Richardson returns to take World Tour Final title

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Luke Richardson claimed he must have “n*@#s like King Kong” as he took his second Giants Live title of the season just four months after major biceps surgery! The two-time Europe’s Strongest Man, who won his second title earlier this year in Leeds, took command of the contest after winning the Load & Push in event two and never looked back.

Chased hard by Ondřej Fojtů of the Czech Republic and England’s Andrew Flynn, the man they call “The Future”, sealed the win in the final event – the Castle Stones. As he loaded his final 200kg stone onto its platform, Richardson completed an astonishing comeback after rupturing his biceps at World’s Strongest Man in May, proving, once again, he’s a competitor that can never be written off!

The 6,000 strong OVO Hydro crowd were treated to an incredible display of Log Lifting in event one: The BADRHINO World Log Lift Challenge, which saw two men attempt to better Iron Biby’s 231kg world record. England’s Jack Osborn took top honours with a stunning 222kg lift that bettered the British record by a single kilo. His world record attempt was not to be, but he was joined on the platform by Ondřej Fojtů who, in completing a 220kg lift, improved his own junior world record.

Richardson got the night off to an excellent start, increasing his Log personal best to 190kg and coming agonisingly close to locking out 200kg. Three-time World’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, claimed second on points by completing that lift but then looked somewhat off the pace in the next three events. The Albatross has competed only sparingly since finishing runner-up at WSM but closed out the show with his customary brilliance in the Castle Stones to take 5^th overall, just behind Evans Nana.

Ondrej Fojtů came into this contest with victory firmly in his sights. He had been denied a podium finish at Europe’s earlier this year, having led for much of the contest, and his 6^th place finish at World’s has only heightened the expectations of the 23-year-old. 7^th place in the Load & Push, followed by 6^th in the Carry & Drag, left him down in 4^th with much work to do. Taking second in the Wrecking Ball Hold and then producing a superb stone run in event 5, he overtook both Nana and Flynn to claim second and secure his invite to World’s next year.

The Ghanian Warrior, Evans Nana, took the win in event 3: Carry & Drag, and looked to be in sensational form. He fell backwards through the barriers, nearly landing in the crowd, has he hauled the 350kg anchor and chain across the line. There was more drama to come though, as he lost balance picking up his Wrecking Ball in event 3 and had to regroup to eventually place 3^rd. With a podium finish on the cards, he once again tipped backwards with the final Atlas Stone. The 200kg granite orb landed on his left leg, ending his night in 4^th overall, with a severely bruised ankle.

Andrew Flynn’s chances of success in this contest were hotly fancied pre-show. With two speed events on the roster, the man they call “Flying Flynn” looked certain to score strongly, but it was in the Wrecking Ball Hold that he took victory, hanging on for 91.75-seconds, just four tenths more than Fojtů. With a second and a third in events 2 and 3, he was just 2.5-point adrift of Richardson and knew that if he could put pressure on him in the Stones, then anything could happen. In his haste to get ahead with the first implement, his stone rolled off the platform and had to be reloaded, ruining any chance of overall victory and eventually seeing him slip to third. Nevertheless, it was Flynn’s second Giants podium of the year, having taken 3^rd at Britain’s, and his first in a full international line-up.

Mateusz Kieliszkowski’s night ended prematurely after injuring his Achilles in event 2. The man they call “The Terminator” was one of the favourites for victory but has been plagued with injury and was unable to continue. He was joined on the sidelines by the contest’s only American athlete, Tim Buck, who bowed out with a strained hip flexor having completed the Load & Push.

England’s Ryan Bennett enjoyed one of his best ever Giants Live performances, taking 6^th place overall. The former scaffolder got the evening off to a good start with a 190kg personal best in the Log Lift and maintained solid performances throughout. Wales’s Gavin Bilton also performed well: his third place in the Castle Stones was a superb finish to a contest whose events may not have been ideal. The Bull placed 7^th overall, equal on points with Canada’s Maxime Boudreault.

Three other men made their Giants Live debuts, and none received more support from the Glasgow audience than Scotland’s Strongest Man, Callum Crozier. His finished 10^th overall and placed 4^th in both the Load & Push and Wrecking Ball Hold. Ukraine’s Oleh Pylypiak is the OSG European Champion and started superbly in the Log Lift with 190kg. He would finish 11^th overall, just behind Crozier. Canada’s James Jeffers faired slightly better in 9^th and enjoyed his best event results in the Carry & Drag and Castle Stones, placing 5^th in both.

This was yet another thrilling World Tour Finals contest and proved a fitting end to what has been a sensational Giants Live season. Luke Richardson’s year has been a rollercoaster ride that has seen no shortage of highs and lows. Withdrawal from Britain’s Strongest Man was followed by victory at Europe’s and then swiftly by injury at World’s Strongest Man. Luke is no stranger to dealing with injury and his win here in Glasgow completed an unlikely comeback that few would have predicted. His form in the last two seasons, when healthy, has been tremendous and he has proven to possess incredible resilience. With a sustained injury-free period there’s no telling what he could achieve next year!

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Event Results

Event 1: BADRHINO World Log Lift Challenge

Weight increments: 170kg, 180kg, 190kg, 200kg, 210kg, 215kg, 220kg, 222kg, 232kg

Event 2: SBD Load & Push

3 Implements: Anvil: 120kg to be carried 10m, tyre: 100kg to be carried 15m, sack: 140kg to be carried 20m, then 20m push. 75-second time limit

Event 3: VITAKICK Carry & Drag

240kg Duck Walk, 350kg Chain and Anchor, 20m course, 60-second time limit

Event 4: MIRAFIT Wrecking Ball Hold

Wrecking ball weight: 270kg, no time limit

Event 5: Castle Water Stones

Implement weights: 120kg, 140kg, 160kg, 180kg, 200kg,  60-second time limit