It was the fifth stop in the 2006 World Strongmancup tour, as Moscow provided a perfect setting for Mariusz Pudzianowski to notch yet another win.


With Jouko Ahola and Jane Virtanen looking on, Mariusz Pudzianowski burns through the farmer's walk. Photo courtesy of Vlad.

Over 2,000 spectators were on hand to witness the battle at the Moscow Olympic Center Luzniki. Here are the final places and and points for the top six competitors:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski 61
2. Jane Virtanen 57
3. Elbrus Nigmatullin 47
4. Mohammad Rez Gharaei 39
5. Tarmo Mitt 37
6. Rolands Gulbis 37

Next Tuesday at 1:00 there will be an open Rolling Thunder contest at Pullum Sports in Luton, England and the expectation is that Laine Snook will be taking a shot at breaking the world record.


Phil Pfister, a World's Strongest Man favorite, is one of the best in the world on the Rolling Thunder. Mr. Pfister was runner-up at the 2003 USA Rolling Thunder Nationals, put on by Jim Davis and IronMind. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

About a week ago, under very strict conditions, Laine Snook exceeded the world record in the Rolling Thunder, setting the stage for what is predicted to be a record-breaking performance at Pullum Sports next week. The Rolling Thunder world record is highly coveted in part because of the history of who has lifted what, and because the lift and its records have never been allowed to get watered down. Snook, along with such people as Magnus Samuelsson, Odd Haugen, and Chad Woodall have all exceeded the Rolling Thunder world record unofficially, but to get the record it's like what another top performer, Wade Gillingham, said of winning the title: "If you want to be the Rolling Thunder National champion you have to show up at a contest and take the title. You can't win it in the gym" (MILO, December 2003, Volume 11 - Number 3, page 118).

Despite the anticipation of a top performance by Laine Snook, this is an open contest and all are welcome. IronMind is donating a gift certificate for two IMTUGs to the winner and a gift certificate for one IMTUG to the second-place finisher.

For more information on the Rolling Thunder, please check here:

http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/export/IronMind/Main/rollingthunder.html

Mark Felix will be making his WSMSS debut in Poland, where he hopes to qualify for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.


Mark Felix, the Grenadian strongman who will be competing in the upcoming WSMSS Polish Grand Prix, appears primed for a top performance. Photo courtesy of TWI.

Speaking of World's Strongest Man, Colin Bryce said, "Mark Felix won the deadlift in the heats, but failed to make the final. He is coming to Poland to try and get a crack at qualifying for the WSM one more time. He is in great shape and pulling record deadlifts in the gym - 400 kg."

This is big news because, "Deadlift for reps is one of the events in Poland," Bryce explained, "and Mariusz hasn't lost at all this season, so will this be the first time he gets beaten on home soil? Mark thinks he will."

The WSMSS Polish Grand Prix is scheduled for August 12 and it is the last qualifier for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.

Kids who want to give arm wrestling a try have a great opportunity coming up in Iowa this weekend.

Heartland Armwrestling is holding its Osceola County Fair Armwrestling Championships V this weekend and there are divisions for men, women and children. For details, please contact Mary McConnaughey at 402-592-9315.

"Strength-wise," Magnus Samuelsson said, "I've never been better."


Magnus Samuelsson about to squat at the 2004 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Weighing 153 kg at the moment, the tremendously popular World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Samuelsson said that his back is recovering and he looking forward to competing in this year's MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest, which would be his eleventh appearance in the WSM competition. Earlier this year, Samuelsson injured his back, but he said that it has been healing, and with ten World's Strongest Man contests under his belt, Samuelsson is focussing on the 2006 edition of the signature strongman show.

Known for having the world's strongest arms and grip, among other things, Samuelsson is quite a bench presser, as well, and as an indication of his current strength levels, the 1998 World's Strongest Man winner said he would have no hesitation about going for a 300-kg bench press on a stage in front of thousands of people - no shirt, just touch and go.

