New MuscleMag book

Huge and Freaky (love the title):

New British and European record 2 hand pinches

Both Laurence Shahlaei and I pulled 117.5-kilos. I get the record as I pulled first.

Whey Power Challenge

Had a quick chat with Andy Bolton. Fingers crossed as he's managed to cut his eyeball (ouch!!) and will see a doc Wednesday.

More magazines...

Dextralose - What is it and why the issue?

What is it and why the issue?

Facts. The trade mark owners are Vydex Corporation.

The owner has stated clearly (inc a reproduced copy of his letter on this site) that it does not contain aspartame.

Issues: several companies use it either as an ingredient which they then blend themselves or get others to do for them or it has been included as the same in products made under contract by Vydex.

Contract manufacturing, as is, is very common in the UK. Well known high street supermarkets do not, for example, own sausage making plants but instead get companies which already make the same products to make some for them under their own label. Hell, I used to work for a company which made sausages for Tescos and Sainsbury's many years back (Hygrade Foods, now defunct).

One issue as is is that some resellers and or contract holders seem to be making either impossible claims for their product (that it contains ingredients which are more expensive than the selling price - so impossible) - see Sci-Mentor Excel product or stuff as daft as selling what is reported as an 80% protein product for around the production costs or less. In other words one asks how is this possible? In all cases where attention has been drawn the sweetener is.... you guessed it.

It seems that an earlier post of mine about Ronnie being back on stage is another step closer. Aaron at RX has chatted with the promoter and Dorian has agreed to guest pose, Ronnie and others to compete: HERE

With $240,000 in the pot I'm not too surprised.

Magazines

Rolling Thunder at Bodypower

I'm in discussion with Denny Felix (wife of WSM competitor Mark) about arranging a Rolling Thunder competition at Bodypower (at the NEC). There's a few ideas on the table. More when we have it sorted.

Some bucks back in Powerlifting

More info

4th and final leg of the WSH tomorrow

Tomorrow finds Laurence Shahlaei and myself on a jolly down to Stafford to join most of the rest of the motley UK crew for the last WSH leg.

David Horne's ever creative mind put together the idea of reforming what old school all-round lifters used to call 'postal leagues'. Only with the World's Strongest Hands it was taken world wide. With around 10 venues based in Europe, the UK and the USA combined with a standardized set of equipment (each venue/promoter received an identical set) and a limit of just three tests (some venues added addtional ones but these do not count towards the main scores) you had a good formula.

The three tests are: 2 hand pinch (using a Eurp pinch), David Horne Wrist Developer and the Vulcan Gripper. Tomorrow, both here in the UK and also in the US there's a very good chance that 1 of at least 6 or 7 athletes may have peaked just in time for a world record on the first event.

My last days training of any kind was Tuesday and Monday had me doing my last grip workout. Both yesterday and today have seen my lower back spasm. This is either from previous over work or the inactivity/resting up. A good nights sleep and I hope to put together a good enough performance to place first in the last leg. I say that with an apparently on-form David Horne and an ever improving Nick McKinless threatening to upset me. That's without ignoring the potential for Adam, Aaron or Jedd in the US to put together three decent sets of numbers.

As it stands I think we're looking at our most competitive leg to date. There are enough athletes with a potential to pull over 110-kilos that we can claim never to have seen so many lifts of that caliber in one day. The DHWD will probably need to be a level 10 or better to keep in the scores and Paul Knight, David and myself all have the potential for a level 21 on the Vulcan.

It's gonna be interesting.

Strongman online radio...

RX Muscle steps up with RX's Power Hour.

Romano rages!

As I type this I'm listening to John 'I'm really pissed off with the assholes' Romano ranting and raving on the DA (Derek Anthony) show

He's threatening to reveal bent contest results, dish the dirt and more. It's about time!!

British... best at grip??

In David Horne's recent and almost finished World's Strongest Hand series (the last leg is on Nov 13th) the Brit's have dominated. With the exception of Aaron C in leg 1 the top three has been Nick McKinless, David Horne and or myself. I'm guessing, regardless of positions, it'll be much the same in the final leg. One might argue that many of the top 10 on down are, or were, unfamiliar with the equipment and or the events. But David sent out the gear some months back, the rules are well known and so on.

