Review
This was the first time there has been a 105 KG Canadians so I think no one was sure what to expect. We had entries from NS, PQ, MB and SK. Would have been nice to have more entries. But what a close contest. Canada will be well represented by Wayne Arnburg in China this year. We changed the order to do the truck pull first, since it looked like rain. But it never did rain. Was a very cool day, and that really made thing easier. Hugo ran the show really fast, and we did all the events together with the novice mens. (of course they used lighter weights).
Prizes
$1,000 $700 $300

Harness Truck Pull
Review
For the pull we were harnessed to the OSN truck. Also had a thick rope to the front for our hands. There was a hill in the path about 75’ in, but, never felt it. This was my best event of the day, narrowly beating Wayne and Tim. It was good to have this first, good warm up, and actually felt very light.
Rules
Harness Pull with rope assist for 100 feet 90 sec time limit, weight TBD.

Farmers Walk
Review
Farmers Walk implements were also the same as the westerns, and they were long. To me, they did not feel like 275 lbs, but not sure. I did walk slow enough for them to be 275, but never dropped. JP and Wayne had a great head to head race in this one, with JP taking it. Tim made a fast run, with one drop, still making third place. I found the turn to be easier then expected, and the grip and feel of the implements was very good.
Rules
Farmers Walk 200 feet, 275lbs, one turn fastest itime or furthest distance (max 90 sec time limit)

Log Press
Review
We used the same log as at the westerns, really nice log, 210 lbs or so empty. Very solid..that is…until Wayne got a hold of it! JP easily won this event, as we had expected him to. Very interesting technique, almost an incline press of the log the way he leans into it. Very cool. 2nd went to Wayne, who on his last rep, dropped it, and the end broke of. So, for me, they taped some weight plates into the end, and it held. Did not feel that bad, but mentally really bugged me. It looked so weird with one end short. I messed up in this one, was pacing myself for 1:30, had not heard that the time was changed to only 1 minute.
Rules
225lb log press for reps in 90 sec, each rep will start from the ground athletes must keep one hand in contact with the log at all times.

Power Stairs
Review
We had some new power stairs made for this contest. Five 12” steps, pretty deep. The implements were taller as they got heavier. Most of us had a tough time getting the 425 high enough to put on the next step. Wayne was impressive in this one (though, Vern in the novice was even more impressive!) easily completing it. Lucky for me, I saw John’s technique of putting one foot on the next step and then lifting it up, or I could not have got second place. JP and Tim tied for 3rd. Really need to get me some shoes like JP had. The weight actually did not feel heavy to me…just hard to get the height needed.
Rules
Each competitor will be required to go up five stairs with three duckwalk implements of increasing weight, fastest time or most stairs completed in 2 minutes wins: (325lb, 375lb, 425lb)

Hercules Hold
Review
For the Hercules hold we used the same apparatus as the westerns. Also with 270 lbs per column. This time the tape lasted! Tim blew everyone away, ripping his hands up in the process. I think he had to get stitches after this one. I like this event, but was unable to hold as long as Tim. Wayne took third, looked like he was swaying back and forth a lot, and I think that threw him off. The others all struggled to get a good hold of the start. You really had to keep your center and balance in this one.
Rules
Hercules hold for time, weight TBD.

Medley
Review
The medley was disappointing to me. The tire (usually a strong event for me) was very light. I could have flipped it with one hand. Maybe 600lbs. Then, the yoke, 810lbs. was set at Johns height, and we all lifted from there. So….it was low. Very low. Most of us hardly moved it. I have done 910 for a few steps, and that was easier then this. I had to use a wide stance to get it off the ground, and then could not keep it up and bring my legs together to walk. John took the win here. In retrospect, we should have adjusted it for each competitor, even if it would have slowed things down. Oh well. Coming into this event I needed 3 points on Wayne, which meant, I needed to win, and he to more or less lose. It was not to be!
Rules
2 Flips of a 800 lb tire, 750lb super yoke, load 2 275 lb kegs onto a 54 inch platform, 2 minute time limit