Gunsan, Korea - It wasn't as if he had to struggle to win the 105s, but that didn't take anything away from Reza Teimouri's (Iran) victory as his teammates were vocal in their support and his father - who looks like he could still lift a bull - watched with pride.


Reza Teimouri (Iran) flies under 200 kg as he won all three gold medals in the 105-kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships in Gunsan, Korea. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Teimouri, following himself, ran through 160, 165 and 168 in the snatch, and then he locked up the gold in the clean and jerk as well as in the total on first jerk, 191 kg. Taking 200 on his second attempt, he made another good lift, but 205 was a little too heavy on this day.

In the supers, Jung Jae-hoon (Korea) won, with 155/192.

Gunsan, Korean - Peng Feng (China) didn't get derailed when he missed his opening snatch in the 94-kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships - he came back to make the weight, more, and then he ended the day winning the class.


Peng Feng (China) is about to pop the 151-kg snatch that put him in the driver's seat at the Asian Junior Championships today in Gunsan, Korea. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Nobody like to miss his opener, but you can bounce back as Peng Feng proved today. After missing 145 kg, he made it on his second attempt and then he made 151 kg on his third attempt, which was good for the gold medal in the snatch. Zou Zhenbo, Peng's teammate, finished third in the snatch, but he would take a shot at overcoming Peng's lead in the total.

Peng ran through three good clean and jerks - 175, 181, 185 - corkscrewing his way up in the clean, so that by the time he was set to jerk, he had rotated about a quarter turn counterclockwise. Zou had missed the jerk on 181, come back and made the weight, and now with everyone else finished, he had one attempt left and he needed 10 kg to tie Peng and win on bodyweight. After a good clean, he went into a deep, deep split trying to jerk the weight and for a moment it looked as if he might have it, but then the bar came crashing down and Zou had to settle for the silver medal in the one-two Chinese finish.

In front of a crowd of 3,500 people, Holland won the IFSA World's Strongest Team (two-man) title this weekend in Sarvar, Hungary.

This was the "second time in the 25 years of Dutch strongman history," said Marcel Mostert, "after�Berend {Veneberg] and Wout [Zjilstra] did it in 1998 in Hardenberg, Holland."

"We did 5 events," reported Mostert:

� -Atlas stones until 190 KG
-Wheel flip with 515 kg Tyre
-Farmerswalk with 140 KG
- Medley with Husafell stone 180 KG
- Powerstairs with 150-, 220- and 300-KG blocks"

� "It was amazing to see how the son of Laszlo Fekete pick up a 190 Kg Atlas stone and put it on the platform (must be in the genes!), and also how he did a perfect wheel flip, where other teams really struggled with the 515 Kg heavy tyre!," said Mostert. "The show will be broadcasted at 22 September on Eurosport."

Here are the final places and points:

1 - HOLLAND - 42 points ( Jarno Hams and Edwin Hakvoort)
2 - HUNGARY - 41� ( Laszlo Fekete and his 22 year old son L-Fekete)
3 - FINLAND�� - 37.5 ( Tomi Lotta and Juha Rasanen)
4 - ENGLAND - 30.5 ( Olli Thompson and Eddie Elwood)
5 - SLOVENIA - 27.5
6�- SOUTH AFRICA - 24.5
7 - AUSTRIA���� - 24
8 - DENMARK - 21.5
9 - FRANCE� -16.5
10 - SPAIN������ - 10,5

Gunsan, Korea - He got the ball rolling by winning the snatch, and then Farhat Saidov (Uzbekistan) added a silver medal in the clean and jerk, and a gold in the total in the 85-kg class at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships today.


Growl power: Farhat Saidov stuck this 175-kg jerk at the Asian Junior Championships today in Gunsan, Korea. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Farhat Saidov started snatching after everyone else was done, and he ripped up 145 for his opener, stuck 148 on his second attempt, but then missed 152 on his third. Kim Hyun-ho (Korea) won the gold in the jerk with 176, followed by Saidov at 175 and Kim Kyung-wook (Korea) at 173.