So the question is... what do we have here that makes us different? The main advantage is, if nothing else, experience. David has well over 10 years plus, Nick not far off David's and I'm just behind. The other singular aspect is probably an obsessive level of determination. Although others may see us as fortunate freaks of hand strength (and in Nick's case just a good all round athlete) it misses out on the sheer grit and effort put in.

If you look at those just behind us you'll see a similar story. Indeed, it could easily be argued that with another 6 months or a year they will equal what we are doing now. In time... all records, efforts and victories will be beaten.

But not, as per the line in Gladiator, today.

RIP Big Dave

News this week of Dave Talbot passing away (heart attack). Dave co-owned the gym I used in Sydenham:

Appropriately named?

P J Braun (brawn??) has just released this photo and competes this weekend with a hope of turning pro.

Lee Priest... no competition but still

For a guy moaning about a lack of finances he's not been slacking off - check it out:

What I did this weekend

Freeweights area

HARTS STRENGTH AND FITNESS GYM OPENING

Yesterday, 2^nd October 2010, my services were required by Chris and Gemma Hart to act as the star turn (as it were) on the day of the official opening of their new gym. I’d worked with Iharts (the supplement side of the business) back at Bodypower earlier this year. I must have made a good enough impression because they asked me to do my ‘thang’ again.

So I made my way up Friday evening and apart from the ‘no-show’ pickup at Chesterfield station (Mobster no like, Mobster mutter much) it was golden. On arrival at the gym it was easy to see that 95% of what was needed to be done had been done but in spite of a too many late, late nights (1 and 2am finishes) it was, for them, going to be another long one. Shelves would be stacked, surfaces polished and much sweeping up of the work dust from drilling was needed. I crashed at their place around midnight but Chris, Gemma and much of the crew were not done until 2am. However, I did get the tour and could see a huge effort had been made.

The building had been a former Victorian age school block and the base refurbishment work had been done before the Hart’s decided it would make an awesome gym space. Not only do they have a proper slick looking reception area but also there’s a juice bar cum supplements shop, a separate women’s training and weights area, aerobics studio, cardio suite and a great deal more. Once working I spent most of my time in the gym machines and free-weights space front (the focus as it is in most clubs) which had dumbbells to about 140lbs, enough plates inc some 25-kilos ones and an assortment of goodies sufficient to give most a great workout. If you get a chance pop in do the door and give it a go.

Saturday found us back in doing some last minute bits and bobs with the 10am ‘big show’ looming. One idea of Chris’s, which saw me with a very small pen-knife furiously cutting a scissor shape void out of an Argos brochure was that he’d do the ‘thanks for coming’ speech to the assembled throng, ask for the scissors to cut the ribbon and turn to me and say ‘Mobby’ and I’d go ‘raarrggghhh’ rip the book in half and out they popped. Good grief it worked!! So they 30-50 or so waiting gave us a round of applause and open she was!

Obviously the crew set to work welcoming everyone, giving tours and so on. With cake, snacks and drinks on hand for the day they were kept fed and watered. For my part I set up some toys to play with. I’d brought down my old and stiff Rolling Thunder handle, clip and pin. Added was a pair of Fat Gripz, a talking grip tester and I’d planned on doing some heavy ass one hand deadlifts. Around 11-1130 or so I did my first show working up to a 180-kilo one-hand Deadlift hook grip style. Not too sniffy considering I’d done nothing for it in months. I made sure, when not on show, to say hi and chat with people. Throughout the day I’d dig out the grip testers and get all and sundry to compete against each other to see who could do what. It was and is an easy way, without chalk or other specialized equipment to have friendly goes with no real risk of harm etc. Plus they could see how close to me they got.

Snacking on cake and much caffeine to keep me going all day long the grip tester was handed around. I’d affixed one of the fat grips to a 140+ pounds dumbbell and while many of the lads could pick up the bell sans handle with it… that was not happening. I, of course, did it with thumb over and thumbless and with either hand. I took as many opportunities as possible to show how squeezing or gripping the handles hard on exercises helps with a greater contraction. Thus, in ‘selling grip’ I’d demonstrate the usefulness of a little hand strength training.

