The year 2014 saw Guyana’s powerlifters once again returning with a treasure chest of medals after competing on the international stage.
As customary, the gladiators of Guyana’s most successful indoor sport kept the Golden Arrowhead flying high at the Caribbean Championships.
Despite battling its longtime rival, sponsorship, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) staged all of its local scheduled championships which showcased the emergence of a fresh crop strong men and women.
The seasoned lifters also proved that they have a lot left in their tanks.
However, compared to the outstanding years from 2009 to 2013, this year would be best characterized as very challenging with the federation’s main problems encompassing administrative issues, the curtailing of international participation, a total emphasis on regrouping with strict anti-doping awareness/education measures put in place for its lifters, sourcing of funding and reduction of financial debts incurred as a result of an anti-doping violation by one of its lifters last year.
Nevertheless, the GAPF weathered the storm and continued its journey. The 2014 goals were revised and successfully achieved. Participation in the sport since its resuscitation in 2008 continues to enjoy steady if not spectacular growth with the federation successfully hosting its five local championships consisting of the Novices as well as the Sub juniors and juniors (April), Intermediate as well as the Claude Charles Memorial for Masters (June) and the Senior National Open (November).
Many new and promising lifters debuted alongside of the more established lifters in both male and female categories. Outstanding amongst these lifters for 2014 were Andrea Smith (57kg), Chloe Hunter (57kg) and Natoya Robinson 84+kg in the women’s categories, Kevin Brijlall 59kg (Sub juniors), Vijai Rahim 66kg (Juniors and Open), Roger Calendar 83kg (Open novices and intermediate), Anis Ade Thomas 83kg (Open seniors), Farouk Abdool 120kg (Open seniors) and Guyana’s only world record holder / former World Champion Winston Stoby (Masters).
Internationally, the GAPF selected a six-man National Men Open team of mainly inexperienced lifters at this year’s Caribbean Championships. The lifters performed beyond expectations in surprising the nation as they all had podium finishes. Gold medalists were Osmond Mack 74kg, Germaine Snagg 83kg and Mariano Jeffrey 93kg. Paul Adams 74kg and Karel Mars 105kg snared silver medals while bronze went to Erwyn Smith 83kg. The athletes lifted their hearts out to keep the Golden Arrowhead flying despite relinquishing the team title to a very strong eight-man Puerto Rico team to place second with the US Virgin Islands in third and Trinidad and Tobago fourth.
Guyanese Powerlifters continued to make their presence felt with records in various lifts in different weight class categories within the affiliated bodies of the IPF being maintained or broken. Current listed International Record Holders (Equipped Powerlifting):
- International Powerlifting –
World Men Masters Category two
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby Deadlift 277.5kgs
- Commonwealth Powerlifting –
Men’s Sub Junior category
53kg weight class Gumendra Shewdas squat 192.5kg, deadlift 207.5kg, total 497.5kg,
Men Junior Category
Gumendra Shewdas deadlift 207.5kg
Men Masters category one
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby deadlift 277.5kg,
Men Masters Category two
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby squat 255kg, deadlift 277.5kg and total 667.5kg
- South American Powerlifting-
Men Open category
83kg weight class Randolph Morgan deadlift 330kgs
Sub junior category
53kg weight class Gumendra Shewdas squat 192.5kg, Deadlift 207.5kgs, total 497.5kgs
Masters one category
120kg weight class John Edwards squat 220kgs,
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby deadlift 277.5kgs,
Masters two category
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby squat 255kgs, deadlift 277.5kgs, total 667.5kgs
- Caribbean Powerlifting –
Women Open category
84+kg weight class Dawn Barker squat 240kgs
Men junior category
53kg weight class Gumendra Shewdas squat 192.5kg, Bench 77.50kg, Deadlift 207.5kg and Total 497.5kg
66kg weight class Vijai Rahim squat 250kg, Deadlift 250kg, Total 627.5kg
83kg weight class Anis Ade Thomas squat 252.5kg, Deadlift 292.5kg, Total 672.5kg
105kg weight class Kenneth Melville Squat 282.5kg, Bench 155kg, Deadlift 257.5kg, Total 695kg
Men Open Category
59kg weight class Vijai Rahim Deadlift 225kg
66kg weight class Vijai Rahim squat 250kg, Deadlift 250kg, Total 627.5kg
74kg weight class Osmond Mack squat 255kg
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby deadlift 267.5kg Total 645.5kg
83kg weight class Randolph Morgan squat 300, Bench 220kg, Deadlift 330kg, Total 837.5kg
Men Masters One Category
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, deadlift 277.5kg Total 670kg
120kg weight class John Edwards squat 350kg, bench 220kg, Total 860kg
Men Masters two category
74kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, deadlift 277.5kg Total 670kg
83kg weight class Winston Frank Stoby squat 255kg, Bench 137.5kg, deadlift 277.5kg Total 670kg
93kg weight class Errol Henry deadlift 242.5kg
The federation’s workhorse president, Peter Green said that he was grateful for entities like Fitness Express, United Mega Store, Trophy Stall, Ansa McAL, various lifters’ individual sponsors along with the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Commission who played prominent roles in sustaining the sport in 2014 for which the federation and its membership remain eternally grateful and hope to continue in 2015.