Gunsan, Korea - Making it look easy, Zhong Guoshun (China) won all three gold medals in the 77-kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships today.


There's nothing wishy-washy about the position of Zhong Gusohun's back as he accelerates 145 kg on his second attempt in the snatch. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Zhong started his six for six day by snatching 140, 145 and 150, good enough for a 9-kg lead going into the clean and jerk. Even though he scooped up first place in the clean and jerk as well, things were a little closer. Zhong ended with a very strong 179, edging Rasoul Taghian (Iran) by one kilo, who in turn beat Le Kyu-seok (Korea) by one kilo.

Gunsan, Korea - Kim Sun-bae gave Korea something big to cheer about today, as the 69-kg lifter won his class at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships.


It's the money lift - this 169-kg clean and jerk gave Korea's Kim Sun-bae the gold medal in the 69-kg class, and it gave the host country of the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships something big to cheer about. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Pitting the snatcher against the clean and jerker, this class had a lot going for it as China's Huang Chunwang, a dramatic-looking lifter, blistered three good snatches - 135, 138 and 140 - to go into the clean and jerks with a 10-kg lead over Kim. Would you believe that they, too, were tied on bodyweight, so Kim had his work cut out for him if he were to bring joy to his fellow citizens.

Huang provided an opening for Kim, when he missed 162 on his second and 163 on his third attempt - neither time could he stand up with the weight, after getting under the bar. Kim had no such trouble, though, as he followed his strong 164 opener with an equally good 169-kg lift on his second attempt, which gave him the gold medal in the total. With one attempt left, we would see why the first two lifts looked easy: Kim called for 180 kg on his third attempt, for what we believe would have been a Korean Junior record. Kim got under the weight, but then he went over backwards and laid on the platform just long enough to make some people nervous before he jumped up to enthusiastic cheers.

Jessen Paulen won the Champoinnat Provincial du Quebec (the Quebec Provincial Championships) today.

Dominic Filiou, was second, Louis-Phillipe Jean was third, Christian Savoie finished fourth and Steve Bourgeois was fifth. The top four will go on to the Canadian National Championships later this year.

Incidentally, Patrick Lemieux told IronMind that Louis-Philippe Jean "is only 21 and he is able to lift the Thomas Inch dumbbell," so keep your eye on him.

Gunsan, Korea - Wang Wenquing (China) won the 62-kg class today at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships, in a class that had a nice battle and gave a glimpse of a possible future star.


Low and solid, this 125-kg snatch gave Wang Wenquing the margin he needed to win the 62-kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships today. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Wang's victory was anything but assured when he couldn't stand up with with 156 kg on his third attempt. Lee Chang-ho (Korea) and Wang were tied on bodyweight, and on the final attempt of the category, Lee took 157 for the gold total and after a very strong clean, he missed the jerk. This left Lee with the bronze medal in the total, behind Sajad Behrouzi (Iran), a 16-year old who appears to have a real future in the sport.

Gunsan, Korea - Opening up the men's side of the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships today, Ji Guohua (China) wasted no time showing why there is upward pressure on the lifting standards in Asia.


56-kg Ji Guohua (China) starts 150 kg on its way to becoming the new Asian Youth Record in the clean and jerk. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Ji opened in the snatch with a nice 105, followed by another good lift with 116 kg. He only deadlifted 120 on his third attempt, but that was soon forgotten when the clean and jerks started.

Opening with 130, Ji made a nice lift with an especially crisp jerk, so things looked promising. On his second attempt, Ji had another good lift, 145, which set the stage for a big third attempt. Why waste time? Ji, who just turned 17 a couple of weeks ago, made a very nice 150 on his third attempt.

How many 17 year old kids can clean and jerk almost 100 kg over bodyweight?

