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Home News Official Strongman Games European Championships 17th – 18th August 2024

22 August, 2024
8 minutes

Official Strongman Games European Championships 17th – 18th August 2024

11 Euro Champions Crowned After Two Days of Action in York

The 2024 OSG European Championships came to a thrilling finale on Sunday afternoon at the York Barbican. With 11 divisions completing five events, the two-day contest was non-stop action, with many of the classes going to the wire, and the eventual winners decided from the final event.

139 athletes from across 17 nations lined up on Saturday morning to open the contest which was livestreamed via Official Strongman. On Day 1, three events were contested: Event 1 was the Axle Deadlift for maximum repetitions, after which the competitors moved to the Farmer’s Walk and finished with a gruelling Sandbag Over Bar. Day 2 began with Circus Dumbbell for maximum reps and then concluded with a three-implement Loading Medley, which produced more than its share of thrills and spills.

As well as the OSG European Title, the athletes were also fighting for their share of $55k in prize money, split over the 11 divisions. In addition, the top three finishers from each class would receive invites to the Official Strongman Games, later this year.

Women’s U64kg

Getting the competition underway was the Women’s U64kg category and 13 women lined up to contest this division. In the absence of Rhianon Lovelace, England’s Kate Connolly was able to dominate this group and she shared the win in the day’s opening event, Axle Deadlift, with Italy’s Alessandra Menaglio; both athletes achieving 10-reps. Shannon Smith, the 2021 U64kg World’s Strongest Woman pipped Connolly for the heat win in the Farmer’s Walk, but it was Norway’s Andrine Helgesen who took the event win. Smith and Connolly ended the day as they had started, sharing maximum points after the Sandbag Over Bar with 10-reps each.

On Day 2, Connolly extended her lead with 6-reps in the 40kg Circus Dumbbell. Smith, Harvey and England’s Scarlett Harvey had a three-way tie for 2nd, giving Connolly a comfortable lead going into the Loading Medley. Helgesen too her second win, but Kate’s 2nd place sealed a comfortable victory and she looked delighted to claim her first European title. Smith took 2nd, some 6.5 points adrift, with Helgesen 3rd.

Women’s U64kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 170kg	Farmer’s Walk 80kg	Sandbag Over Bar 75kg	Circus Dumbbell 40kg	Loading Medley 75kg Tyre, 60kg Keg, 75kg Sandbag	Total Points
13	Melanie Cuff	Wales	4 reps	0m 61cm	5 loads	0	1 load – 31.1sec	11.5
12	Charlotte Leandri-Hayden	Scotland	2 reps	21m 4cm	8 loads	0	1 load – 36.54sec	15
11	Emma Wilson	England	2 reps	28m 24cm	7 loads	0	1 load – 22.47sec	17.5
10	Nicole Aston	England	0	32m – 57.76sec	7 loads	0	2 loads – 36.03sec	19
9	Elizabeth Guild	Scotland	3 reps	22m 93cm	8 loads	0	2 loads – 39.75sec	23
8	Tiffany Peters	England	8 reps	19m 84cm	6 loads	1 rep	1 load – 12.98sec	27.5
7	Tatiana Cousins	Slovakia	6 reps	23m 92cm	8 loads	0	3 loads – 54.66sec	31.5
6	Bronwen Price	England	3 reps	32m – 52.19sec	7 loads	1 rep	2 loads – 42.85sec	33
5	Scarlett Harvey	England	4 reps	24m 77cm	8 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 56.98sec	40
4	Alessandra Menaglio	Italy	10 reps	32m – 57.28sec	9 loads	0	3 loads – 49.13sec	43
3	Andrine Bekken Helgesen	Norway	0	32m – 36.82sec	9 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 43.26sec	47.5
2	Shannon Smith	England	5 reps	32m – 42.82sec	10 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 50.34sec	54.5
1	Kate Connolly	England	10 reps	32m – 43.08sec	10 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 43.52sec	61

Women’s Masters 40+

There was a very closely fought battle for the podium places in the Women’s Masters. Three athletes were left battling for second and third as England’s Naomi Hadley built a commanding lead following dominant displays in all of the first day’s events. Securing a win in the Axle Deadlift she was pushed hard in the Farmer’s by countrywoman Michaela Pearson and finished the day with a third win in succession in the Sandbag Over Bar.

