– Webster, Taharally, Cummings tumble records

AMID much straining, effort and even injury, Guyana’s top bodybuilders competed at the highest level on Sunday when they gathered in the auditorium of the St. Stanislaus College for the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation’s (GAPLF) Intermediates/Masters Championships.

The best overall male lifter was newcomer, Bjorn Williams while Runita White copped the distaff accolade.

In a cozy family-like atmosphere, the athletes were cheered on by fans and their colleagues alike as several records fell during the day.

Among the record-breakers were Junior powerlifter, White, who continues to make waves in the fraternity. She, along with Nadina Taharally, Colin “Mr Clean” Chesney, Noel Cummings, Martin Webster, Ede Tyrell and Bjorn Williams set new standards in their respective categories.

Williams, a relative newcomer to the powerlifting scene, competed in the 105 kg class and copped the best overall male powerlifter award along with the Overall Unequipped Intermediate title by accumulating a Wilks points total of 376.488. He also set a new record in the 105kg Raw Open Deadlift (282.5 kg).

White Noise!

White, competing in the 84+ kg category, was the overall Unequipped Junior and Overall Unequipped Intermediate winner; she picked up right where she left off earlier this year at the Novices Championships.

She set new national records for the Squat (165 kg), Bench Press (67.5 kg) and the Deadlift (195 kg) along with her total weight lifted (427.5 kg); her total Wilks Points was 350.849.

The deadlift record set by White on Sunday is the heaviest weight ever lifted by a woman in Guyana and is an unofficial FESUPO (South American Powerlifting Federation) record. The official record is 188 kg lifted by Judith Reitmann of Uruguay back in December of 2017 in Argentina.

Records
Nadina Taharally was the female Overall Masters winner and bettered her own records in the 72kg Masters 1 category. Her new records were set in the Squat (135 kg), Bench Press (70 kg), Deadlift (165 kg) along with her total (370 kg).

Meanwhile, Jackquelyn Toney, competing in the Masters 84 kg set a new Deadlift Open and Masters 1 Raw record by lifting 145 kg.

Veteran powerlifter, Martin Webster, despite hobbling about due to a hip injury, managed to set records in the Masters 1 and 2–105kg Raw categories.

His Squat of 200 kg and Bench Press (130 kg) are now the Master 1 and Masters 2 records while his Deadlift of 183 kg is also now the national Masters 2 record.

Guyana’s oldest bodybuilder and now second oldest powerlifter, 70-year-old Noel Cummings continued his good showing in the arena, tumbling records in the 66kg Masters 4 Raw, Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift and total weight. He squatted 120 kg, bench pressed 87.5 kg, deadlifted 150 kg, while his total weight lifted was 357.5 kg.

Chesney, competing in the 120kg Equipped Masters 1 category, grunted and strained his way to a new Bench Press record of 232.5 kg.

Among the major sponsors of the event were Fitness Express, Cultronics, Buddy’s Gym and Trophy Stall.

Male Winners

The male winners are as follows:

Overall Winner: Bjorn Williams

Unequipped Masters Overall Winner: Noel Cummings

Equipped Masters Overall Winner: Colin Chesney

Unequipped Intermediates Overall Winner: Bjorn Williams

Equipped Intermediates Overall Winner: Fawaz Rampertab

Female Winners

The female winners are as follows:

Overall Winner: Runita White

Overall Masters Winner: Nadina Taharally

Overall Equipped Winner: Junica Pluck

Overall Unequipped Winner: Runita White