It was a case of separating the men from the boys when SA Strongmen went head-to-head with the public at Princess Crossing on Saturday 5 April.
Officially recognised as a 2014 SA Under 105kg qualifying tour brought to you by the South African Strongman Union, the event also served as an SA qualifier for the SA Championships to take place in November this year.
From lifting a log of about 120kg and holding it above your head for a few seconds to walking with steel and weights adding up to 325kg, the task always would be difficult for first-timers. Some participants from the public had the muscles but not the legs, while others had the legs but not the muscles.
Other challenges involved carrying suitcases of 110kg for 40m, log max weight 100kg (opening weight) and a 130kg atlas stone for reps over 1,2m bar. In the end only a few had what it took to complete challenges successfully – and if we say a few we mean just the Strongmen.
Eventually declared overall winner of the competition was local SA Strongman competitor and former Hoërskool Bastion pupil, Frikkie Page. Frikkie completed all challenges handed to him and did so with ease.
Other famous SA Strongmen to compete on the day were Willie White – SA’s U/105kg Strongest Man as well as Kreson Pillay and Jan Greyvenstein. Kreson placed second and Jan fifth.
Keeping the crowd on their toes and MC for the day was Giant, a former Gladiator. Also attracting some attention was the presence of SA’s Strongman of 2012, Tristen O’Brien as well as Miss Princess Crossing 2013, Chanté van Wyk.
The beauty queen showed her support to the cause by posing for a number of photographs with the public and the strongmen while Tristen lifted a bar of 100kg with one hand.
Final placings:
• First – Frikkie Page
• Second – Kreson Pillay
• Third – Glisson Schutters
• Fourth – Robert John Green
• Fifth – Jan Greyvensteyn
• Sixth – David Bezuidenhout
• Seventh – Jaundre Smith
• Eight – Frikkie Nel
• Ninth – Mamabolo Rathabeng