Naomi had lost out to Andrea Thompson at this event last year, and she knew that victory this time around would hinge on her result in the Circus Dumbbell – her one weakness in this year’s events. Avoiding what would have been a 6-way tie for last place, she was delighted to complete a single rep, and took a comfortable lead into the final event. Claire Myler and Andrea Seed shared the win with 5-reps each, but Michaela Pearson was able to narrowly win the Loading medley to claim second overall over Myler, with Seed just a point behind. Hadley’s 2nd place finish gave her a 4.5-point winning margin and a well-deserved European title.

Women’s Masters 40+
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 190kg	Farmer’s Walk 90kg	Sandbag Over Bar 100kg	Circus Dumbbell 50kg	Loading Medley 75kg Tyre, 70kg Keg, 75kg Sandbag	Total Points
10	Nikki Ellerington	England	3 reps	11m 32cm	1 load	0	1 load – 24.07sec	7.5
9	Jo Warburton	England	7 reps	12m 82cm	1 load	0	3 loads – 59.7sec	13.5
8	Emma Calder-Crone	England	5 reps	2m 72cm	4 loads	0	3 loads – 56.03sec	14
7	Sally Brierley	England	2 reps	32m – 36.3sec	3 loads	0	3 loads – 55.9sec	14.5
6	Kikki Berli-Johnsen	Norway	1 rep	32m – 25.67sec	5 loads	0	3 loads – 49.46sec	21
5	Meg Robson-Austin	England	4 reps	32m – 57.66sec	3 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 51.67sec	24
4	Andrea Seed	England	10 reps	32m – 32.58sec	7 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 44.72sec	39.5
3	Claire Myler	Wales	9 reps	32m – 26.4sec	7 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 38.17sec	40.5
2	Michaela Pearson	England	6 reps	32m – 25.6sec	7 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 35.96sec	40.5
1	Naomi Hadley	England	14 reps	32m – 24.48sec	8 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 36.15sec	45

Women’s U73kg

Nicola Bennett secured the European title for Scotland with a 5-point win over England’s Rosie Abercrombie and Rachel Greathead. Emulating Naomi Hadley from the Masters, Nicola won all three events on Day 1, completing 8-reps in the Axle Deadlift, finishing the 32m course in 33.90s in the Farmer’s Walk, and managing 7 loads in the Sandbag Over Bar.

On Day 2, a single rep was good enough for equal 3rd in the 50kg Circus Dumbbell, with Rachel Greathead’s 3-reps taking the win. It was the highlight of Greathead’s contest, who lost touch with Abercrombie and Bennett and was eventually 10.5-point shy of second place. Abercrombie finished in style; winning the Loading Medley in 37.45s. Bennett was second in the final event, rounding off a highly consistent performance.

Women’s U73kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 190kg	Farmer’s Walk 90kg	Sandbag Over Bar 100kg	Circus Dumbbell 50kg	Loading Medley 75kg Tyre, 70kg Keg, 75kg Sandbag	Total Points
12	Assunta Petrosino	Italy	0	0m 74cm	0	0	1 load – 23.35sec	3
11	Eliza Bull	England	0	4m 42cm	1 load	0	3 loads – 55.63sec	9.5
10	Diane Gaughan	Scotland	0	18m 34cm	2 loads	0	3 loads – 54.5sec	15.5
9	Jess Tait	England	2 reps	25m 72cm	0	0	3 loads – 49.44sec	19.5
8	Heather Holden	Scotland	4 reps	11m 95cm	4 loads	0	3 loads – 55.9sec	22
7	Emily Norley	England	7 reps		4 loads	0	3 loads – 46.07sec	27.5
6	Molly Wagstaff	England	3 reps	16m	2 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 53.75sec	31
5	Jatta Sipola	Finland	4 reps	19m 72cm	4 loads	0	3 loads – 42.65sec	32
4	Angeline Berva	France	6 reps	29m 93cm	4 loads	0	3 loads – 48.41sec	35
3	Rachael Greathead	England	2 reps	32m – 38.5sec	1 load	3 reps	3 loads – 42.12sec	41
2	Rosie Abercrombie	England	6 reps	23m 34cm	6 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 37.45sec	51.5
1	Nicola Ann Bennett	Scotland	8 reps	32m – 33.9sec	7 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 40.58sec	56.5