But, as you’d imagine, me showing off was the entertainment. At the mid way through session the Rolling Thunder handle (my old stiffer one) was dug out and a challenge match of sorts was on. With, as is the norm, a few guys hanging in at around 60-75-kilos or so we ended up with one of the taller lads pulling a hard earned 95-kilos load. I then come back in and, again with either hand, pull it – but for 3 reps! I then, after a very quick breather, got one of the guys to bang another 20kg disc for a 115-kilo plus set up total and pulled that. I decided that a 170-kilo lift on the one hand Deadlift – hook grip as before – would suffice this time around but intended saving the biggest pull for the last run around. With the crowds starting to thin towards the end of the day I set a 4pm or so dealine for the last big effort.

Having chatted with some regulars as well as would be new members (lots of fun) and watching the fit girls in the cardio room I told Chris etc that I’d do the big pull. I knew he’d been busy with clients etc early on. I also knew that he’d not seen what I could do with the heavy free weights as we’d been limited to what we could use at the NEC/Bodypower gig. As I’d mentioned to one group during the day, big crowd displays suit lifting of objects over a bar and weights. While most gym users will appreciate what a bar and discs weighs not all of the public or uneducated will. Anyway, I ran through a quick blaster session of yet another Argos catalog (the last one left), the thick handled dumbbell pull and then banged my way through warm-up sets on the barbell. So no bar for reps, 60-kilos, 100-kilos, 140-kilos all fell quite quickly. I took another breather and asked for 200kg. On walking back I noticed that it was 5 wheels a side, which is 220!! Ahem gents can you make those outer discs 10kg plates and thus 200 rather than try and kill me.

Now it’s been some time, using a proper straight bar (it could have spun a little more freely), having pulled 2 biggish weights and lifted, squeezed and gripped through the day I now had the pressure of needing to pull and put on a show. As one lad said after ‘I thought it was only going to come up and inch or two’. But chalk, belt and pride play their place and so with a real gut busting effort I managed 200-kilos above the knees to a nice round of applause and me feeling a little giddy. I’m fairly certain that I had nothing left to give so thank goodness we were done.

The day ended with a very welcome beer or two and some nice thanks. I may have got back to Gloucester at 10pm on a Saturday night when my usual preference would have been feet up and face buried in an ice-cream tub but it was, as it always is, a hell of an enjoyable experience. I’m hoping to do some grip/sports performance seminars back in the gym towards the end of January. Watch this space!

Octobers 2010 coming magazines

Flex (oops... poor Kai was well out of the running this time)
Muscle Mag... for some reason I have a hunch this will sell well.


More...

Best Olympia 2010 image?

If last years transitional image of Jay was it then is this the best from this years?

Jay Cutler is the 2010 and 4th time Mr Olympia

Other results are:

2. Phil Heath

3. Branch Warren

4. Dexter Jackson

5. Dennis Wolf

6. Ronny Rockel

More Mr O images

Erik F's calves are quite simply out of this world... amazing! The Croc shoes... queer. LOL

Mr O competitiors meeting

A chance before the big day to see if we can see how drawn and lean anyone looks. Dexter looks drawn, Heaths forearms are unreal, Jay looks dry, Roelly looks drawn, Wolf borderline, Paco's arms...

Mr Olympia build up builds up pace

More and more photos are appearing on an almost daily basis (gotta love the internet). This year, more than ever before digital technology has allowed us to see the last few days of preparation and condition like never before. Take the attached image of Roelly (nice detail in the delts) training at what looks like the Mecca, Gold's Gym - Venice Beach, Calif. I'm sure we will see more.

Our best chance for the 202 Olympia?

Looks like it right now. James Llewellin looks 'Gnarly!' (thanks to IB of MT).

