Powerlifting Meet Report

[Guest guest]

Well, the Westerns are over and done with, so the annual state of the

Hobman meet report is due. The good news is that for the 5th straight meet

going back two years there were no Hobmanizations to report. The bad news

is there wasn't much else in terms of lifting worth reporting.

Meghan had a tough day - going 5 for 9. She has been training hard for

wrestling and her weight workouts have suffered because of it, so it wasn't

entirely unexpected. We lowered her opener to 80 kgs (176 lbs) in deference

to all the running she has been doing. She made that quite nicely, but

didn't feel good so we went to 90 (198) for her second. She has made 92.5

(204) in competition, but on this day couldn't do the 90. Lifted it once,

but didn't get depth and then really sunk it and lost her balance coming

up. In the bench she opened with 47.5 (105), got it, then twice got called

for the bar not being paused at 52.5 (115). I think her and I have the same

problem. She holds the bar on her chest for a long time, but the bar is

moving slightly on her chest as she fills her lungs with air. Anyhow, she

lifted it twice and didn't get credit. Both times one white and two red.

In the deadlift she opened up with 90 (198) and blew it up. Did 102.5 (226)

for a second no problem. And then finished the meet of nicely with a

personal best 110 (243). She ended up with a total of 237.5 (524) which

wasn't a personal best, but considering the volume of endurance work she

has been doing we were happy. More important the big pull got her

enthusiastic and positive. Its always good to make that last lift. She was

a happy 15 year old and won her weight class.

I opened with 250 (551) in the squat and used my new Inzer Hardcore for the

first time. Blew the weight up, 2 reds and one white. So I took it again.

Blew it up again - two reds and one white. Depth. The Inzer was tough to

get down in. I took 250 for a third time to stay in the meet and went as

low as possible and ended up cutting my hips so bad blood was actually

flowing from the right hip. Made the lift. I figured I wasn't pushing my

butt back in the suit properly and it was driving my knees forward, making

depth difficult. Anyhow I took a 268 (591) fourth for a Canadian master

record and didn't make it. I wasn't too suprised since the hip was pretty

sore.

I opened with a fairly easy 157.5 (348) bench. Made it, took 165 (364) for

a second and got two reds. I had parked the bar on my chest long enough,

but I continue to expand my lungs on the bottom of the lift and I figure

that cost me. The bar isn't quite motionless even though it is parked on

the chest. On the third I held my breath as the bar was coming down, blew

up the 165 and got three whites. I had left a good 7.5 kilos on the bench

and even more on the squat. I was cursing myself out for using the Inzer

suit without a good break in by this time.

I opened with 250 (551) on the deadlift. Went up okay, but my right hip was

really starting to bother me. I couldn't wear my belt in the normal place

and had to loosen it off two notches so it was a pretty loose belt. I was

going to go for 265 on a second, but lowered it to 260 (574) and made that.

I tried 267.5 (590) for a third and left it on the ground.

So for the fourth meet in the last year I had a 675 (1,489) total. All of

them done a different way. Ended up 5 for 10 and a little discouraged.

Meghan and I stuck around on Sunday and helped out with the Special Olympic

meet (Meghan helped run the score table and I loaded/spotted) which put

everything back into perspective. The joy these special people have lifting

and competing inspires me to no end, so I'll be back. Time to make

adjustments in my training.

I ended up with the best total in the 100 kg class of four lifters. More

important, I beat Garry Holmen in the deadlift competition for bragging

rights. Garry has a good meet and deadlifted well, going 230 for an opener

and then 240 (530) for a second and then jumped to 262.5 (579) in a game

attempt to win the beer for deadlift. But it wasn't there. I think he had a

good 250 or 252.5 in him though.

Some good lifting. Jeff Butt edged out Steve in the 90 class and

between them really put on a show. Jimmy Hall looked very strong at 110,

but is going to have to keep training hard to catch Tom Nichols, Mark

Giffin and company in a very tough class at Nationals. Rick Marshall looked

very strong at 165. Duclos was in fine form, especially in the

deadlift. I milked both Jimmy and Rick for all the advice I could get -

they had some good ideas which should help. There was also a lot of women

lifting, so Meghan was happy.

Had a great time at the social Saturday night. Lawrence Nystrom was really

entertaining at the social - the antics he and Roland Minute got into were

priceless. I was in good company for humour with Holmen, Marshall,

and Merriman around. Later I had a good talk with Jimmy Hall, but left

fairly early in the evening. Sunday was Special Olympic day and it was

great.

As usual, Jeff Butt and Wayne Cormier put on a great meet for the lifters.

Judging was strict and impartial - all you can ask from a judge. It was a

lot of fun.

Hobman

Saskatoon, Canada

Grip it and rip it!