Women’s U82kg

Germany have dominated the U82’s at the Europeans, with Sandra Bradley beating Donna Moore to take victory in this division last year, and Sabrina Retzer, who was 6th last year, claiming the win this time. After taking a comprehensive 3-rep victory in the Axle Deadlift, Retzer was 4th in the Farmer’s Walk. England’s Emma Grunnill was the only woman to complete the 32m course with the 100kg Farmer’s implements. Retzer was back on top in the Sandbag Over Bar with 7-reps. Rebecca Worgan claimed 2nd with 6-reps, a single rep ahead of Grunnill.

Sabrina began Day 2 in terrific style with another dominant display in the 50kg Circus Dumbbell. She then sealed her commanding victory with another 1st place in the Loading Medley. Her winning margin was 12-points, ahead of Worgan in 2nd, who was 3-points clear of Grunnill. It was the largest winning margin of all the divisions and a tremendous performance from Retzer.

Women’s U82kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 210kg	Farmer’s Walk 100kg	Sandbag Over Bar 100kg	Circus Dumbbell 50kg	Loading Medley 100kg Tyre, 80kg Keg, 75kg Sandbag	Total Points
11	Anna Árnadóttir	Iceland	0	7m 16cm	3 loads	0	2 loads – 33.51sec	8.5
10	Rachel Greener	Scotland	2 reps	2m 46cm	1 load	0	0	9.5
9	Jamie Lee Boudri	Netherlands	0	7m 17cm	4 loads	0	2 loads – 38.78sec	10.5
8	Pandora Holladay	England	0	12m 27cm	3 loads	0	2 loads – 35.14sec	11.5
7	Hanne Gausland	Norway	0	14m 85cm	4 loads	0	3 loads – 52.5sec	21.5
6	Gemma Ferguson	England	2 reps	8m 42cm	4 loads	0	2 loads – 29.32sec	22
5	Jade Crouch	England	0	9m 90cm	4 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 59.65sec	26.5
4	Nadine Guy	England	3 reps	22m 56cm	5 loads	0	2 loads – 26.03sec	33
3	Emma Grunnill	England	3 reps	32m – 41.74sec	5 loads	0	3 loads – 53.56sec	37
2	Rebecca Worgan	England	0	30m 42cm	6 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 47.81sec	40
1	Sabrina Retzer	Germany	6 reps	19m 4cm	7 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 47.21sec	52

Women’s Open

Despite defending champion, Lucy Underdown, not competing, Rebecca Roberts was pushed hard on Day 1 by Katie Smith, and had Donna Moore to contend with, having moved back to the Open Division from the U82’s. The current World’s Strongest Woman had to settle for 2nd in the Axle Deadlift, with Smith’s 8-reps taking the win. Roberts was the only woman to finish the 110kg Farmer’s Walk but was matched in the Sandbag Over Bar by Smith, sharing the win with 8 loads.

Moore was the standout athlete in the 60kg Circus Dumbbell and kicked-off Day 2 with a magnificent 5-reps. Roberts was the only other woman to complete a single repetition, with the remaining 7 competitors unable to lock-out the giant dumbbell. Moore’s second place in the Loading Medley saw her overtake Smith to finish 2nd, but Roberts was able to seal victory with her 3rd win of the contest. Last year she had lost a hard-fought battle with Underdown, but Roberts is now the reigning World, British and European champion!