Benny shows he's getting read for the Bolton deadlift challenge

Benny does 400 for 5 reps

World's Strongest Hands series - leg 2

I won. Another, relative to what I have done and can do, off day on the pinch still saw me place 2nd on that lift. Followed by a 3 way tie for 1st on the Wrist Developer (I may not like it but I seem ok at it) and a tied 2nd on the Vulcan was enough over all to secure me a first place. Leg three is in about 5 weeks time and I already made plans on what I'd like to do on that day - enough again across the board rather than out and out wins. We'll see.

Andy Bolton competing in grip competition... true!

Pic of H, Andy and myself from 2008 (?) when he came to the yard for some grip training advice from Paul Savage and myself.

Yep, I can barely believe it myself but Andy contacted me via facebook this week and asked for a date to compete in a grip competition. So... he'll be here on December the 18th for our annual Whey Power Challenge and I've made sure the two handed pinch is the grip event. He's done a very nice number (later, later) which was done around the same time as his 1008lb deadlift. Make of that what you will.

Learning something new every day...

I had no idea that David Blaine, trickster, was also a strength fiend. He's a buddy of Dennis Rogers:

Magazines this month

Kai Greene update

Side Tricep... mere weeks to go

Spud Inc 525lb dumbbell

I Like. Those are 25lbs plates

Another Facebook photo you may not have seen

Ben Edwards posted this one. Gary Heisey and some monster bencher and a bloke trying not to look out of place between the freaks.

Ronnie WILL compete again

But NOT at the Mr O. I just saw this link: http://jarkasgym.com/ifbb So I then I did some searching and Ronnie, it seems, IS competing in the 2011 event. With $200k to share among themselves the winners will have something to aim for.

Mr O... those last few week photos begin

You know the kind. The ones 'leaked' so that others can see how X, Y and Z are looking a few weeks out. Here's Victor Martinez's:

Now Flex goes with their fave

Damn I was wrong... :(

Is MD predicting the Mr O outcome?

Will Flex feature Kai on their cover?

Phil Heath... wow!

Ignoring the Muscletech logo.... OMG!

He says 'I'm not competing' but...

Looks pretty gnarly for someone NOT getting into contest shape.

Fatgripz

As per an earlier post this week I said I'd be reviewing two products. Well of the two I LOVED the Fatgripz. You can buy them from my mates at Ultimate Grip (click the link) who sent me the products to begin with.

They are easy to take on and off, solid and do what they claim. However, as I am a 'grip guy' I'm gonna be used to thick handles so I took them to the other gym I use (Gymnation, Alfred St, Glos) so that the typical gym user, unfamiliar with both the product and thick bar/handles, could give them a spin.

They LOVED them too! Comments like 'feels like 15 more pounds on the bar' and 'oowwww000 that burns' (in a good way) came.

While they aren't cheap at £40.00 a pair plus P&P they should last a long old time and Charles at UG tells me that he hopes to bring down the price if the volume allows him a better deal with the parent company he imports them from.

If you buy a set, let Charles et al know it was me that sent ya!

Kai 5 weeks out

Wow

Product tests and reviews 1

I'll be reviewing and testing equipment for www.ultimategrip.co.uk (manufactured by www.monsterbars.com made up of a pair of Fatgripz (tm) and a Forearm Bar. I took some photos and may have some initial thoughts to include in my review for UG

Click or double click on the images to see massive versions of them
A pair of Fatgripz on our 400kg tyre.One added to an 80-kilo pro-style dumbbellThe forearm bar as it comes (note push pin)And assembled in seconds

World's Strongest Hands - leg 1 results

This past Saturday (14th) saw leg 1 of the WSH four legged event. You can see the results HERE

I managed 2nd out of 59 athletes - not too bad considering it was only 2 weeks after the Euro competition

David Horne's - Worlds Strongest Hands

Today's the day. Who will, time differences allowed, be the winner of the first of four series events? I fancy I'll do ok on the first two (2HP and Vulcan) but not so well on the reverse DH Wrist Developer. If my hands feel ok, as I have been saying this week, I'll also take a crack at what seems to me to be a low 305lbs 2" V-Bar record.

As per a post elsewhere: for whom does the bell toll?

One to wet the tastebuds

While I wait for my man G to work out how I can add lots of grip and 'me' related articles to www.stevegardener.com here's one to show you what I intend adding to the site.

WHY TRAIN GRIP?

