Strongmen weight-lift to victory

Ten strongmen showed what they are worth and flexed their muscles to compete in various strongman activities for a Strongman event at the Hillfox Value Centre.

Founder of the Brotherhood Strongman group, Peter McGonigle explained each activity, while also motivating each contestant to give it their best. The event on 30 April showcased some of the most popular and exciting strongman events that need many hours of tough training to complete.

The 10 competitors first participated in deadlifts where they needed to lift a one ton Nissan bakkie. McGonigle kept adding weights onto the bakkie that quickly showed who is the toughest. Two of the women audience members had a chance to get onto the back of the bakkie, entertaining not only the audience, but the competitors as well.

Then the strongmen had to take part in tyre flips, farmer’s walk (seeing who can walk the furthest with a weight in each hand), hammer hold, log press and a bakkie pull. A competition was held for members of the audience to guess the weight of the Volkswagen Amarok bakkie that the strongmen had to pull. Jean van der Have from Alberton was easily able to pull the 2.75 ton bakkie to win the event. According to McGonigle, Van der Have will be allowed to drive the Amarok for a week.

Extreme fighting heavyweight champion, Danie van Heerden also competed and was very happy to show his newly-won champion belt.

McGonigle said that it was a great event. “The athletes enjoyed themselves, and showed that they did by the records that they broke,” said McGonigle.

The winners were:

• First place: Lawrence da Silva from Alberton (53.5 points)

• Second place: Jean van der Have from Alberton (53 points)

• Third place: Werner Brits from Roodepoort (47 points)

Details: Hillfox Value Centre, 011 027 9580.

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Strongmen flex muscles on 30 April