Women’s Open
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 230kg	Farmer’s Walk 110kg	Sandbag Over Bar 100kg	Circus Dumbbell 60kg	Loading Medley 100kg Tyre, 90kg Keg, 100kg Sandbag	Total Points
9	Stacey Pope	England	0	3m 10cm	3 loads	0	1 load – 34.96sec	4.5
8	Aisling Cunningham	Ireland	1 rep	3m 25cm	3 loads	0	1 load – 25.69sec	10.5
7	Holly Ford	England	1 rep	4m 23cm	2 loads	0	1 load – 13.64sec	12
6	Maxine Winter	England	0	7m 83cm	7 loads	0	2 loads – 40.46sec	16
5	Stephanie Dutton	England	1 rep	19m 83cm	5 loads	0	1 load – 15.48sec	18
4	Patricia Smit	Netherlands	3 reps	12m 47cm	7 loads	0	2 loads – 47.85sec	22
3	Katie Smith	England	8 reps	22m 56cm	8 loads	0	3 loads – 58.62sec	32.5
2	Donna Moore	England	6 reps	16m	7 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 48.64sec	36
1	Rebecca Roberts	Wales	7 reps	32m – 25.14sec	8 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 47.45sec	42.5

Men’s U80kg

Chris Harper became Scotland’s second winner of the weekend after producing a blistering performance that gave him a resounding 10.5-point victory in the lightest of the men’s categories. It was England’s Richard Molnar, however, who got off to the best start, with an incredible 13-rep win in the Axle Deadlift. Molnar would eventually finish 3rd overall and his total was 6-reps ahead of Harper and Englishman, Joe Kennedy, who took overall silver. Harper claimed his first win in the Farmer’s Walk and backed it up with another victory in the Sandbag Over Bar.

Attempting a hatrick of event wins, Harper produced a stunning 7-reps in the 70kg Circus Dumbbell, which was one more than Kennedy and Scotland’s Finlay Mercer. With an almost unassailable lead, Harper produced a fourth consecutive 1st place, winning the Loading Medley in 33.07s. Kennedy was second, finishing the contest strongly to overtake Molnar in the overall standings. Harper, who was second last year to Dean McVie can now add the European title to his U80kg World’s Strongest Man crown.

Men’s U80kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 260kg	Farmer’s Walk 110kg	Sandbag Over Bar 125kg	Circus Dumbbell 70kg	Loading Medley 100kg Tyre, 100kg Keg, 100kg Sandbag	Total Points
12	Petr Merglesky	Czech Republic	5 reps	31m 33cm	4 loads	2 reps	2 loads – 32.23sec	10.5
11	Sonny Nash	England	6 reps	32m – 45.22sec	5 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 40.33sec	23.5
10	Patrick Harris	Wales	4 reps	32m – 43.56sec	7 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 36.63sec	25.5
9	Mads Even Bjorheim	Norway	4 reps	32m – 28.28sec	6 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 36.52sec	27
8	Kyle Scott	Northern Ireland	3 reps	32m – 28.29sec	4 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 35.28sec	28.5
7	Jonas Bertschinger	Switzerland	5 reps	32m – 21.46sec	4 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 37.61sec	31.5
6	Maximilian Wunderlich	Germany	9 reps	32m – 25.04sec	7 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 41.88sec	32
5	Lee Kelly	Northern Ireland	8 reps	32m – 30.78sec	6 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 35.7sec	33.5
4	Finlay Mercer	Scotland	10 reps	32m – 36.85sec	7 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 40.46sec	36.5
3	Richard Molnar	England	13 reps	32m – 29.1sec	9 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 37.38sec	41
2	Joe Kennedy	England	7 reps	32m – 29.26sec	8 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 34.79sec	45
1	Chris Harper	Scotland	7 reps	32m – 20.47sec	10 loads	7 reps	3 loads – 33.07sec	55.5

Men’s Masters 50+

With just 4 entrants last year, the field had more than doubled for the oldest competitors at this year’s contest. Last year’s winner, Mark Felix, was back to defend his title, as was Richard Birchmore, who had provided his stiffest competition. As expected, Felix took the Axle Deadlift with a comfortable 15-reps, with Birchmore in 2nd with 13. That order was repeated in the Farmer’s with Poland’s Artur Patyk in 3rd. The Miracle Man then made it three wins from three in the Sandbag Over Bar with 13 loads, four more than anyone else.

On Day 2, Felix continued his winning streak in the 70kg Circus Dumbbell but was denied a clean sweep of wins by Birchmore in the Loading Medley. Richard’s 36.95s was nearly 4-seconds quicker than Felix, meaning that Birchmore narrowed the winning margin to 3-points, in what was effectively a two-horse race. Patyk secured 3rd overall.

