THE 2018 edition of the Guyana Fitness Games provided much entertainment and fireworks as it ended at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall last Sunday night.

The 2017 champion of the strongman contest, Suriname’s Donovan Dongo, was a no-show but the local contestants did not disappoint. Crowd favourite Carlos Peterson-Griffith was upset by Julio Sinclair who came good.

Peterson-Griffith, who finished second in 2017 looked good after setting the pace in the first event, the Sled Pull, which saw the athletes pull 270lb, immediately followed by the Sled Push with a starting weight of 360lb; 50lb being added on at the 20-ft mark at three different points, a total of 80 feet.

When Sinclair came into the picture it quickly became obvious that the battle would have been between the two power players. Joseph O’Ryan, Anis Ade-Thomas and Caerus Cipriani (who must be given kudos for trying, as he was clearly out of his depths), were all a notch below the top two athletes as they struggled from the Sled Push.

The Farmers Walk and Bag Throw, Event 2, where the athletes had to walk with 536lb and throw a 250lb bag over a 4-foot high log,, again saw Petterson-Griffith and Sinclair carry the pace, Petterson-Griffith threw the bag over a total of 9 times in the time allotted, the closest to him was Sinclair with five successful attempts.

Tied going into the final event, the MACORP Truck Pull, Sinclair managed to distance himself from Petterson-Griffith who struggled in the final event.

Sinclair covered the 60-ft pull in just over 40 seconds to win the title of the Strongest Man in Guyana and bragging rights for the next 12 months. He ended with 295 points with Petterson-Griffith managing 280 and O’Riley 265. Ade-Thomas had 260 and Cipriani 250.

The female winner of the Scaled competition was Latoya Roberts with 295 points, comfortably ahead of the second-placed Keisha Abrigo, who accumulated 270 points. Debutant Shelisa Roopchand with 260 points took the final podium spot. Sinead Roberts (248), Kean Andrews (244), Lakeisha Bacchus (243), Ruth Collins (231), Quenita Walrond (227) and Kimberley Dos Santos (211) were the other contestants.

The male champion was Kelvin Baul who tallied 285 points, five more than the second-placed Gidel Patrick with Randy Hailey occupying the 3rd place with 260 points. The other competitors were Pride Ade-Thomas (255), Darrin Noble (250) and Darren Allen (245).

Meanwhile Guyana’s premier CrossFit athlete, Dillon Mahadeo, teamed up with Delice Adonis and Josh DeAgrella to win the RX Team competition collectively powering to 290 points.

Second on 285 points were Anis Ade-Thomas, Kimberly Pinas and Jadan Mannes, while the third place went to Omissi Williams, Tonnica Archer and Kellon Reid with 280 points. The team of Paul Meusa, Thurston Pearce and Salma Hack placed fourth with 250 points with fifth place going to Timothy McAndrew, Christina Rahman and Randolph Leitch on 245 points.

Sponsors of the 2018 Guyana Fitness Games included Ansa McAl (I-Cool Water, Lucozade and Mackeson), St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Republic Bank, Pollo Tropical, Trophy Stall, Star Party Rentals, Fitness Express, Genesis Fitness Gym and Caribbean CrossFitter Community.