Ok, some advice from a grip guy – one who specializes in grip. Are you ready? Perhaps you’ll be persuaded to add 20 or so minutes grip work into your current training program. Andy Bolton, the greatest deadlifter of all time (current WR 1008lbs) did as does Laurence Shahlaei, WSM finalist.

Lets start with whom I am and some brief info on what I’ve thus far managed to achieve: My name is Steve Gardener and I am the 4x British Grip Champion (06,08 09 and the current champ in 2010). I am also a 2x European Grip champion and the only one to have successfully defended his title with a 2008 and 2010 win. I have, thus far, closed the toughest gripper in competition (rated using what is called a ‘red neck gripper calibrator’) being a Ironmind CoC 4 rated at 207lbs. I’ve the British record for 2 hand pinching (placing me No 3 in the world rankings) with a 115.5-kilo effort. I could carry on – sufficient to say I ‘know grip’.

Now onwards – I often train not only at my own very basic no frills hardcore old school (all spit and no sawdust) facility but also at a local gym. I’m often asked by newbies there and occasionally online why they should train grip. So here are a few reasons to illustrate why you should be gripping your way around the gym.

Lose the straps – too, too many people that use the gym use wrist straps to support their grip. They argue that their grip gives out on many, many pulling movements. Be that a Deadlift (very common), most forms of rowing and lat pull-downs/chins.

Monstrous forearms - Unless where you live is sunny all year round the reality will be that for SOME of the year you’ll be seen in t-shirts and only will that become a vest or better, no vest, in the hottest times of year. During the times when you can wear a t-shirt the forearms will be the only actual muscle on display. Sure you may fill out the shirt well but no on can actually see a thing other than the shape. Me? I look like Popeye and 90% of people can see that I work out. It’s not just the swagger and being well in excess of 280lbs most of the time it’s the meat between my elbow and wrist.

Greater reps / Better muscle contraction – see also greater strength. This works both ways so I’ll merely copy and paste this passage for both. It’s based on actual science. Now bear with me: it goes thus. In tests done some time ago lifters were asked to squeeze as they lifted (I’m sure someone like me was cajoling them through a set or maximum effort). When I’ve illustrated this I get the lifter to do an open handed set (thumbless is ideal) say on a bench press type machine. Then one set with a light ‘just there’ grip. Finally a set where they squeeze like they intend leaving grooves in the handles where their fingers sat. I get them to squeeze with the fingertips, thumb, palm, the full monty and HARD ALL the way through. Is it easy? Is it hell! The forearm burns. But here’s the thing and this, as before, proved in scientific tests, MORE MUSCLE FIBRES ARE ACTIVATED. Now in a 1RM (1 rep max) that means typically 5% MORE WEIGHT can be pushed. And in a multi-rep set it means MORE REPS, which you know means more muscle fibres will be broken down and providing you rest enough you’ve stimulated more muscle growth.

Read that last part again – squeezing the bar hard makes you stronger and build more muscle. But it is hard work. So working the grip means you can squeeze hard without getting too tired too quickly.

Greater strength / Better muscle contraction – see also more reps. This works both ways so I’ll merely copy and paste this passage for both. It’s based on actual science. Now bear with me: it goes thus. In tests done some time ago lifters were asked to squeeze as they lifted (I’m sure someone like me was cajoling them through a set or maximum effort). When I’ve illustrated this I get the lifter to do an open handed set (thumbless is ideal) say on a bench press type machine. Then one set with a light ‘just there’ grip. Finally a set where they squeeze like they intend leaving grooves in the handles where their fingers sat. I get them to squeeze with the fingertips, thumb, palm, the full monty and HARD ALL the way through. Is it easy? Is it hell! The forearm burns. But here’s the thing and this, as before, proved in scientific tests, MORE MUSCLE FIBRES ARE ACTIVATED. Now in a 1RM (1 rep max) that means 5% MORE WEIGHT can be pushed. And in a multi-rep set it means MORE REPS, which you know means more muscle fibres will be broken down and providing you rest enough you’ve stimulated more muscle growth.