Men’s Masters 50+
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 260kg	Farmer’s Walk 110kg	Sandbag Over Bar 125kg	Circus Dumbbell 70kg	Loading Medley 100kg Tyre, 100kg Keg, 100kg Sandbag	Total Points
9	Nick Miles	England	3 reps	22m 43cm	4 loads	0	2 loads – 39.7sec	10
8	Scott Lansdowne	England	8 reps	32m – 54.16sec	5 loads	0	0	16
7	Andrew Burns	England	2 reps	23m 92cm	6 loads	0	2 loads – 31.4sec	17
6	Alar Lõhmus	Estonia	5 reps	21m	5 loads	2 reps	2 loads – 41.81sec	18.5
5	John Èlse	England	5 reps	32m – 37.7sec	4 loads	0	3 loads – 47.81sec	19
4	Ivan Murphy	Jersey, Channel Islands	4 reps	32m – 30.25sec	4 loads	2 reps	2 loads – 37.26sec	21.5
3	Artur Patyk	Poland	5 reps	32m – 24.84sec	5 loads	5 reps	2 loads – 41.65sec	27
2	Richard Birchmore	England	13 reps	32m – 21.71sec	9 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 36.95sec	41
1	Mark Felix	England	15 reps	32m – 16.6sec	13 loads	7 reps	3 loads – 40.82sec	44

Men’s U90kg

The climax of the Men’s U90kg division, was arguably the most exciting finale of the whole weekend. England’s Dan Benson – last year’s European champion – held a lead going into the final event. He had started strongly, pulling 12-reps in the Axle Deadlift, three more than his nearest rival. It looked like he might run away with the title once again after a second victory in the Farmer’s Walk, but he could do no better than 5th in the Sandbag, with Germany’s Volker Bauer taking the win.

On Day 2, Harry Rogers of England punched out an impressive 7-reps to take victory in the Circus Dumbbell, but despite a 6th place finish from Benson, he still held the lead going into the Loading Medley. Going in the final pairing, his 39.23s clocking was blown away by Allen’s 34.21s event-winning time, and such was the competitiveness in this event, Benson could only place 10th, giving Allen a 5-point victory and the European title!

Men’s U80kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 280kg	Farmer’s Walk 120kg	Sandbag Over Bar 125kg	Circus Dumbbell 80kg	Loading Medley 125kg Tyre, 100kg Keg, 100kg Sandbag	Total Points
14	Rodolphe Vanherpen	France	0	32m – 23.77sec	9 loads	0	3 loads – 38.32sec	22
13	Stefan Schuessler	Germany	1 rep	32m – 22.26sec	8 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 45.7sec	22
12	Thomas Steinacker	Austria	3 reps	32m – 26.8sec	8 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 41.43sec	23.5
11	Garðar Ólafsson	Iceland	3 reps	32m – 24.16sec	9 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 38.64sec	26.5
10	Szymon Peplinski	Poland	6 reps	32m – 21.55sec	7 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 48.95sec	30.5
9	Josh Lancaster	England	4 reps	32m – 16.88sec	8 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 37.17sec	35.5
8	Viktor Lingman	Sweden	7 reps	32m – 29.42sec	8 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 36.65sec	36
7	Joni Rautiainen	Finland	7 reps	32m – 25.42sec	10 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 43.59sec	41
6	Will Clarke	England	7 reps	32m – 20.32sec	9 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 35.1sec	43
5	Harry Rogers	England	7 reps	32m – 51.14sec	9 loads	7 reps	3 loads – 35.23sec	44
4	Filip Zajiček	Czech Republic	4 reps	32m – 22.64sec	10 loads	6 reps	3 loads – 36.3sec	46.5
3	Volker Bauer	Germany	9 reps	32m – 28.56sec	12 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 35.01sec	48.5
2	Dan Benson	England	12 reps	32m – 16.56sec	9 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 39.23sec	49.5
1	Jake Allen	England	7 reps	32m – 18.73sec	11 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 34.21sec	54.5

Men’s U105kg

Ukraine’s Yevhenii Nastenko and Matthew McKeegan of Ireland were a class apart in the Men’s U105kg class. McKeegan, who was third at last year’s European Championships made the better start, winning the Axle Deadlift with 9-reps, but Nastenko turned the tables in the Farmer’s and the pair shared first place in the Sandbag Over Bar with 8 loads each.

