Women power ruled the powerlifting stage in 2015

Jan 13, 2016 Sports

Guyana’s women displayed phenomenal power as they dominated the powerlifting stage in 2015 with mind boggling performances, especially from the Nation’s most outstanding and first ever internationally ranked 16 year-old

Britny Mack

Under-18 52kg class competitor, Britny Mack.
As a result of her performances, Mask has been listed in the International Powerlifting Federation World Rankings at # 9 in the Sub Junior category and # 47 in the Open Category.
Young Mack reigned supreme in all her local and international events culminating in Gold Medals at the South American, Pan American and Commonwealth Championships.
Also shining locally and overseas were Open lifters Chloe Hunter (Senior National 57kg Champion as well as unofficial record holder of the NAPF Caribbean records); Andrea Smith – 57kg Open Clash of Champions winner as well as Bronze Medalist at the South American championships and Shellon Nicholas who ruled the roost in the in the 72kg class.
Leading among the males is Junior Under-23, 83kg lifter Rudolph Blackmon who is listed in the IPF World Rankings at #13 in the Junior category and # 41 in the Open Division. In his final year at that level, Blackman kept the Golden Arrowhead aloft in dominating whenever he hit the stage locally and internationally.
A rewarding year ended with Gold Medals at the South American, Pan American and Commonwealth Championships. At the Open level a ‘never say die’ and powerful performance from reigning National Open 105kg Champion Karel Mars who displayed the guts and determination in overcoming two failed lifts before nailing the third on his way to the Overall title at the Commonwealth Championships stood out.
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) also made special mention of Vijai Rahim who suffered an injury which prevented him from participating in his final year at the junior level at the Commonwealth games.

Rudolph Blackman

Not to be outdone, turning in amazing and competitive performances were the all-conquering individual Gold Medalist Masters team, comprising Masters 2 (50 – 59 age group) lifters; former World Champion Winston Stoby 74kg class, Edwin Spencer 83kg class and the evergreen and indefatigable overseas based Masters 4 ( age 70 and over) lifter Nairanjan Singh 93kg class who all rocked the Commonwealth stage.
The GAPF in the first half of 2015 was the beneficiary of three sets of Powerlifting equipment comprising full weights; rack stands and support equipment along with a competition platform to further promote the sport locally from the Government of Guyana under the stewardship of the Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony.
The federation successfully hosted seven categories of championships locally with a total combined entry list of 115 inclusive of 22 females who participated at the South American and Pan American Championships in Brazil as well as the Commonwealth championships in Canada.
The GAPF’s two junior lifters, male and female, have entered the international rankings highly placed with female lifter Britny Mack cracking the top twenty.
Powerlifting in 2016 is set to enjoy another bumper year with the ladies making a challenge for the Caribbean team title against its nemesis Puerto Rico as well as the men’s team aiming to reclaim their team title.
Locally, many exciting changes and activities are planned with the aim of encouraging more unequipped alongside of the traditional equipped events taking prominence.
Current President, Peter Green under whose stewardship the sport not only made a grand return locally but dominated at the Caribbean and international levels is set to make way for a new leader at the federation next AGM scheduled for later this year.
Green, in an invited comment noted: “As outgoing President, I continue to laud the hard efforts of genuine and dedicated lifters, volunteers and supporters – too numerous to mention but not forgotten – who played a role in moving the sport from where it was before to where it is today, signaling strongly that the sport equipped and unequipped, is here to stay with Olympic recognition beckoning.
Most Outstanding Lifters
Name:        Britny Mack
Age:           16
Category:       Sub Junior (16 – 18 age group)
Weight Class:    52kg
Gym:           Life Springs ECD
Coach:        Dr. Osmond Mack
Achievements:   Gold Medalist 2015 South American c/ships; Gold Medalist 2015 Pan American C/Ships; Gold Medalist 2015 Commonwealth c/ships; National 47kg and 52kg Record holder 3 lifts; Current National Champion 52kg sub junior class; IPF World Ranking: Sub junior World Ranking – # 12; Open World Ranking # 47
Name:           Rudolph Blackman
Age:           23
Category:       Junior (18 to 23 age group)
Weight Class:       83kg
Gym:           Life Springs, ECD
Achievements:   Gold Medalist 2015 South American C/ships; Gold Medalist 2015 Pan American C/ships; Gold Medalist 2015 Commonwealth C/Ships; Current National 83kg junior champion; World Ranking – Junior World Ranking – #13; Open World Ranking # 41.