Suraj Shewdas dead lifts
Berbicians were given a treat when the Guyana Amateur Power lifting Federation (GAPLF) on Sunday successfully held their annual National Novices and Junior Championships at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) Auditorium.
The competition which culminated during the night attracted a large field of lifters which was dubbed the largest ever at such an event. Some 38 lifters representing 10 gyms, some taking part for the first time participated in the event. For the first time four females also participated.
Several of the debutants made an immediate impression and cast a spell on the judges and officials in their quest to impress.
The outstanding performers were Marino Jeffery of the Power Gym participating in the male novice category and competing in the 93 kg class who was declared the overall best lifter. In his display he squatted 272kg, bench press 167kg and dead lift 227kg for an over total of 667.5kg and 426.132points on the Wilks scoring system.
Vijai Rahim of the Hard Core Gym of Rosignol was in excellent form. The 21 year old competing in the 66kg class Squatted 245 kg, bench pressed 125 kg and dead lifted 250 kg to come out tops in the 66kg category. He had a total of 620kgs with 524.024 points on the Wilks scoring system to be one of the top lifters on the day.
Mustapha Rohoman of the Total Fitness Gym of Corriverton competing in the male junior and open category equaled the Pan American Junior Powerlifting record with a lift of 237.5 kg in the dead lift segment. Colin “Mr. Clean” Chesney campaigning in the male open 120kg weight class was also in good form. He squatted 292 kg, bench press182.5kg and dead lift 285kg for a total of760 kg and a score of 442.320 on the Wilks scoring sheet.
Also outstanding were the Shewdas brothers Gumendra Shewdas and Suraj Shewdas, Fabian Ketwaroo, Randolph Blackman, Leon Rupertie, Donnell Perry, Rayan Anderson, Darren Ramoutar and Osmond Mack.
The top female novice lifter on show was Natoya Robinson also of Fitness Revolution Gym. She squatted 150 kg; bench pressed 57.5 kg and dead lifted 175 kg to gain a total 311.431 using the Wilks point’s calculation system.
Speaking at the end of the activity President of the GAPLF Peter Green congratulated all those who participated and had special words of commendation for the winners, especially those who were outstanding. He was also encouraged with the turnout of first timers and noted for the first time that four females also participated.
He was particularly impressed with the large turnout and noted that it was a good sign for things to come and thanked the gyms for the work that they have been doing. Green also stated that some of the top performers from the day’s activity will be assessed with an aim of determining whether they could be included in the team to represent Guyana in June at the Pan American National Championships. Other activities on the association’s programme are the intermediate championship in June and the senior competition set for later in the year.
Female lifter Natoya Robinson going through her paces.
This was the third year in succession that the activity was held in Berbice, but the first time in a long time in New Amsterdam.
Trophies and other incentives were presented to the top performers with national female and world champion Dawn Barker doing the honours. The Shewdas brothers and Fabian Ketwaroo, all of the Total Fitness Gym which is coached by Egbert Jackson, have already been selected for possible participation in the upcoming North America Power Lifting Championships, the Caribbean Power Lifting Championships and the Pan American power lifting Championships all slated to be held during the month of July in the USA.
The coordinator of the activity was PRO and organizing Secretary Denny Livan.
BY KAIETEUR NEWS | By Samuel Whyte