Gunsan, Korea - Among other announcements at the Asian Weightlifting Federation Congress today, a new information technology system was described for timekeeping, the referees and the jury, along with a new scoreboard.


Asian Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Ali Moradi announced that a new information technology system for the referees and the jury will be unveiled when competition begins at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships tomorrow in Gunsan, Korea. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

The Congress had a recurrent theme of unity among the Asian nations making up what has become the powerhouse continental federation in weightlifting, and with the announcement of this new system - which will be unveiled tomorrow - the advances from the Asian continent are entering a new sphere of major influence, following on the coattails of its leading performances on the platform and its increasing prominence in the upper administrative functions of the sport.

AWF President Monico Puentevella opened and closed the Congress with a prayer for world peace, and he stressed the need to maintain efforts to establish weightlifting as a clean sport.

Set for Wroclaw, Poland on August 12, WSMSS is hosting the final qualifying event for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest.


Josh Thigpen qualified for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest with his performance at the WSMSS Mohegan Sun Grand Prix. Who will do the same in Poland next month? Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

In addition to local stars Mariusz Pudzianowski and Jarek Dymek, the field includes Sebastian Wenta, Raivis Vidzis, Mark Felix, Robert Bolin, Phil Pfister and Ralf Ber. The events have not been announced officially, but IronMind was told by a source close to the discussions that there will be eight events in the one-day competition.

One of the most popular World's Strongest Man winners, Jouko Ahola has moved easily between the roles of competitor, event/equipment designer, commentator and official - giving him an unusually broad and balanced perspective, which is part of the reason for the credibility he brings to strongman.


Jouko Ahola could afford to relax and smile: Following his 1997 World's Strongest Man victory, he had just won the 1998 World Team Championships in Holland. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

"I think the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest will be the best one ever," Jouko Ahola told IronMind, summing up his view of this year's competition. Set for September in Sanya, China, the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest begins with the advantage of having a top location, which Ahola strongly endorses. "The place is incredible," he said.

Ambience is not to be discounted, as the World's Strongest Man contest is not simply big strong guys lifting weights in a gym - it's a dramatically staged contest that combines sport and entertainment in a way that has made the show hugely popular worldwide: Among strongmen themselves, it is considered the world championships, while to the public, it's likely to be the only strongman contest they can name.

Springing from the stage of the dramatic setting will be a series of events designed to test the strength of the competitors in visually appealing ways, and while the official list of the 2006 WSM events has not yet been released, the assumption is that some of the show's signature events will be joined by some exciting new additions. And with Ahola's involvement, the smart money says to expect some big things this year.

Regardless of the exact form and mix of events, though, it seems likely that they will be designed to create the excitement that only comes when the events have a dynamic nature. In contrast to the trend in some contests toward such heavy events that there is little movement and a low percentage of the field actually demonstrates mastery, it seems likely that World's Strongest Man will follow a very different format, one that will also test strength, but in a visually arresting way that captures the audience's imagination and keeps everyone glued to competition.

Stay tuned.

Zydrunas Savickas is maintaining his momentum, as he notched another win today, with a solid victory at the IFSA Latvian Grand Prix.

Here are the top six places and points:

1. Zydrunas Savickas 73 points
2. Raimonds Bergmanis 66
3. Misha Koklyaev 63
4. Andrus Muramets 58
5. Vasyl Virastyuk 55
6. Robert Schepanski 53

IFSA's Marcel Mostert told IronMind that the contest ran very smoothly, and as is always good news, everybody emerged intact and injury-free.

MILO cover guy Phillip Pfister said that he's training hard, preparing for the WSMSS contest in Poland next month, and that he's got his eye firmly fixed on this year's World's Strongest Man contest.


