islands.
Guyana’s traditional attendance at this year’s NAPF Regional has been reduced to just a two lifters as the Federation in an effort to make maximum use of its limited financial resources will be placing emphasis on giving the various Categories of athletes an opportunity to represent Guyana at the highest level on the international stage.
Double gold medallist Vijai Rahim 59kg juniors and open category of Rosignol, Berbice and 83kg Gold Medalist and junior Best lifter overall Anis Ade Thomas of Corriverton are this year’s nominees to the prestigious event featuring the best in North, Central America and the Caribbean. They are expected to be accompanied by two officials (a referee) and a delegate attending the WADA Symposium who will also be participating in a scoring seminar.
2. South American Championships – August 15-19 Cali, Colombia
The President of the GAPF along with World Masters 120kg Bronze Medallist John Edwards will be making Guyana’s maiden appearance at the Championships in keeping with a mandate of the IPF which has decreed that Guyana must participate.
Edwards will be taking his Referee category II Exams for International certification as well as warming up for the Worlds by participating in the Masters Category of the Championships. The GAPF President will be using the opportunity present to lobby for a future South American Championship to be held in Guyana as early as possible, amongst others.
National Lifters desirous of participating at this event and are financially independent are welcome to attempt qualifying totals for selection by guest lifting at the July meet. Further details can be had from John Edwards.
3. World Masters Championships – October 2-9 Killeen, Texas, USA
Winston Stoby and John Edwards will be spearheading a National team of lifters to be selected from the upcoming Claude Charles (Masters) Powerlifting Championships slated to be held at home on July 1st. USA and Canada-based lifters will also be vying for a place on the National team to Killeen Texas.
Current 74kg M2 World Dead lift record holder and 2012 Caribbean open Gold Medallist Winston Stoby has already shown form
4. World Open Championships – October 29- November 4 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Top athletes Randolph Morgan and Dawn Barker have been earmarked to participate at the World Open Powerlifting Championships set for Puerto Rico in October coming. Powerlifting is one of the disciplines to be contested in the World Games 2013 billed for Cali Colombia and this year’s Championships will be used as the qualifier with the top ten placed lifters in each weight class going through.

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