Andrew

Grip Strength Challenge A Huge Success

Jun 102011

On June 4 we held the second Durniat Strength Grip Challenge and it was a huge success with 15 total competitors and 30+ spectators. I’m proud to say we had the largest woman’s class to date in grip sport history with 5 women competing. I hope to see more women compete in the future. The men were split into two groups; open and novice. We had 3 experienced competitors in the open event and 7 in the novice class honing their skills.

Mary Ann MacKeague

The day started off at 10am with the grippers for max weight. Mary Ann MacKeague won the woman’s with a close of 64 lbs. The men’s field was filled with many personal records (PRs), with Bryan Gallagher, Malcolm Majesky and Tood Coenen all closing their first #3 gripper, a notable feat in the grip world.

Andrew Durniat

The 2 Hands Pinch event was next and again PRs were broken by many. Three women broke the 100 lbs. barrier, Abby Kascandi and Amber Ingles with lifts of 101.12 lbs and Mary Ann MacKeague with a strong 107.08. The men’s lifts were highlighted by Brandon Gerber who at 175lbs. bodyweight, hoisted up a solid 193.38 lbs.. A world class feat of pinch strength at his bodyweight and age, he’s 17. WOW!!

Jobe Stutzman

Pizza was delivered and we took a short break in the action for the competitors and fans to fuel their bodies. With energy replenished we continued on with the Double Overhand Axle Deadlift. Abby Kascandi dominated the woman’s class with a lift of 184.42 lbs. On the men’s side it was Abby’s boyfriend Malcolm who came in strong for the novice class with a lift of 356.38 a new PR for him yet again. Personally, I was able to lift a smooth 422.52 lbs. but was disappointed with my misses at 455.59 lbs., not my best day on the axle.

Brent Barbe

The Medley was our 4th event and is one of the most exciting events to watch and partake in. The men’s medley had 35 objects and the woman’s had 27 objects to be lifted. I lifted all objects and was followed by Brent Barbe with 30 and Malcolm Majesky with 28, Matt Massaro and Todd Coenen both finished with 25 each. Abby Kascandi flew through the woman’s medley with 25 objects and was followed closely by Mary Ann MacKeague with 24 and Amber Ingles with 23.

Brent Barbe

The final event for the day was the Wrist Roller. For this event I had specially fabricated 2″ roller assembly that affixed to the top of my Sorinex BaseCamp power racks. I then attached lifting chain that would gradually be lifted as the athlete performed the wrist roll while standing on top. A total of 160 lbs. of chain was used for the men and 100 lbs. of chain was used for the woman. Todd Coenen won the men’s event with a time of 22.06 seconds, he was followed by Andrew Pantke at 22.69 seconds. In the woman’s event, top honors again went to Abby Kascandi followed by Mary Ann MacKeague and Amber Ingles.

Here are the final standings after is was all said and done:

Open Class:
1st: Andrew Durniat
2nd: Brent Barbe
3rd: Todd Coenen

Novice Class:
1st: Malcolm Majesky
2nd: Matt Massaro
3rd: Bryan Gallagher
4th: Brandon Gerber
5th: Andrew Pantke
6th: Keifer Pantke
7th: Jobe Stutzman

Woman’s Class:
1st: Abby Kascandi
2nd: Mary Ann MacKeague
3rd: Amber Ingles
4th: Kyle Barnes
5th: Katie Pantke

It was a great day for all. I hope join us for the next event.

Bryan Gallagher, Nick Pivato, Brandon Gerber (L to R)

Jobe Stutzman, Matt Massaro (L to R)

All About Scheduling

Competition Wrap Up, Events, Grip Strength No Responses »

May 192011

It was a good day to lift this past Saturday, May 14 while in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was here at the Atomic Athletic Olde Time Strongman Picnic and US All-Round Weightlifting Association (USAWA) meet that I set the single arm deadlift record. My lift of 235.5kg (518.1 lbs.) on my left arm bested Steve Angell of Britain previous record of 219kg (479.6 lbs.).

Here is a video of the lift:

The running joke at the Durniat household leading up this event was; ‘there’s my problem, I just didn’t have a world record scheduled on my calender.’ You see, when Atomic Athletic approached me about this event, they did so asking me to break a world record. I then put a plan together and executed it perfectly.

The next time a challenge is presented to you, just schedule it in writing on your calender. Put together a plan and take action. You’ll be setting records in no time.

I also received some local Toledo, Ohio news coverage as well. I met with Joe Rychnovsky of Fox News Toledo to educate him in the ways of strength. Here is the video:

Rychnovsky Recap May 15: foxtoledo.com

Atomic Athletic Olde Time Strongman Picnic

Events, Upcoming Events 4 Responses »

May 052011

Saturday, May 14 in Bowling Green, Ohio is again the location of the Atomic Athletic Great Black Swamp Olde Time Strongman Picnic. This is the 5th year for the picnic and it stands to be the best one yet.

Old time strongmen and martial artists will perform amazing feats of strength and dexterity at the new Atomic Athletic building in Bowling Green, OH from 1PM to 6PM. No where else have you seen performances like this! Not since the Bob Hoffman Birthday Picnics at the old York Barbell has anyone seen a classic picnic like at Atomic Athletic.

There will be a Kettlebell Sport mini-clinic, performers bending steel and rolling up frying pans with there bare hands. Martial Arts demonstrations and booths, Indian clubs, circus performers, barbell and kettlebell juggling. The feats of strength will continue all day.

This year, Roger LaPointe, owner of Atomic Athletic has added a sanctioned USAWA record breakers meet. Two lifts will be contested; One Hand Barbell Deadlift and the Clean and Push Press.

I will be going after the One Hand Barbell Deadlift Record of 475 lbs. Training has been good, so if you have the day free, come to Bowling Green, Ohio and cheer everyone to big lifts. I feel 500+ lbs. will be lifted.

Location:
Progress Industrial Park
500 Lehman Ave.
Bowling Green, OH 43402