MILO cover guy Phil Pfister nailed the Circus Dumbbell at the 2006 Arnold, igniting the crowd in the process. Pfister told IronMind that he considers the Arnold and World's Strongest Man to be the two top contests in the field. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Part of Mr. Pfister's special World's Strongest Man preparation involves driving from West Virginia to Columbus, Ohio once a week to train for a few hours with Nick Osborne, followed by another few-hour training session the next morning, before driving back home. Pfister sees the effort as well worth it because he's aiming to do very well at this year's World's Strongest Man contest, the top dog in the strongman world and a contest that no American has won since the great Bill Kazmaier swept it in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

"I am back to my Arnold body weight of 350," Pfister to IronMind, a high water mark for the fireman who lights up strongman like no other competitor, being such a crowd favorite that after watching him perform in St. Louis one year, IronMind's Randall Strossen dubbed to Pfister "the future mayor of St. Louis."

Looking down the road, Pfister said that he plans "to do the full WSMSS circuit next year," but for now, it's Poland, and then the 2006 World's Strongest Man contest.

"It's not about group cliques; it's about gripper handle clicks!" Grippermania founder George Champlin told IronMind, explaining the philosophy of what might be the most popular grip board on the worldwide web. Grippermania quickly exceeded the 1000-member mark and its success seems attributable to its open, constructive perspective.

Champlin thanks his board's sponsors and he said, "My staff is devoted to having a board that allows open thoughts on training and is out to promote the sport of grip. As we say it's not about group cliques; it's about gripper handle clicks! And most of all the sport itself is growing and we at Grippermania.com went out to other sport boards to promote grip strength such as MMA, Weightlifting, Arm Wrestling, etc. to show that the sport of grip was not just about closing grippers and lifting the Rolling Thunder. That's why we have had to add new sections to our board just for these people because they have come to realize how important grip strength is in their field. Our next area is to talk to Firemen about the importance of a great grip strength. I know if I am hanging from a building I want the person saving me to have the grip of a Gorilla!"

CrossFit - a potent strength and conditioning program - is doing something special in San Diego this weekend, so if you're in the area, plan to stop by.


At the 2004 Arnold, Jeff Martone casually knocked off this pull-up with an extra 96 pounds for Randall Strossen, if we are reading the good doctor's notoriously-scribbled notes correctly. Come to the CrossFit San Diego Seminar this Saturday and Sunday, and meet Jeff in person. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

San Diego CrossFit Affiliate Tony Budding said he is hosting a unique seminar at his facility this weekend - it's set up "like a tradeshow, but instead of vendors hawking wares, we'll have coaches training in their area of specialization," Budding explained. "The presenters will set up in their area and everyone will wander around as they see fit (pun intended). Participants aren't guaranteed any particular kind of training or learning, but will have access to arguably the best collection of fitness coaches in modern history."

For details, please check the CrossFit homepage:

http://www.crossfit.com/

IFSA's Marcel Mostert told IronMind that Eurosport will be broadcasting an IFSA show this Friday.

Mostert called it IFSA's "Best of 2005" and said it will be broadcast this Friday, July 14, at 7:00 pm (1900) European time, 6:00 pm (1800) GMT.

You might know him as the greatest British weightlifter in recent decades or as the expert weightlifting commentator for Eurosport, or perhaps as one of the most in-demand trainers in Cambridge, England, but now Dave Morgan is set to add another chapter to his string of accomplishments.


Shown booting up for a few light squats in the training hall at the 2006 European Weightlifting Championships, Dave Morgan - a five-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist in weightlifting - just got a book deal with Virgin. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Morgan, who is ever-open to new challenges, is in training for the Masters World Weightlifting Championships and he appears to be on track to not just win, but also to break all three world records in the 77-kg category.

Morgan is thoroughly British - with five Commonwealth gold medals in weightlifting to prove it - but you'd never know it from his many successes on the international weightlifting platform, a stage typically dominated by Eastern and Central European, as well as Asian, nations. Morgan's physical exploits are not limited to the snatch or the clean and jerk, however, as he has also distinguished himself in things ranging from dips to rowing, and he's coming off a recent round of 20-rep squats, inspired, he said, by the book SUPER SQUATS.

