I traveled down to Shreveport, Louisiana via Baton Rouge and Matt Vincent’s home for the Shreveport Highlander. What drove me to this highlander was the inclusion of an Elite division and the opportunity to compete against some of the best highland games/strength athletes around. (L to R) Scott Stefan, Matt Vincent, Andy Vincent, Mark Cummings, Andrew Durniat, Mark Cristina, Tom Emelander, Ross Love
The events were:
1) 135 lbs. open stone for distance
2) Walk, walk, drag – Farmers walk 220 lbs. each hand for 80 ft., come back walk 310 lbs. each hand for 80 ft., come back and drag a 450 lbs. chain for 80 ft.
3) Braemar stone – 25 lbs.
4) Overhead press medley, everything from 170 lbs. to 323 lbs.
5) 56 lbs. weight for distance
6) 555 lbs. axle deadlift for reps
Here is the video of my events
I managed 4th place overall. An excellent placing in this group of athletes and myself being 50 lbs. lighter than the next lightest, Matt Vincent at 280 lbs., everyone else was over 300 lbs.
The local news was on hand and did a great bit for the evening news.
Here is the link:
http://www.ktbs.com/video/27274653/index.html
Mark your calenders as Saturday, June 4, 2011 will be yet another Durniat Strength Grip Challenge competition. Grip training and grip sport competitions are growing in popularity, and the first event here was a huge success with 10 competitors and over 40 spectators. You do not want to mess out on this next one.
This competition will again be geared towards the novice lifter. However, it will be an open competition, allowing veterans to compete who still need to qualify for the US National Grip Championships on July 16, 2011.
Weight Classes will be in effect: Heavy Weight: >94kg (above 206.8 lbs.), Light Weight: <94kg (under 206.8 lbs.) and a Women’s Class.
Events will be:
1) Maximum Parallel Set Grippers
2) Maximum 2 Hands Pinch Deadlift– euro device
3) Maximum Double Overhand Axle Deadlift
4) Medley, a random selection of 25 objects to be deadlifted in 4 minutes time.
5) Wrist Roller from a tower
4 attempts will be allowed for the Grippers, 2 Hands Pinch and Axle Deadlift.
Prize packages will be awarded to the top 3 competitors of each class.
Sign up now. Here is the GripEntry
It was another big weekend of grip strength for Durniat Strength. I won 2nd place overall at this years Arnold Classic Mighty Mitts competition in front of a packed expo hall of 30,000. Rich Williams with Jowett anvil Tex Henderson with Sorin Monster Barbell
I competed in 2010 and finished in the middle of the pack. This year, I came into the competition stronger and fresh off another 2nd place finish at the Los Angeles FitExpo where I overcame professional strongmen; Odd Haugen, Louis-Philippe Jean, Josh Thigpen, Jerry Prichett and getting event wins over Mark Felix.
I’m the 230 lbs. man in the land of 300+ lbs. giants.
Rich Williams was last years victor, followed closely by his good friend Tex Henderson. 
I carried the 173 lbs. Jowett anvil twice the distance from the previous year to 13′ 11″ and 3rd place. The second event was Sorin’s Monster barbell, 2″ diameter and 500 lbs, to be deadlifted double overhand for reps. Last year I failed to complete a full rep, this year I achieved 2 solid reps and finished day one in 3rd place overall.
Here is the points breakdown after day one:
Rich Williams – 14
Tex Henderson – 12
Andrew Durniat – 9
Odd Haugen – 8
Ross Love – 5
Chad Woodall – 4.5
Wade Gillingham – 3.5
I felt good about day two’s events and was driven to get an event win over Tex or Rich. My first chance was with the Inch DB walk. I now have one at the gym and felt confident carrying it.
I carried that dumbbell 147 feet, a earned my event win over Tex. Ross Love also carried the Inch db farther than Tex which helped tighten up our points. Heading into the final event of the weekend, Tex had 16 with myself at 15. This was it, one event to go and I had an opportunity.
I took it and ran, literally.
With a 4″ pinch block dragging a 350 lbs. sled across the stage in a time of 6.63 seconds. The pressure was now on Tex to beat my time. He gave it his all, but stumbled and fell.
Here are the final points totals:
Rich Williams – 28
Andrew Durniat – 21
Tex Henderson – 18
Ross Love – 13
Odd Haugen – 12
Wade Gillingham – 10.5
Chad Woodall – 9.5
Thank you to all who came, cheered and pushed me to do better.
Time to get back to training. There is no limit, only STRONGER.
