September 2014
Masters World Championships 2014, Invnerness Scotland
These championships had everything that's good about our sport: tight contests, drama, excitement and a great atmosphere!
Four athletes, Tommy de Bruijn, Wulbert Stam, Wybe Zeilstra and Godfried Kleinmeijer, from the "Highland Games Federatie" Netherlands and Belgium competed in this major event.
The action on and around the field, for the competition was as good as at many of the previous editions of MWC. Only the number of spectators were very small in comparison to such a big event. The first thing I would like to see is an announcer who explains events to the spectators. The second improvement could be an electronic scoreboard so spectators, and the athletes, can directly see the results. I believe this would make the sport more transparent and interesting to the general public. A good sponsor can provide in this kind of facility.
Every age class delivered a great champion and in many classes there was a fierce fight for the medals. A total of 157 athletes from all over the world gave everything they had.
An epic battle in the 40-44 age class was between former World Champion Michael Dickens (USA) and giant Tommy de Bruijn (Belgium). Tommy won the WOB, and tried for the World record. This day this height was too much....
Last event was the caber and this event should decide, both athletes had the same subtotal of points. Michael was loaded with adrenalin and did some inhuman caber tosses. Finally he won his second MWC title, the first one was in Canada in 2011.
After the smoke has cleared all three medal bearers were satisfied with their final placings. Tommy announced to compete for the title again in the US next year. Results: Michael Dickens (1st place) - Tommy de Bruijn (2nd place) and Mark Wechter (3d place). Mark impressed with the WOB and after the contest with the Inverness Stone, 252 lbs (114.5Kg) over a 5 foot bar without touching any body part with the bar equipment. He did 3 reps, great strength! Dutch athlete Wulbert Stam, one of the bigger athletes on the field, had a No Throw with the Light Weight for Distance. This cost him valuable points and he dropped to 11th place in the final results.
The statistics tell us that there were not many world records broken, at least not with weight for distance events. The Bught Park was uneven in some areas so for some events you had to throw uphill. This also applies for the hammer events as well.
The next age class was the 45-49 where Dutch (or should we say Frisian) Wybe Zeilstra was competing. Wybe did an outstanding job and placed 8th. In the process he defeated MWC Champion 2010, Shawn Baker and former 'Strongest Man in the World' competitor Jamie Barr. German athlete Andy Deuschle impressed everyone with his sheer power! He was runnerup to old (2009) and new World Champion Jason Young. Andy is already unbeatable with the the heavy and open stone. He manages to improve every year with the other events and in the future he will be the top contender to beat. Australian Graig Reid took third place in this class. He impressed with hammer and throwing events.
The third competitor from the Netherlands was Godfried Kleinmeijer. This was his second MWC. In 2011 he placed 6th in Canada. He managed to throw a personal best with the Heavy Weight for Distance, but due to an shoulder problem, he could not give his best, especially with the stones. Nevertheless he was satisfied with his 13th place. Next year he will compete in the 55-59 age class. The title went to highland games great Alistair Gunn from Scotland with legend Mark MacDonald, also from Scotland, settling for second place. American Dale Gehman took a solid, well deserved third place. Swiss athlete Alf Grasnick impressed with the heavy stone and German athlete Juergen Stickelbrock took 6th place and was ecstatic, he did not expect this excellent result a few months after his shoulder operation! Todd Turnbull, the winsome Canadian athlete, had a muscle attachment problem and was forced out of competition. Get well, Todd!
In the age class 55-59 German star Hans-Dieter Dorow dominated the competition, winning 7 out of 8 events. He forced former 3-times World Champion Al Stagner in 3d place. Next year Al will come back and give it another shot. Rick Kramer from Illinois took this year 2nd place.
Frank Henry (1st place) stopped Bill Leffler (3d place) from winning his 9th world title in the 60-64 age class! Frank did win the MWC title in 2007 and 2008 already. Frank Buchanan took second place. He also won MWC in 2013 and 2006.
For all other classes see results on SMAI
In the evening of the last day the event was completed with the successful new Guinness world record caber tossing (most people tossing cabers simultaneously)!
A big thanks to Gerry Reynolds and Kevin Rogers for giving the athletes a platform to express themselves!.
