Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 12, 2011 Sports
President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) is adamant that the sport has recorded a commanding 2010 given the performances of its athletes locally, regionally and internationally.
Green, in reflecting on a very encouraging year also believes that the Federation from an administrative point of view did well given the short period of time the sport has been revitalized.
The GAPF’s programme for 2010 according to Green encompassed the continuation of its five year program for 2008 – 2012 with the holding of Promotional and Awareness Programs as well as the annual domestic sporting activities, Referee and Coaching clinics among other activities.
Outstanding achievements by the Federation for the year 2010 at the international level included the historic hosting of the 4th Annual Caribbean Islands Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships which was done in association with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport.
Guyana captured the Men’s Team title as well as a number of gold, silver and bronze medals competing against the best from the Caribbean.
Despite the weakened attendance at the North American Regional as well as the Central American and Caribbean Games Championships in Puerto Rico with a 4-member team competing against full strength (8) teams, Guyana became the first Caribbean Country to win the prestigious Best Lifter Men’s Open overall award at both the Caribbean and Central American & Caribbean Championship levels through Randolph Morgan.
At the World Congress held in Potchefstroom South Africa, the World Governing Body (IPF) voted unanimously to move the GAPF from Provisional (with no voting rights) to Full membership (with voting rights).
Local Competitions
Three local competitions were held during the year in review with sponsorship provided by local Beverage Giants, Banks DIH Limited under their Power Stout brand.
In March, the Novices competition which serves as the base for new athletes competing for the first time was held.
The month of July saw the Intermediate/Claude Charles Memorial competition taking place. This allows for the upward progress of athletes (not too seasoned) as well as junior lifters and the Masters.
The premier championship – seniors – was hosted in October and was well attended.
Outstanding athletes – Local
Outstanding performances at both the local and international levels in 2010 were the order of the day, with records being broken in various categories as well as emerging new talent unveiled.
For the Sub Juniors 18-year-old Vijai Rahim in his last year at this level failed in his attempt to break the existing world Sub Junior dead lift record of 221.5kgs with a personal best lift of 215.0kgs. This however bettered the NAPF Regional Record of 210.0kgs. Unfortunately Rahim could not ratify this record as well as his attempt the Worlds at the NAPF Regional Championships in Puerto Rico in August due to visa denial.
Wazeem Immamdeen, also in his last year at the Junior level was outstanding setting a new 60.0 kg National dead lift record of 195.0kgs surpassing his own previous best of 193.5kg. Both lifters hold the junior and senior titles at the National Level.
Kenneth Melville, the GAPF’s Best lifter (junior) who hails from Essequibo was considered the find of the year. Melville captured the novices and intermediate junior titles in his first year of competition which saw him storming into the National Team for the inaugural Central American and Caribbean Games Powerlifting championships held in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in August. He continued his dream run by taking bronze in the in the Men’s open category.
Lifting at the NAPF Regional Championships (also in Puerto Rico) Melville gained a silver in the overall best lifter junior male category. A pinched nerve to his back prevented him from taking part in the Senior Nationals in October.
Colin ‘Mr. Clean’ Chesney, arguably Linden’s strongest man, made a welcome return to winning ways when he took the top spot in the heavyweight 125.0kg class and also placed as the overall runner-up to 100kg class champion and overall best lifter Karel Mars.
Dawn Barker, also of Linden and possibly Linden’s strongest woman, also made a welcome come back to competition having retired in 2006 as Guyana’s first female to squat over 400lbs. Barker is tipped to make waves at the international level in 2011.
International
The Federation took part in Three International Championships under the auspices of the International Powerlifting and the North American Powerlifting Federations, namely; the 4th IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Powerlifting & Bench Press Championships. The 8th IPF/NAPF Regional Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships and the Inaugural IPF/NAPF/CAC Games Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships.
Fourth Annual IPF/NAPF Caribbean Islands Powerlifting Championships – Georgetown, Guyana
History was created in the Powerlifting circles in Guyana when the Federation in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for the first time ever hosted the above mentioned International Powerlifting Championships in Georgetown Guyana from March 18 – 20, 2010 at the Princess Hotel. Representative lifters from Trinidad and Tobago, USA, USVI, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and the host nation participated.
