kenneth nowicki
07-06-2009, 10:50 AM
UKSC Scotlands Strongest Man write up.
Ive got to say this must have been one of if not the hardest comp Ive ever done! Was absolutly brutal! Big thanks to Stuart and family for organsing the event, taking scores, set up and also the rest of the team for the set up.
First up was log press, for some reason I wasnt feeling all too fired up for the comp at all and I think it showed in the first two events. Andy went out first with the log and did 9reps. I was up in the 4th pairing (Lewis drew 7th, I was 8th), we both did 5reps. I was happyish with the number of reps, but I didnt expect to have to put the log down after only 2reps. Ended up doing a double, double then a hard single.
Next up was squat, and it turned out to be a total disaster! Dont know if it was from being outside and therefore having the sun in the eyes, no mirror, uneven ground etc etc; not warming up as I normally would; not psyched up enough or what. I bombed 250kg on first attempt, but still had 40s left and got it ok the second time. Then went 280kg, hands slipped off bar on the way up the first time so fail, then got it second time. Knew I wasnt getting much if anymore with the straps down, so put them up and took 310kg. Felt light when I unracked it, down nice, got nice depth then dont know what happened, but lost it. Was awesome to watch the battle between Andy and Stu Bell, both did 335kg. Andy left it there, but Stu went to 350kg for an easy reps with just wraps and neoprene belt!! Very very impressive to watch from only 2ft away and also was an honour to help him get psyched up for it!
3rd was arm over arm, went ok, I did it in 27ish secs, winning time was 25s. Think I just needed more actual tec practice as I only train it once and last time I did it was in Feb 08.
Next we had the deadlift medley (230kg axle, 270kg bar, 300kg van frame, then 330kg for 10m). I did it in 30s, Andy got 34s and Lewis did 27s. All the implements were easy, but I wore straps incase I needed to use them and then slowed me down setting up on the barbell, car and frame so reckon I could of shaved a few secs off that.
Second last was the tyre flip and drag. The flips were easy and everyone did them fine. The drag was brutal though! Was a 250kg tyre flat on tarmack so the friction was massive factor! I knew what to expect as thats how I trained for the drag at this comp last year. Andy finished it first and then it was my trun. I knew that I wasnt going to catch Andy or Lewis on overall points so I just had to beat Stevie Cherry and Lee Allan who were the two closest rivals. Did that which gave me 3rd in this event.
I was totally done after the flip and drag and ended up sending around 10mins just sitting trying to catch my breath. Next was stones like at UKs '08, so 3stones, each had a certain number of points linked to it and if you did the run of three you got a bonus. Stones were 110kg, 130kg and 150kg. I know Stevie did 3 runs, not sure about Lee, Andy did 3runs and the 110kg, I did 2runs and 110kg. I had a big problem, as I had put on too much jack tack and when I tried to pick the first stone it was just slipping like mad. Luckily once some of the excess came off it gripped awesomely so wasnt too bad. Most impressive was Lewis almost doing 4complete runs!
Overall a fantastic day and Im just so happy i was actually able to keep it together and get 3rd. At some points I thought I wasnt actually going to 1) finish the comp and 2) qualify for UKs.
Thanks again to all the organisers, crew and athletes for a great day!
Ive got to say this must have been one of if not the hardest comp Ive ever done! Was absolutly brutal! Big thanks to Stuart and family for organsing the event, taking scores, set up and also the rest of the team for the set up.
First up was log press, for some reason I wasnt feeling all too fired up for the comp at all and I think it showed in the first two events. Andy went out first with the log and did 9reps. I was up in the 4th pairing (Lewis drew 7th, I was 8th), we both did 5reps. I was happyish with the number of reps, but I didnt expect to have to put the log down after only 2reps. Ended up doing a double, double then a hard single.
Next up was squat, and it turned out to be a total disaster! Dont know if it was from being outside and therefore having the sun in the eyes, no mirror, uneven ground etc etc; not warming up as I normally would; not psyched up enough or what. I bombed 250kg on first attempt, but still had 40s left and got it ok the second time. Then went 280kg, hands slipped off bar on the way up the first time so fail, then got it second time. Knew I wasnt getting much if anymore with the straps down, so put them up and took 310kg. Felt light when I unracked it, down nice, got nice depth then dont know what happened, but lost it. Was awesome to watch the battle between Andy and Stu Bell, both did 335kg. Andy left it there, but Stu went to 350kg for an easy reps with just wraps and neoprene belt!! Very very impressive to watch from only 2ft away and also was an honour to help him get psyched up for it!
3rd was arm over arm, went ok, I did it in 27ish secs, winning time was 25s. Think I just needed more actual tec practice as I only train it once and last time I did it was in Feb 08.
Next we had the deadlift medley (230kg axle, 270kg bar, 300kg van frame, then 330kg for 10m). I did it in 30s, Andy got 34s and Lewis did 27s. All the implements were easy, but I wore straps incase I needed to use them and then slowed me down setting up on the barbell, car and frame so reckon I could of shaved a few secs off that.
Second last was the tyre flip and drag. The flips were easy and everyone did them fine. The drag was brutal though! Was a 250kg tyre flat on tarmack so the friction was massive factor! I knew what to expect as thats how I trained for the drag at this comp last year. Andy finished it first and then it was my trun. I knew that I wasnt going to catch Andy or Lewis on overall points so I just had to beat Stevie Cherry and Lee Allan who were the two closest rivals. Did that which gave me 3rd in this event.
I was totally done after the flip and drag and ended up sending around 10mins just sitting trying to catch my breath. Next was stones like at UKs '08, so 3stones, each had a certain number of points linked to it and if you did the run of three you got a bonus. Stones were 110kg, 130kg and 150kg. I know Stevie did 3 runs, not sure about Lee, Andy did 3runs and the 110kg, I did 2runs and 110kg. I had a big problem, as I had put on too much jack tack and when I tried to pick the first stone it was just slipping like mad. Luckily once some of the excess came off it gripped awesomely so wasnt too bad. Most impressive was Lewis almost doing 4complete runs!
Overall a fantastic day and Im just so happy i was actually able to keep it together and get 3rd. At some points I thought I wasnt actually going to 1) finish the comp and 2) qualify for UKs.
Thanks again to all the organisers, crew and athletes for a great day!