Irish National Champs.

Venue : Thurles

Report by Brian Forbes

Irish Drug Free Powerlifting Open Championships were held in the Powerhouse Gym, Thurles on Sunday 28th February, attracting 22 strength athletes a packed venue of supporters. The contest was hosted and promoted by the Gym Manager, Mr. Pat McNamara.

The competition itself was divided into three divisions, Men's light weights (less than 75 kg), Men's heavy weights (over 75 kg) and Women's open weight. The winner of these categories was not necessarily the person who lifted the heaviest weights, but the person who lifted the heaviest weight in relation to their bodyweight (using the Schwartz and Malone Formulas). There was also a prize for the Best Overall Squat, Best Overall Bench press and Best Overall Deadlift for both men and women.

Ken Heaney was the very deserving winner of the Overall Men's Heavyweight title attaining a total of 640 kg made up of a 200 kg squat, 180 kg Bench press and 260 kg deadlift. The 180 kg Bench press (which was more than twice his bodyweight) also won him the best male Bench press of the day award. In second place in the heavyweight category was Richie Penkard from Waterford, with an impressive 697.5 kg total. But Declan McGrath from Galway came 3rd in this division with his total of 580 kg (225 squat, 135 Bench press and 220 deadlift).

In spite of difficulties with his powerlifting suit, Eddy 0'Brien of Gorey totalled a nice 572.5 kg, narrowly missing the 3rd place. Mike Gilligan, Galway, was also unlucky. Although making a 640 kg total his heavier bodyweight meant that the calculations on the weight he lifted in relation to his bodyweight just kept him out of the medals. Mick McCarey, an IDFPA member resident in Britain who had travelled specially for the contest, made a confident total of 595 kg at a body weight of 102 kg. Close on his heels in the points race, Tom Hurley weighing 85.5 kg made an easy total of 450 kg, and will lift much more in next contest. Nickey Carrol, selecting his attempts carefully, was repaid with his total of 470 kg. Brendan Hickey was strong on all his attempts, getting nine out of nine successfiil lifts, and will see himself increasing his total next time. Recovering from injuries, the Powerhouse Gym duo Pat McNamara and Andy Fogerty were not deterred from attempting some serious weights. Pat "blew away" a strong 170 kg squat and 200 kg deadlift without any problems. Andy brought down the packed house with his last 240 kg deadlift. Big Des Daly (145 kg) also thrilled the crowd with his easy bench of 170 kg.

In the Men's lightweight division, the Overall Winner was Tommy Colfer from Waterford. At a body weight of only 75 kg he lifted a 622.5 kg total and also won best Squat award. Shane Heaney took 2nd place with a total of 505 kg and Trevor Coen (both from Galway) taking 3rd place with a total of 540 kg and a personal best lift achieved in all three lifts. In addition, Trevor won the Best male deadlift of the day with his 240 kg lift at a bodyweight of 70 kg.

Alan Finn, Gorey, lifted with a professional style, getting eight of his nine lifts. Demonstrating serious focus and aggression on his last deadlift, he pulled a successful 142.5 kg (over two and a half times his body weight of 55 kg). John Fogerty and Tom Corcoran of Thurles lifted well and were not deterred by some strict refereeing. They will easily total more in their next contest. Tom Dwyer, was unlucky in his squats, but not to be out done by his club mates, still pressed on to get a respectable total.

The women were the real crowd stoppers of the day. Best Female Lifter title, was won by Maureen McNamara from Thurles. Maureen, taking her first contest, chose all her attempts with care and performed them with concentration. Lifting without powerlifting suit or knee wraps, she set a good total of 215 kg, and is capable of much more. She undoubtedly has a strong contest career ahead of her.

Anita Mahony from Galway, a bench press specialist, took the Best Female Bench press of the day award with a lift of 105 kg, which added 2.5 kg to her Irish record set in November 1998. This was heavier than that lifted by almost half of the men that day. She also won the Best Female Deadlift of the day with a lift of 135 kg which was a surprise since she hadn't even trained for this discipline and just entered it at the last minute. She is quite possibly the strongest drug free women lifter in Europe, and may choose to demonstrate this in Antwerp next September at the WDFPF Single Lift Championships. Mary Fell startled all by the strength and ease of her attempts. Her real prowess will be seen in a bigger total in her next contest.

The trophies were presented by Gerry 0' Dwyer, the Irish Bodybuilding Champion, who trains at the Powerhouse Gym.

In keeping with the association's anti-drug policy, two athletes were drug tested by the

Drug Control Officer, Mark Lacy, and witnessed by Brian Forbes. These were Declan McGrath, Galway, and Tom Colfer, Waterford. Both results were negative.

Special thanks are due to Pat McNamara for arranging the contest. Several Powerhouse Gym members acted as loaders, and "spotted" the lifters to ensure safe lifting. Thanks are well deserved by Gerry 0' Dwyer, Richard Kennedy, Tom Murphy, and Daniel Troy.

Return to results listings page