We hope to produce more world champs in 2013 – Green
By Avenash Ramzan
- ‘Big’ John Edwards
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) has recorded a successful 2012, but according to president of the Federation, Peter Green, there is still room for improvement, as he and his executives charter a new course for the sport in 2013.
In giving a detailed review of the past 12 months, a candid Green said the sport was able to achieve many of its goals, despite limited financing.
Among the highlights, Green pointed out, was the fact Guyana became known in the world of powerlifting with several exemplary performances at various international meets.
“To start with we fielded a full strength team to the IPF/ NAPF 2012 Caribbean Men’s Team Championship. We were able to expose various athletes, ranging from sub-junior or Under-18 to Masters or Over-40, to international events, ranging from the Caribbean level to the world level with varying success,” Green said.
“Guyana was able to gain from the resulting exposure, bringing greater visibility to the country. Our lifters were able to elevate themselves and the country on the international stage with outstanding performances.”
Successes
- Dawn Barker
Guyana’s leading female lifter, Dawn Barker of Linden, was among the top performers of the year, maintaining her position as the Caribbean 84+ kg Open champion and squat record holder, as well as emerging as best lifter overall at the Caribbean Championship.
A knee injury in the latter part of the 2012 ended her campaign early, but she ended the year with a creditable World Open ranking of 15. Barker’s compatriot, Kimberley Mars Loncke copped silver in the 84kg class at the Caribbean and ended the year ranked 36th.
While the females did their bit, it was the male lifters who brought Guyana tremendous glory in 2012.
The likes of Gumendra Shewdas, Vijai Rahim, Winston Stoby, Paul Adams, Anis Ade Thomas, Randolph Morgan, Karel Mars and ‘Big’ John Edwards all made their representation of the Golden Arrowhead count, returning with prestigious medals from a variety of competitions.
At the Caribbean Powerlifting Championships in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March, Guyana copped eight gold medals and two silvers.
Rahim (59kg Class) and Stoby (74kg Class) won two gold medals each, while Barker (84+ kg Class), Thomas (83kg Class), Shewdas (53kg Class) and Morgan (83kg Class) added one apiece. The silver medallists were Kimberley Mars (84kg Class) and Adams (74kg Class).
Such was the dominance of the Guyanese that all gold medallists either erased or equaled the existing records prior to the start of the championships.
- GAPF president Peter Green
The phenomenal Barker broke her Caribbean record set in 2011 of 540kgs, squatting 240kg (old 227.5kg) and deadlift of 195kgs (old 182.5kg) for new record of 550kg.
Rahim erased the 490kg mark in the Men’s Junior category, totaling 507.5kg, and broke the deadlift record of 210kg in the Men’s Open, by lifting 225kg on his way to gold.
Stoby set new records for squat (242.5kg), bench press (137.5kg), and deadlift (265.5kg) for a grand total of 645.5kg in the Men’s Masters M2. The deadlift of 265.5kg is a world record, making him Guyana and the Caribbean’s first-ever world record holder in any category.
He also equaled the squat record of 242.5kg, set a new deadlift record of 265.5kg (old 250kg) for a total of 637.5kg (old 645.5kg) in the Men’s Open.
In the Men’s Junior division, Thomas broke his own record of squat 252.5kg (old 242.5kg) and deadlift 292.5kg (old 275kg) for a total of 665kg (old 630kg).
Morgan, competing in the Men’s Open, also broke his own record with new bench press of 220kg (old 215kg), deadlift 320kg (old 295kg) and total 835kg (old 807.5kg) At the World Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas, from October 2- 9th, Stoby broke new grounds, becoming Guyana’s first- ever world champion in the sport.
- Veteran Winston Stoby became Guyana’s first world champion in powerlifting in 2012
Competing in the 74kg M2 category, the 53-year-old Stoby copped gold and broke the world record in the deadlift; collected gold in the squat and bronze in the bench press.
He lifted 225kg in the squat; 140kg in the bench press and a stunning 272kg in the deadlift, after entering as the number one ranked lifter in his group.
At the World Open Championship in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, from October 29 to November 4, Morgan created history by becoming deadlift champion in the 83kg division, finishing the year ranked 10th.
Edwards also attended that South American Championship in the last quarter of the year, and copped gold in the 120kg Masters M1 category, as well as breaking the South American record in the bench press.
He, along with Edwin Spencer, also passed their examinations, becoming internationally certified Category II Referees.
Locally, the GAPF staged five championships: the National Novices, Intermediates, Juniors, Masters and Open Championships.
Areas of focus
While the athletes have been doing the country and the sport proud, several areas of concern still remain, according to Green.
Foremost among them is the establishment of a doping centre for the testing of athletes here. “The international governing body has given a mandate to all countries to submit results of OCT/ ICT Tests of at least five percent of all participating athletes at the national level. Sadly, we cannot afford this, as the cost is over US$ 300 per test,” Green explained.
The GAPF boss also highlighted that more seminars are needed for coaches to be brought up to speed with the technical aspects of their lifters’ techniques, while more voluntary members are needed to fulfill the various sub-committees that are required to ensure the continuous growth of the federation.
Support
- Randolph Morgan had another outstanding year