Read that last part again – squeezing the bar hard makes you stronger and build more muscle. But it is hard work. So working the grip means you can squeeze hard without getting too tired too quickly.

Day to day - Yep we’re on to that old jam jar lid. Whether it’s that or a screwdriver, holding onto your handlebars when out biking or any activity in normal outside the gym use working grip will mean you have the strength to do these activities without being too tired or weak. The clincher has been for many a ‘manly’ grip. I’ve written elsewhere about handshakes, be they the traditional version or soul brother/bro style the clench/shake still shows you to be strong and, as many a salesman and politician will tell you, trustworthy. Those who hassle you can know in a moment you might be more work than you look just based on that moment they shook your hand and looked you in the eye. A salesman in a car showroom might take you a little more seriously than he was going to you before. Me? I have to hold back from hurting people – yes really.

Now in future articles I’ll deal with specific ideas and suggestions for training. I tend towards looking at athletes to see where the weakness lies rather than something generic. I’ll also suggest how you can work out what sets and reps to use when making up your own routine.

In the meantime buy by Gripper e-book at www.gripperbook.com or contact me for some one to one online (and occasionally by appointment only personal training. Rates are reasonable.

Powerlifting USA cover

Next months Flex cover - which one will be used?

US Flexonline.com version or
Gunter's looking in shape.

David Henry a few hours before stage time

Another IB from MT found pic (MD originally). The chest/pectoral development... off the peg:

Kai Greene looking monsterous

Check him out at 294lbs

Euro write up

Monday
Silly o'clock in the morning at Amsterdam airport...a few minutes left on the clock so here I am posting before I catch a 1050 flight back to Bristol. Then feed the cats, pack orders and crash and burn in that order.Bare in mind thesestupidkeyboardsticks(yes) and I'm tired. I'll get it all down asap.

This weekend I won my second (and consecutive as I won the last one) European Grip Championships. It went exactly as predicted.I hated every minute of an otherwise uneventful journey out. More on that later,arrived well enough then had problems using my mobile in Spain (+ or 0... why would it not work!!) eventually the host and promoter found me (no doubt looking moody ha ha). The Hotel, as I later found, cannot understand emails (2 nights with breakfast morons, not one without grrr). But I'm wasting time so lets get to the show.

Saturday
There was, as per, 5 events. This time it was grippers, 2-hand pinch, thick bar (axle) double over hand deadlift, one hand deadlift and weaver.

Grippers: I came 2nd. Although I closed a harder gripper with my right Gabriel Sum closed a better combined total to take the lead but by a small margin (important as we will see). There were no mistakes unlike the last Euros.

Scores (left/right and total)

Right Hand
1. Steve: 3.54
2. Gabriel:3.45
3. Jorge: 3.17
4. Stew: 3.1
5. Pablo: 2.84
6. German: 2.7
6. Rene: 2.7

Left Hand
1. Gabriel: 3.59
2. Steve: 3.26
3. Jorge: 2.84
3. Stew: 2.84
5. Pablo: 2.32
5. Rene: 2.32
7. German: 2.19

Total:
1. Gabriel: 7.04
2. Steve: 6.8
3. Jorge: 6.01
4. Stew: 5.94
5. Pablo: 5.16
6. Rene: 5.02
7. German: 4.89

Two hand pinch I killed this. The next best was Gabriel's 88-kilos or so (88.85kg) and I did a mahoosive 112+. This made me not just 1st but first by some margin. Indeed, I won with my opening lift (97??) and then carried on to make the damage worse. I think I went 97.2, 102.2, 107.2 and ended on the 112.2. The Spanish humidity made an attempt at an WR not a great idea.

Scores
1. Steve: 112.2 k
2. Gabriel: 88.85 k
2. Stew: 88.85 k
4. Pablo: 79.35 k
5. Jorge: 71.35 k
6. German: 64.35 k
7. Rene: no valid lift

Double over-hand thick bar deadlift. I followed this pattern again by opening with 165-kilos where the 2nd place guy ended up, then doing 180, 200 and finally taking 216kg. As it was not an official IM Apollons Axle it may not count as a record but I'll let everyone else worry about that (too tired to give a **** right now). The official scores show Gabriel pulling 170-kilos for his final best effort (a bunch of guys bombed as the weigh fell from their hands) but I opened with 5kg less!