On Day 2, McKeegan’s 5-reps with the 90kg Circus Dumbbell was enough to give him a 3rd event win and Nastenko had to settle for equal 2nd with the Czech Republic’s Norbert Svarc, on 4-reps. Matthew took a very solid lead into the Loading Medley and his 6th place was enough to secure the European title. Nastenko’s 27.01s time gave him the win ahead of England’s Thomas Owens whose consistency through-out the two days afforded him a spot on the podium and an invite to OSG later this year. McKeegan was an emotional winner and a well-deserved European champion!

Men’s U105kg
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 300kg	Farmer’s Walk 130kg	Sandbag Over Bar 140kg	Circus Dumbbell 90kg	Loading Medley 125kg Tyre, 110kg Keg, 120kg Sandbag	Total Points
12	Aaron McLaughlin	Northern Ireland	3 reps	32m – 59.92sec	0	0	3 loads – 53.72sec	7
11	Guido Taglioretti	Italy	4 reps	32m – 57.07sec	0	0	2 loads – 37.03sec	8
10	Ollie Clarke	England	7 reps	25m 11cm	2 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 52.4sec	22.5
9	Craig Hughes	England	6 reps	21m	6 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 49.4sec	27.5
8	Jordon Rea	England	5 reps	32m – 28.58sec	5 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 42.01sec	29
7	Gavin Bruce	Scotland	5 reps	32m – 32.48sec	7 loads	0	3 loads – 38.22sec	30
6	Norbert Svarc	Czech Republic	1 rep	32m – 28.66sec	5 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 39.25sec	33
5	Boyd Francis	England	7 reps	32m – 28.56sec	6 loads	0	3 loads – 39.35sec	34
4	Luke Williams	Wales	7 reps	32m – 27.7sec	3 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 40.05sec	38
3	Thomas Owens	England	8 reps	32m – 31.27sec	6 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 37.24sec	43.5
2	Yevhenii Nastenko	Ukraine	5 reps	32m – 19.36sec	8 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 37.01sec	51
1	Matthew McKeegan	Ireland	9 reps	32m – 24.26sec	8 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 39.84sec	53.5

Men’s Masters 40+

Estonia’s Romek Velt was 10th last year, having been forced to withdraw after just one event. This year he had no such problems and performed brilliantly across all five events to take the overall win from Sweden’s Anton Larsson and Jersey’s James Stuart, who was also 3rd last year. It was Larsson who made the best start, producing 10 reps in the deadlift to take equal 1st with Johnathan Kelly, who had to withdraw from the contest on Day 2 with a hand issue. Larsson also won the Farmer’s, but Velt’s 2nd place kept him in touch and the 4-way tie for 1st in the Sandbag did little to change the points.

At the start of Day 2, Larsson’s chances took a blow when he failed to lockout the 90kg Circus Dumbbell, along with six other men. Velt’s single rep was good enough for equal 1st and a major points swing. He went into the Loading Race 7.5-points clear of Larsson, and although the Swede won the events in 37.02s, he could not catch Velt and was left to rue his lack of prowess in the Dumbbell. Velt looked to be injured at the very end but was buoyed by his win and limped to the podium to collect his trophy.

Men’s Masters 40+
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 300kg	Farmer’s Walk 130kg	Sandbag Over Bar 140kg	Circus Dumbbell 90kg	Loading Medley 125kg Tyre, 110kg Keg, 120kg Sandbag	Total Points
12	Sigfus Fossdal	Iceland	4 reps	32m – 24.23sec	1 load	0	0	11.5
11	Kiel Dewar	England	4 reps	27m 70cm	2 loads	0	1 load – 11.35sec	12.5
10	Jonathan Kelly	Northern Ireland	10 reps	32m – 44.46sec	1 load	0	0	17
9	Keoghan Litchfield	England	3 reps	14m 33cm	2 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 51.35sec	20
8	Ryan Gray	England	7 reps	32m – 29.81sec	4 loads	0	3 loads – 44.38sec	27
7	Mike Arkwright	England	4 reps	32m – 58.78sec	3 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 49.54sec	27.5
6	Matthew Riddall	Spain	3 reps	32m – 23.5sec	3 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 42.66sec	32
5	Dainius Repšys	Lithuania	6 reps	32m – 20.36sec	5 loads	0	3 loads – 40.1sec	34.5
4	Glen Cutler	England	6 reps	32m – 22.38sec	6 loads	0	3 loads – 39.65sec	38
3	James Stuart	Jersey, Channel Islands	5 reps	32m – 22.4sec	6 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 40.04sec	44.5
2	Anton Larsson	Sweden	10 reps	32m – 18.6sec	6 loads	0	3 loads – 37.02sec	46
1	Romek Velt	Estonia	8 reps	32m – 20.16sec	6 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 43.62sec	48.5

