The Strongman Champions League (SCL) opened its 2009 season in Subotica, Serbia yesterday and after a hard-fought battle with some of the world's top strongman competitors, Misha Koklyaev won top honors.


Misha Koklyaev (center) won the Strongman Champions League 2009 season opener in Serbia. SCL cofounders Marcel Mostert (left) and Ilkka Kinnunen (right) flank the man who many see as a favorite to break the world record in the Apollon's Axle™ at the Giants Live Mohegan Sun contest next weekend and possibly go on to become the first Russian to win the World's Strongest Man contest later this year. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Strongman Champions League.

Ilkka Kinnunen filed this report for IronMind®:
 

 by Ilkka Kinnunen

The season's first Strongman Champions League contest took place on Saturday (May 5) in the Serbian city of Subotica. The competition was held in one day and there were a total of 6 events.

The competition started at 3 p.m. when the sun burned over +30 degrees C [over 86 degrees F], so the hot weather made the competition for the athletes even harder, but this did not stop them from making some great performances in front of the crowd of 5,000 people.

The first event was the car pull arm-over-arm. The distance was 25 meters and the car weighed 8,000 kg. The fastest puller was Ervin Katona; second, Misha Koklyaev; third was Martin Wildaur, the 21-year-old kid from Austria in his second international strongman competition.

The second event was the weight for height, using a 25-kg metal block. The highest throw Ervin Katona, 5.40 m; second Misha Koyklajev 5.20 m; third were Andrus Murumets and Simon Sulaiman, tied at 4.60 m.

The third event was log lift for reps; the weight was 135 kg and athletes had a 60-second time limit. The top three were Ervin Katona, 9 reps, Andrus Murumets 8 reps, and Misha Koyklajev and Travis Ortmayer (tied) at 7 reps.

The fourth event was the frame carry, with a weight of 340 kg and a distance of 40 m. The top three were Andrus Murumets (24.50 sec.), Ervin Katona (27.65 sec.), and Travis Ortmayer (35.62 sec.).

The fifth event was the mill stone lift, using either a 180-kg or a 210-kg stone; the height for the bar was 136 cm. Top three were Travis Ortmayer (5 lifts with 210 kg); Misha Koyklajev (3 lifts with 210 kg); and Agris Kazelniks, Andrus Murumets and Ervin Katona (2 lifts with 210 kg). In this event Ervin Katona tore his biceps and had to stop competition and maybe even the whole season is over for him. We all wish him all the best and hope he gets well soon and back to the competition field.

The last event was the deadlift with car. Top three were Martin Wildaur (23 reps), Travis Ortmayer (20 reps) and Misha Koklyaev (19 reps).

SCL wants to thank Ervin Katona, City of Subotica, all sponsors and athletes to make this competition happen and great SCL season opened.

Overall results top 8:

1. Misha Koklyajev 55.5 points
2. Andrus Murumets 51.5 points
3. Travis Ortmayer 51.5 points
4. Ervin Katona 51 points
5. Martin Wildaur 42.5 points
6. Agris Kazelniks 26.5 points
7. Szabo Zolt 24.5 points
8. Simon Sulaiman 22.5 points