Team Guyana with a full complement of 10 lifters in the Men’s open were able to capture the Overall Men’s team title with an overwhelming total of 69 points from Trinidad and Tobago (38) and the US Virgin Islands (24) second and third, respectively.
Randolph Morgan competing for the second time at this championship, broke the North American and Caribbean Islands Bench press record on his way to capturing the overall title of Caribbean Best Lifter as well as the gold medal in his weight class (82.5kg). He has now achieved the distinction of being the only Guyanese and Caribbean athlete to win consecutive best lifter overall titles.
Green noted that the contributions of the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, National Communications Network in airing and broadcasting the championships live enabled the Federation the crucial support needed to showcase Powerlifting Guyana. He said the Ministry of Tourism also played a role with the distribution of information packages to the overseas athletes and officials.
Winners Row (Team Guyana) – Caribbean Championships
Weight Class Category Lifter Podium Finish
56.0kg Men Sub-junior Vijai Rahim Gold
60.0kg Men sub-junior Tariq Immamdeen Silver
Overall Men Junior Wazeem Immamdeen Bronze
Overall Men junior Anis Ade Thomas Silver
60.0kg Men Open Wazeem Immamdeen Gold
75.0kg Men Open Ryan Williams Gold
82.5kg Men Open Randolph Morgan Gold
100.0kg Men Open Karel Mars Silver
110.0kg Men Open Farouk Abdool Gold
110.0kg Men Open Richard Seymour Silver
125.0kg Men Open John Edwards Gold
Weight Class Category Lifter Podium Finish
Overall (40 -49) Masters M-1A Bhojkumar Jagnarine Gold
Overall (40-49) Masters M-1A Farouk Abdool Gold
Overall (40-49) Masters M-1B John Edwards Gold
Overall (50-59) Masters M-2 Winston Stoby Gold
Overall (50-59) Masters M-2 Errol Henry Silver
Best Lifter Overall – Male Open Randolph Morgan Guyana
Best Lifter Overall – Female Open Migdalia Fernandez Puerto Rico
Best Lifter Overall – Male Masters John Edwards Guyana
Best Lifter Overall – Female Masters Paula Smith USVI
Best Lifter Juniors – Male Ramon Burgos Puerto Rico
8th annual IPF/NAPF Regional Powerlifting Championships – Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
This is considered the Premier event on the North American Power lifting Federation’s Calendar as it brings together well over 23 countries from North America and the Caribbean with a field of over one hundred plus of the lifters.
While fielding a weakened team of four lifters due to the non-granting of visas, Guyana still managed to place 6th among 11 Nations. The USA and Puerto Rico (now forewarned) selected very strong fields of 10 lifters each with the resulting scores of Team Puerto Rico and Team USA both scoring 61 points with Team Puerto Rico gaining the nod for gold.
Winston Stoby, Randolph Morgan and Kenneth Melville all performed well.
Winners Row (Guyana)
Weight Class Category Lifter Podium Finish
Overall Men Junior Kenneth Melville Silver
75.0kg Men Open Winston Stoby Gold
82.5kg Men Open Randolph Morgan Silver
Overall Masters M2 Winston Stoby Silver
1st IPF/NAPF Central American & Caribbean Games Championships – Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
This was the inaugural Central American and Caribbean Games Powerlifting Championships held in conjunction with the NAPF Regional. Once again due to the smaller size of the team Guyana placed 5th out of 9 countries with Puerto Rico in the top spot, Mexico 2nd and Trinidad & Tobago 3rd.
Randolph Morgan continued with another vintage performance coming from behind entering the dead lift segment where he needed to lift an extra 25kgs in order to win since he was 3rd at that point. HE proved that his accomplishments to date have been due to his steely and die hard performances by achieving the 25kgs to win gold ahead of Puerto Rico’s Luis Tapia.
Winston Stoby also continued his unstoppable march in the 75.0kg class as he replicated his performances at the Regional Championships defeating David Salgado of Mexico.
Kenneth Melville continued to impress despite being a junior lifter with the big men, he took the bronze medal behind NAPF 2010 Hall of famer Harold Milan of Puerto Rico and Marcos Porras of Mexico.