And talking books, Dave Morgan is on his way to joining the ranks of distinguished authors in the field as Virgin Books has signed him up to write a book that will be unique in that Morgan will make available to all the sorts of training principles used by the world's most elite athletes.

"It's for everybody, really," Morgan said. "From 25 to 80, for people who want to be their best and have a long term view. It's not just about being good when you're young, and it's not just about looking good." Not that looking isn't part of the package, though, because as Morgan points out, there are only two things that shape your body - muscle and fat - and his book shows you how to add muscle and trim fat.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Asked about Stefan Solvi Petursson, Magnus Ver Magnusson said, "He's my new secret weapon . . . him and Benedikt."


Stefan Solvi Petursson, a name to remember, on the Silver Dollar Deadlift at this weekend's IFSA Iceland's Strongest Viking contest. Incidentally, Magnus Ver Magnusson said that this Silver Dollar Deadlift starts with the bar only about two or three inches higher than a normal bar, "to make more of a lift out of it." Magnus Ver Magnusson photo.

Benedikt, of course, is Benedikt Magnusson, the prodigious deadlifter who has his sights set on pulling half a ton or so, but Stefan Solvi Petursson remained someone IronMind wanted to know more about.

Four-time World's Strongest Man winner Magnus Ver said, "Last fall, both started training with me. I was helping Benedikt get ready for the Arnold. Stefan is learning quickly, picking things up fast."

This is quite a compliment coming from the man who was known for using his brains as well as his brawn as he racked up strongman victories. "Stefan has pulled 400 kg to his knees, in a contest," Magnus Ver said, so if you are starting to understand what a phenom he is, hold on, because he is only 20 years old.

Stefan Solvi Petursson stands about 1.94 meters tall and weighs about 150 kg, Magnus Ver said. "He is fascinated with the power sports." And proving that his interest isn't purely academic, besides winning overall contest this weekend, his keg toss was a new Icelandic record, Magnus Ver said: Stefan Solvi Petersson threw the 20-kg keg 5.40 meters.

The Caledonian Club of San Francisco is once again hosting the Highland Games Heavy Events U.S. and World Championships in Pleasanton, California and Athletic Director Steve Conway is predicting a tremendous battle for top honors.


Ryan Vierra added another Highland Games World Championships title to his collection in 2005. Come to California in September and watch Ryan defend his crown. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

This year "promises to be one of the closest U.S. and World Championships yet," Conway said. "Ryan Vierra has to be looking over his shoulder at an ever improving group of U.S. athletes and a strong challenge from the International throwers."

The pro field is exceptional and here is the list of competitors who have been invited to the 2006 Highland Games Heavy Events World Championships: Harrison Bailey III, Dave Barron, Kyrylo Chupryin, Sean Betz, Larry Brock, Dave Brown, Greg Hadley, Pat Hellier, Kerry Overfelt, Joel Thiessen, and Ryan Vierra.


Sean Betz pressed Ryan Vierra every step of the way at the 2005 World Championships - watch the sparks, and everything else, fly in Pleasanton this year. Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

Labor Day weekend is the date for the showdown in Pleasanton, California - there's something for everyone, so mark your calendar and plan to be part of the fun this year. For all the details on the weekend, please check the Caledonian Club of San Francisco's official website:

http://www.caledonian.org/

Magnus Ver Magnusson reported that Stefan Solvi Petursson won the IFSA Iceland's Strongest Viking contest over the weekend.

This contest " takes three days and includes nine events in various locations in the wild nature of Iceland's West Coast," Magnus Ver Magnusson said. The top three finishers were:

1. Stefan Solvi Petursson
2. Georg Ogmundsson
3. Jon Valgeir Williams

Iceland's super deadlifter Benedikt Magnusson "had to wiithdraw from the contest due to injury," said Magnus Ver.

Once again, John Brookfield shows that an inventive mind is the key to productive training.

