With a view of getting powerlifters in top condition for important overseas engagements during the second half of this year, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) has planned four local tournaments, the first of which is set for next month.

The events are the Intermediate Competition in July; the Claude Charles Memorial Masters Championships in July; the inaugural Unequipped (Raw) Powerlifting Championships in September; and the Senior National Open in December.

The competitions will provide valuable opportunities for those athletes selected to represent Guyana at the North American Regional Tournament of the Americas from July 24-29 in the Cayman Islands; the South American Powerlifting Championships from August 15-19 in Cali, Colombia; the World Masters Championships from October 2-9 in Killeen, Texas, USA; and the World Open Championships from October 29-November 4 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
The lifters identified for these championships are Vijai Rahim (59kg Class); ‘Big’ John Edwards (120kg Class); Winston Stoby (74kg Class); Randolph Morgan (83kg Class); and Dawn Barker (84kg Class).

Local Meets

At the Intermediate championships in July, this year’s crop of newcomers will be given a second chance to showcase their skills at the St Stanislaus College Auditorium, Brickdam, Georgetown.

This competition is open to lifters who had participated at the Novices competition held in Rosignol earlier this year, along with newcomers who have not yet made their maiden appearance on stage.

Registration is mandatory prior to participation. Clubs and individual lifters are requested to contact GAPF officials Farook Abdool in West Berbice on telephone number 330-2257; Egbert Jackson in Corentyne on 339-3509; Dawn Barker in Demerara on 642-8322; or John Edwards on 623-6550.

The weigh-in and equipment check is set for 08:30 hours with the competition set to start at 09:30 hours.  The event will be divided into three categories, comprising the Sub-juniors (Under-18); Juniors (Under-23) and Open (Over-23 up to 39).
The annual Claude Charles Memorial Masters Championships will be held in tandem with the Intermediate Competition on July 1 at St Stanislaus Auditorium and is open to all lifters 40 years and over.

The categories include M1 (40- 49); M2 (50-59); M3 (60 and over), and will be used as the yardstick for selection to the World Masters Championships billed for Texas, USA, in October.

Feature lifters expected to compete are 2011 World Bronze medalist John Edwards (M1) and 2012 World dead lift record holder Winston Stoby (M2).

Overseas-based lifters desirous of being a part of the National team will be requested to participate with the aim of establishing legitimate totals, unless proof of any such totals can be given though participation in recognized powerlifting meets within their respective places of residence.

The first-ever Unequipped (Raw) Powerlifting Championships is tentatively set for September in Linden and will be named after the late powerlifter, Samuel Barker. It will be open to all lifters desirous of competing without the aid of squat, bench and dead lift suits, save for the basic equipment such as wraps.  Details of this event will be made known at the July Championships. The Classes will be Lightweight (59-66kg); Middleweight (74-83kg); and Heavyweight (105-120+kg), and will feature monetary prizes for the purchase of supplements among other prizes.

The premier event on the local powerlifting calendar, the Senior National Open, is fixed for December 1-2 at a venue in Georgetown. The Championships will be divided into two categories- the Club Championships (two athletes per weight class) and the individual championships.

Respective winners from this event will form the National team for international engagements billed for the Caribbean in March; Pan American in July; and Commonwealth in December of 2013.  All lifters, including the juniors, will be expected to participate in order to make their 2013 preliminary nominations totals .

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