Masters World Championships 2014, Invnerness Scotland
These championships had everything that's good about our sport: tight contests, drama, excitement and a great atmosphere!
Four athletes, Tommy de Bruijn, Wulbert Stam, Wybe Zeilstra and Godfried Kleinmeijer, from the "Highland Games Federatie" Netherlands and Belgium competed in this major event.
The action on and around the field, for the competition was as good as at many of the previous editions of MWC. Only the number of spectators were very small in comparison to such a big event. The first thing I would like to see is an announcer who explains events to the spectators. The second improvement could be an electronic scoreboard so spectators, and the athletes, can directly see the results. I believe this would make the sport more transparent and interesting to the general public. A good sponsor can provide in this kind of facility.
Every age class delivered a great champion and in many classes there was a fierce fight for the medals. A total of 157 athletes from all over the world gave everything they had.
An epic battle in the 40-44 age class was between former World Champion Michael Dickens (USA) and giant Tommy de Bruijn (Belgium). Tommy won the WOB, and tried for the World record. This day this height was too much....
Last event was the caber and this event should decide, both athletes had the same subtotal of points. Michael was loaded with adrenalin and did some inhuman caber tosses. Finally he won his second MWC title, the first one was in Canada in 2011.
After the smoke has cleared all three medal bearers were satisfied with their final placings. Tommy announced to compete for the title again in the US next year. Results: Michael Dickens (1st place) - Tommy de Bruijn (2nd place) and Mark Wechter (3d place). Mark impressed with the WOB and after the contest with the Inverness Stone, 252 lbs (114.5Kg) over a 5 foot bar without touching any body part with the bar equipment. He did 3 reps, great strength! Dutch athlete Wulbert Stam, one of the bigger athletes on the field, had a No Throw with the Light Weight for Distance. This cost him valuable points and he dropped to 11th place in the final results.
The statistics tell us that there were not many world records broken, at least not with weight for distance events. The Bught Park was uneven in some areas so for some events you had to throw uphill. This also applies for the hammer events as well.
The next age class was the 45-49 where Dutch (or should we say Frisian) Wybe Zeilstra was competing. Wybe did an outstanding job and placed 8th. In the process he defeated MWC Champion 2010, Shawn Baker and former 'Strongest Man in the World' competitor Jamie Barr. German athlete Andy Deuschle impressed everyone with his sheer power! He was runnerup to old (2009) and new World Champion Jason Young. Andy is already unbeatable with the the heavy and open stone. He manages to improve every year with the other events and in the future he will be the top contender to beat. Australian Graig Reid took third place in this class. He impressed with hammer and throwing events.
The third competitor from the Netherlands was Godfried Kleinmeijer. This was his second MWC. In 2011 he placed 6th in Canada. He managed to throw a personal best with the Heavy Weight for Distance, but due to an shoulder problem, he could not give his best, especially with the stones. Nevertheless he was satisfied with his 13th place. Next year he will compete in the 55-59 age class. The title went to highland games great Alistair Gunn from Scotland with legend Mark MacDonald, also from Scotland, settling for second place. American Dale Gehman took a solid, well deserved third place. Swiss athlete Alf Grasnick impressed with the heavy stone and German athlete Juergen Stickelbrock took 6th place and was ecstatic, he did not expect this excellent result a few months after his shoulder operation! Todd Turnbull, the winsome Canadian athlete, had a muscle attachment problem and was forced out of competition. Get well, Todd!
In the age class 55-59 German star Hans-Dieter Dorow dominated the competition, winning 7 out of 8 events. He forced former 3-times World Champion Al Stagner in 3d place. Next year Al will come back and give it another shot. Rick Kramer from Illinois took this year 2nd place.
Frank Henry (1st place) stopped Bill Leffler (3d place) from winning his 9th world title in the 60-64 age class! Frank did win the MWC title in 2007 and 2008 already. Frank Buchanan took second place. He also won MWC in 2013 and 2006.
For all other classes see results on SMAI
In the evening of the last day the event was completed with the successful new Guinness world record caber tossing (most people tossing cabers simultaneously)!
A big thanks to Gerry Reynolds and Kevin Rogers for giving the athletes a platform to express themselves!.