Men’s Open

This was the largest of the 11 divisions, with 15 men lining up for the Men’s Open. William Relf, who had competed in the U105’s last year, stepped up a weight class to represent England, along with Ryan Bennett and Ben Glasscock. Ukraine’s Oleh Pylypiak’s 10-reps in the Axle Deadlift was two more than anyone else could manage, but he was unable to complete the Farmer’s Walk and lost a lot of points as Ryan Bennett stormed to victory, just ahead of Roman Grekov of the Ukraine. Sweden’s Joachim Kvick took the win in the Sandbag with 11 loads. Ben Glasscock’s equal 2nd place would see him move into contention approaching Day 2.

The Ukrainian due put on a Dumbbell masterclass, achieving 8-reps each with the 100kg Circus implement. Bennett was the next best with 5-reps and Grekov’s lead going into the final event was 9-points ahead of Glasscock, with Bennett in 3rd. Will Relf claimed the win in the Loading Medley, whilst his compatriot, Bennett could only manage 10th, allowing the Czech Republic’s Marek Czajkowski to move into 3rd, 3 points shy of Ben Glasscock. Grecov looked relaxed in the final heat, placing 7th, but completing a 5-point win over the Englishman, Glasscock.

Men’s Open
Place	Name	Country	Axle Deadlift 320kg	Farmer’s Walk 140kg	Sandbag Over Bar 150kg	Circus Dumbbell 100kg	Loading Medley 140kg Tyre, 100kg Keg, 120kg Sandbag	Total Points
15	Chris Beetham	Scotland	5 reps	3m 10cm	3 loads	0	0	7
14	Kristján Níelsson	Iceland	3 reps	27m 22cm	5 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 54.87sec	18.5
13	Emanuele Greco	Italy	6 reps	32m – 33.86sec	4 loads	0	3 loads – 57.54sec	21.5
12	Paolo Acquaviva	Italy	4 reps	32m – 39.04sec	7 loads	0	3 loads – 45.04sec	23
11	Anders Aslak	Denmark	5 reps	24m 72cm	7 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 43.65sec	32.5
10	William Relf	England	3 reps	32m – 51.72sec	6 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 34.34sec	37.5
9	Cim Johansson	Sweden	5 reps	32m – 22.38sec	10 loads	1 rep	3 loads – 41.73sec	42.5
8	Joachim Kvick	Sweden	7 reps	32m – 43.59sec	11 loads	2 reps	3 loads – 42.81sec	44.5
7	Oleh Pylypiak	Ukraine	10 reps	27m 22cm	7 loads	8 reps	3 loads – 44.88sec	45
6	Jan Lacina	Czech Republic	8 reps	28m 30cm	9 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 36.78sec	46
5	Adam Roszkowski	Poland	6 reps	32m – 22.16sec	9 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 36.36sec	50.5
4	Ryan Bennett	England	7 reps	32m – 19.68sec	6 loads	5 reps	3 loads – 37.93sec	51.5
3	Marek Czajkowski	Poland	8 reps	32m – 43.91sec	9 loads	4 reps	3 loads – 35.39sec	54
2	Ben Glasscock	England	8 reps	32m – 24.24sec	10 loads	3 reps	3 loads – 35.54sec	57
1	Roman Grekov	Ukraine	9 reps	32m – 21.5sec	9 loads	8 reps	3 loads – 39.35sec	62