Looking for a novel way to build functional lower arm strength? And wouldn't it be even better if, in the Brookfield tradition, it didn't require a million-dollar piece of equipment? Then be sure to read the latest John Brookfield Grip Tip; follow the link from the IronMind homepage, or click here:

http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/export/IronMind/GripTips/griptip.html

"Yes , it was really a good and nice show!" IFSA's Marcel Mostert said, speaking of the IFSA Dutch Nationals.


World judo champion and Athens bronze medalist Dennis van der Geest presented the IFSA Dutch National Championships yesterday. Photo courtesy of Marcel Mostert.

Aided by great weather and judo star Dennis van der Geest as the presenter, "the competition was a great success," said Mostert.


Jarno Hams, shown on the Apollon's Axle, was the clear winner at the IFSA Dutch National Championships yesterday. Photo courtesy of Marcel Mostert.

With a crowd of 4,000 watching, Jarno Hams won the IFSA Dutch National Championships yesterday in Hellendoorn. Holland.

Final places and points for the top three were:

1. Jarno Hams 72 points
2. Sjaak Ruska 59
3. Tom Jansen 57.5

1980 Olympian and PWA president Butch Curry, and meet director Kevin Doherty will be leading the charge tomorrow when the PWA, for the first time ever, will be running the California State Games.

All USAW members can lift, and you can register at the meet: weigh-ins for the Senior Men B Session and Masters begin at 8:00 am and the lifting continues throughout day at Abraham Lincoln High School, 2162 24th Avenue, San Francisco.

For details, please check the official PWA announcement:

http://www.lifttilyadie.com/PWA/06StateGamesFlyer.htm

CFL and strongman fans are in for a treat tonight as Jessen Paulin and Mark Philippi will square off during halftime at the Montreal Alouettes - Hamilton Tiger-Cats game tonight in Montreal.

Hugo Girard said that about 25,000 spectators will be at tonight's game, and the two top strongmen will run through three events in about ten minutes: a super yoke, a loading event, and a car deadlift. Girard, who is promoting this event, said, "I would like to turn this into an annual event. It is a very good way to expose strongman to the public."

"It was a throwback," someone said to Rick Fowler, giving the Fourth of July St. Charles, Missouri strongman contest a huge compliment, because this is Jim Davis country, the neck of the woods where he and Cadillac Jack's gave such big name strongmen as Phil Pfister their start, and Jim's contest was like turning the clock back: a simple presentation of strongmen playing to the crowd, and everyone loved it.


Jim Davis, Dave Ostlund, Mark Philippi, Rick Fowler, Karl Gillingham and Phil Pfister get together down by the river. Photo courtesy of Rick Fowler.

Contest highlights included Dave Ostlund winning the tire flip, Mark Philippi's impressive arm-over-arm truck pull, Pfister on the stones, and Karl Gillingham winning the Conan's wheel, Fowler said.

"I really put Karl on the spot when I interviewed him in front of the crowd and he was very entertaining," Fowler said. "I asked him about his dad [Green Bay Packer great Gale Gillingham] keeping Karl and his brothers [IPF world champion Brad Gillingham and grip master Wade Gillingham] in line when they were growing up. Phil [Pfister] was outstanding with the kids, as usual."

The guys expressed how happy ther were to be back in the St. Louis area, where Jim Davis got the ball rolling, Fowler said, and for this show, there were some added dimensions, as Andy Oaker - a 2008 Olympic hopeful in the shot put - took a few throws, Brad Manion performed traditional feats of strength, IFBB pro Dr. Dean Westerfield did a posing exhibition, and Matt Steel - a driving force behind putting together this contest - played on both Monday and Tuesday.

Welcome back, Pirate!

Without missing a beat, Svend Karlsen moved from competing to his new role in strongman - and at the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix, Karlsen did double duty, assisting with both the refereeing and the presenting.


Two World's Strongest Man winners are better than one: Svend Karlsen backed up Jouko Ahola as a referee at the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix last weekend. Colin Bryce photo.