Winners Row (Guyana – CAC Games Power lifting Championships
Weight Class Category Lifter Podium Finish
75.0kg Men Open Winston Stoby Gold
82.5kg Men Open Randolph Morgan Gold
110.0kg Men Open Kenneth Melville Bronze
Overall Best Lifter Men Open Randolph Morgan Guyana
International Recognition – Full Membership of the IPF
At the Annual General Congress by the World Body for Powerlifting held in Potchefstroom South Africa in December, the Federation’s proposal for Full Membership with voting rights was unanimously accepted upon the recommendation of the Law and Legislation Committee which was high in praise of Guyana’s constitution. The GAPF has now moved from its’ previous status of Provisional Member to Full Member.
Guyana is also affiliated to the following Regional Bodies, North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF), South American Powerlifting Federation (FESUPO) and the Commonwealth Power lifting Federation (CPF).
Outstanding Athletes for 2010 Male (senior)
Randolph Morgan – Caribbean Champion 82.5kg class 2009, 2010; Caribbean Best Lifter title overall 2009, 2010; Central American & Caribbean Games Champion 82.5kg class 2010; Central American & Caribbean Games Best lifter Overall 2010; North American Regional Runner up 82.5kg class 2010.
Kenneth Melville (Male Junior) – National Novices Junior Champion 110.0kg class; National Intermediate Junior Champion 110.0kg class; Highest ranked Junior Champion 110.0kg class; North American Regional runner up Juniors overall; Central American and Caribbean Games Bronze Medalist (Men’s Open).
Winston Stoby (Masters Overall)- 2010 Caribbean Champion overall Masters M2; 2010 North American Champion 75.0kg class Masters M2; 2010 CAC Games Champion 75.0kg Men Open; 2010 IPF World ranked No. 1 Masters M2 75.0kg class.
Dawn Barker (Female open) – National Champion and only female to date to squat over 400lbs.
The GAPF has extended sincere thanks to the many corporate entities that have supported them to ensure that 2010 was a resounding success. They are Banks DIH Ltd, Hand in Hand Group of Companies, Sterling Products Ltd, Guyana Telephone &Telegraph Company, Courts (Guy) Ltd, BK International Inc., Buddies Gym, Fitness Express, IPA, Citizens Bank, TCL Cement Ltd, Nigel’s Supermarket, Lens, R. Bassoo & Sons and Action Tyre.
GAPF’s Programmes for 2011-2012 (Local)
Programs planned for 2011 / 2012 will see the Federation attempting to have the following up and running;
Women’s Power lifting (revival); Joint Services Power lifting (new); Hinter land Power lifting (new); Schools Power lifting (new); Blind and visually impaired Power lifting (new).
International – As a full member of the World body for Powerlifting (IPF), the Federation will now commence lobbying for the right to host Regional as well as World Championships. Strategically located between North and South America, The Federation believes that it has the potential to become a powerhouse for International Championships.
Guyana has been given the green light to host the 8th IPF / NAPF Caribbean Championships in 2014.
At the NAPF Congress held in August 2010, the accolades received from hosting a successful International event won the Federation the unanimous decision to host the 8th Annual Caribbean Championships in 2014.
At FESUPO Congress in July 2011 the GAPF will be making a bid to host the South American Championships, also in 2014.
An inaugural Border Championships is in the works and is tentatively billed for Lethem sometime in November 2011 featuring lifters from Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. Ongoing efforts are also being made to bring Suriname and French Guiana into an annual Inter Guianas Powerlifting Championships.
2011 Calendar – Local
February 20th Novices & Juniors Championships – Corriverton Berbice
April 24th Team Bench Press (Raw) –Linden
May 29th Team Bench Press (Raw) – Essequibo Coast
June 26th Claude Charles Memorial / Intermediate P/L Championships – G/Town
August 1st Team Bench Press (Raw) – Georgetown / East Bank / East Coast
October 30th National Open P/L Championships
November (TBA) South America Border Club Championships – Lethem
International
March 23rd – 26th 5th Annual IPF /NAPF Caribbean P/L Championships – Cayman Islands
July Pan American P/L Championships – Argentina
September 29th – 4th IPF World Masters P/L Championships – Canada
December 1st – 4th Commonwealth P/L Championships – South Africa
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