Scores
1. Steve: 216 k - New European Record.
2. Gabriel: 170 k
3. Stew: 150 k
3. Jorge: 150 k
3. Rene: 150 k
6. Pablo: 142.5 k
7. German: 130 k

One hand deadlift (thumb over): again the same pattern. Most were done and dusted at 120kg and I'd pulled WR level 152.5kg once in training. So I did 120kg, 130kg, 140kg and then (as above) using the promoters record breaker discs (so-called little gems of 125g, 250g and so on) I pulled a tiny bit more than the old 151kg WR. So now I had potentially not only a EU record (?) but a WR in the same meet. One might say it was going according to plan...

Score
1. Steve: - right hand 151.95 k - New World Record
2. Gabriel: - left hand 120.45 k
3. Pablo: - right hand 112.95 k
4. Stew: - left hand 110.45 k
4. German: - right hand 110.45 k
4. Rene: - right hand 110.45 k
7. Jorge: - right hand 105.45 k
Weaver to the rear: Some of the guys had been a little confused by the rising bar rule earlier on and now Gabriel was thrown by the clearly explained 'if you used you right on the one hand deadlift you must use your left or vice versa. Speaking to him he said that he'd only trained one hand- wtf? I'd been nagging/advising fellow Brit Stew Killick, throughout and now, with this event his anyway, here was his chance to get a few percentage points ahead of Gabiel and take 2nd overall behind me. So it was, Gabriel did 4kg and with everyone else out, it was just me and Stew left. Using my left hand (one hand deadlifting with my right) I did enough for another 2nd place (3 firsts and 2 2nds meant I was about 80+pts ahead of the next guy). Not only had I won but it was a British 1 and 2 so our team slaughtered Johhny foreigner ha ha

Score
1. Stew: -right hand 7 k
2. Steve: - left hand 6.4 k
3. Rene: - left hand 5 k
4. Jorge: - left hand 4.75 k
5. Pablo: - left hand 4.5 k
6. German: - left hand 4.25 k
7. Gabriel: - right hand 4 k
More when fed, watered and rested...

Final Results:
1. Steve Gardener (England): 487.99
2. Stew Killick (England : 405.59
3. Gabriel Sum (Germany): 394.22
4. Jorge Gonzalez (Spain) : 355.54
5. Pablo Garcia (Spain) : 348.42
6. German (Spain) : 320.29
7. Rene Kirschner (Germany : 282.44

By teams:

1. England: 13 points
2. Spain: 9 points
3. Germany: 6 points

As Jose says elsewhere we then went out with Feleces (?) a huge Spanish powerlifter and loader for the day and talk utter shite and BS (as one does) about all things strength. The beer and burgers helped. I had an issue with the hotel in that they'd emptied my room even though I had booked for TWO NIGHTS!! via the internet. This was followed by being out of the room at 12 noon on Sunday which meant I literally sat around, slowly getting sun burnt, until my pre-arranged pick up six hours later. As my phone battery had died it was all I could do.

All was well at Madrid airport but the 11 hour wait at Amsterdam is BORING!! and time I will never get back. Then, minutes after we took off (around 11am the next day) we had to make a u-turn over the North Sea as an engine was playing up. That's a first. I started goofing off and laughing (scenes from Father Ted etc played through my head) otherwise my tired ass, gritty eyes and surly demeanor for what was an already over long journey would have meant a popped blood vessel.

Regardless of my usual old age grumblings on the journey, the bed, etc I must pass on my thanks to Jose. A stellar promoter and ref and he took me everywhere I needed to go with good grace. Cheers Jose.

Two new records and two times Euro champ

I'll be doing a full write up but sufficient to say I came, saw and kicked Euro ass

A new direction for Dorian?

Video series

Flex Lewis DVD

Having met Flex in person (NEC/Bodypower this year) I have to say his arms, forearms and thickness overall were outstanding. Watch the DVD to see how he got them.

Rich Williams wr axle lift

As with the last post from the Sorinex FB pages... awesome lift