WSMSS Tour Director Jesper Albanson told IronMind how pleased everyone from World Class Events was to see Svend's career in strongman continue in this way, and The Viking won praise for assistance to Colin Bryce as a presenter, as well as for his support of Jouko Ahola as a referee.

"WSMSS Moscow was great," Colin Bryce said, "and we are looking forward to Poland on August 12th. With Jarek [Dymek] in such good shape it could be a Polish 1 and 2 on home soil." Still, don't just forward as you place your bets, because as Bryce explained, "We are lining up an amazing field of athletes, including Raivis Vidzis and Tarmo Mitt, and assuming Jesse [Marunde] doesn't run into flight difficulties (which happened in Moscow), then he will be there of course!!!"


Three-time World's Strongest Man winner Mariusz Pudzianowski, modeling a Russian Army hat, hits a double biceps pose in front of Moscow's Olympic Stadium. Colin Bryce photo.

His victory was never in doubt, but it's official now: Mariusz Pudzianowski won the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix today, continuing his roll toward the MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest later this year.

The top six finishers in this two-day contest were:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski
2. Elbrus Nigmatullin
3. Jessen Paulin
4. Kristin "Boris" Haraldsson
5. Don Pope
6. Odd Haugen

Odd Haugen said that he got off to a disastrous start today, but when the truck pull proved too heavy for most of the competitors, he was able to turn things around, winning the event and pushing himself well up in the final standings. "It helped to be slow and old," Haugen kidded. "Don Pope had a great contest," Haugen added, complimenting the guy who has proven to be a consistently tough performer at the World's Strongest Man contest.

By virtue of their places at this contest, Elbrus Nigmatullin, Jessen Paulin and Boris Haraldsson have qualified for the 2006 MET-Rx World's Strongest Man contest, joining Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jesse Marunde, Terry Hollands and Josh Thigpen - who have already qualified.

Sidelined by his injury, Jarek Dymak returned to international competition with a bang and won the World Strongmancup in Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany - the hometown of World Strongmancup Manager Martin Muhr.

Jarek Dymek "did very well," Muhr said, "but he had a big fight with Michael Starov, who is also in good shape. For Franz Beil, it was his last competition and he finished with seventh place. Dominic Filiou did 175 kg in the log, but there was a lot of space for more weight, I think."

Here are the final places:

1. Jarek Dymek
2. Michael Starov
3. Tarmo Mitt
4. Slawomir Toczek
5. Dominic Filiou
6. Antanas Abrutis
7. Franz Beil
8. Reidar Kvale
9. Terry Hollands
10. Simon Flint
11. Richard Danis
12. Ralf Ber

Continuing his string of top performances, Travis Ortmayer won "the third and final [ASC] USA qualifier," ASC/IFSA-USA President Dione Wessels told IronMind.

Geoff Dolan was second, Walt Gogola was third, Josh Thigpen was fourth and Brad Dunn was fifth. Points were 62.5, 41, 39.5, 37.5 and 35," Wessels said.

Contest promoter Chad Coy told IronMind, "Eric Hammer and Dan Harrison battled through the heat and a heavy show to come down to who wanted it the most on the stones . . . both finished all five, but Eric was a touch faster and beat Dan by a one-half point."

"Matt Metheney was on fire and crushed all comers in the pro class with two event wins and a handful of second places . . . taking home $1,400 in cash and the $2,000 dollar diamond ring!"

"We raised an additional $500 for the kids," Coy said, who had earlier explained that this meet was a fundraiser for the Heartland Ministries Kids' Program.

After the first day's competition, Mariusz Pudzianowski is leading the WSMSS Moscow Grand Prix.

Here are the top eight after the four events today:

1. Mariusz Pudzianowski
2. Elbrus Nigmatullin
3. Kristin "Boris" Haraldsson
4. Don Pope
5. Arild Haugen
6. Magnus Samuelsson
7. Jessen Paulin
8. Odd Haugen

The action continues tomorrow.