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I.A.W.A. (UK) The Fourth IAWA (UK) Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Sports Evening - November 18th 2007 Held at The Coors Visitor Centre, Burton on Trent, Staffs. Almost 80 people gathered at the Coors visitor Centre at Burton on Trent for the fourth Bi Annual Induction ceremony of the IAWA (UK) Hall of Fame. The evening, which is always held together with sports entertainment and a meal, always attracts a large and enthusiastic crowd and this years event was no exception. From about 4.30pm people started arriving, travelling from all over Britain they were soon inside taking their seats and chatting and drinking with old friends, their was an air of nervous excitement with an action packed show in store and one or two surprises too! At 5.30pm, the host: Steve Gardner made the opening address, welcoming everyone and thanking them for attending what was going to be a super evening and a fitting tribute to those special guests amongst us who were to be inducted. Steve offered apologies for absence from sponsor and keen IAWA supporter Mr Roy Edwards of Health and Strength magazine, and Inducted members Frank Allen and Peter Ready, all of whom were otherwise disposed and disappointed at not being able to be present. Inducted members Steve Gardner and Steve Andrews welcomed two very special visiting guests with their respective partners, both Inducted members of the USAWA Weightlifting Hall of Fame : Mr John Vernacchio and Mr Denny Habecker. Right after the introduction the sporting entertainment started. The first person to take the platform was James Gardner, giving a demonstration on the Full Gardner lift. James holds the record for the heaviest lift with 60 kilos, and performed for the crowd a 55 kilo attempt, which still ranked in the top three lifts performed on that lift. The next item on the sporting agenda was a deadlift competition, where five members of the Powerhouse Gym all round weightlifting club performed the bodyweight deadlift for repetitions. With the thought in mind that 45 was the highest number of reps previously recorded in the record books, they set off. First up was Aaron Barnes who put up a good total of 30 reps, he was followed by 15 year old Mandy Hughes who did 28 reps but with her 33% allowance totalled 36 reps. Next to go was Andy Goddard who put up an amazing 47 reps, and that left two lifters. James Gardner set off at a good pace and passed Andys score to record a superb 60 repetitions, it was truly amazing and the crowd showed their respect with a tremendous round of applause, but Johnny Eccleshall was still to go and pacing himself through the ordeal he notched up 72 reps!...Unbelievable, but there it was, the crowd went wild with excitement, and justly so, the roof lifted off as they all came back on to receive their awards. The next item in the show was a spectacular appearance by Elizabeth Horne, the Strong Woman who goes by the name of Grip Girl. Elizabeth put on a great show, assisted by her coach and partner David Horne, who also gave a good demonstration of long bar bending. Elizabeth performed some amazing feats, passing around her body a 30 kilos disc using only a one hand pinch grip, and bending two six inch nails that were taped together. Elizabeth finished with a one hand hold, where she resisted the pull of two 100 kilo plus men both trying to pull her grip apart with ropes- all to no avail as ‘Grip girl’ stood strong. Elizabeth put on a super show and the crowd responded accordingly. Following the Strong Woman act was an item billed as a ‘head to head’ Challenge. The two guys concerned were in the audience, and both thought they were going to be taking part in an open Finger Lift Challenge along with others, little did they realise, it was just them! The two guys were great sports, neither of them are weightlifters, but are sports teachers at the school in Tamworth where James Gardner teaches. Earlier in the year they had taken part in a fund raising event at the school where the Belgrave High School raised the money for James to go to compete in New Zealand at the World Championships, and both had done 70 kilos on the middle finger lift. Now anyone who knows about finger lifting knows that 70 kilos is respectable, and when they heard about the Hall of Fame Dinner both wanted to come and have another go. Their faces were a ‘picture’ when the plot was announced, but sports as they are they came right up to the platform, and lifting alternately, both went 55k 65k 75k and finally 80 kilos. At that point it was called a draw, neither were prepared to give in, and the audience loved them, well done to Greg and Shaun (who knows one day there may be a re match). The final event on the sports calendar before dinner was the Hammer Hold Out, Strongman Challenge, where several chanced their arm with the 24 pound hammer held fixed at shoulder height. John Gardner did over 40 seconds, and Denny Habecker from the USA made 43 seconds. The challenge was won by George Dick from Scotland with an incredible 53 seconds, who kept himself going by looking at Denny and shouting his name. It was a very popular result for the very popular Scot who also excels in magic (you want to see him make whisky disappear). Just as everyone thought the performances were all over, little Dominic Gardner (John’s Son) who is just 19 months old, came onto the platform with his Grandma and lifted his little wooden dumbbell that weighs three pounds, it was a nice “ahhhhh” moment, and he may just be the youngest ever performer at an IAWA event! After the awards were presented to those who performed, everyone sat down to dinner. Right after dinner the gathering were treated to a song by budding vocalist Mandy Hughes, who is now showing talent in two areas, weightlifting and singing. Mandy performed her own version of the great single by Heather Small, called ‘Proud’. The crowd were thrilled with the song and then it was time to settle back for the evenings presentations. Before the real business of the evening there was time to present a few other awards. First to go was Steve Andrews who presented the Gold Cup award to his son Daniel (11) who had not been able to receive it at the Gold Cup event itself. James Gardner made the next presentation on behalf of Roy Edwards from Health and Strength Magazine (the oldest physical culture magazine in the World), it was the award to the best overall Junior lifter in IAWA (UK) for 2007, and it was won and received by Mandy Hughes. John Vernacchio from the USA stepped up next to present a nice award to Elizabeth Horne to thank her for her performance, and then it was on to the real business of the evening: Wonderful presentation speeches were made for the three 2007 inductees, and the ceremony was conducted in an air of warmth and sincerity, a great testament to the abilities and records of achievements of all three IAWA (UK) members. The first award was made to William Wright, and was presented by Neville Brumby on behalf of Inducted member Peter Ready who was to have made the presentation but who was not able to do so due to illness. The second award to Andrew Goddard was made by Inducted member Steve Andrews, and the third and final award for the evening was presented to Karen Gardner by her husband and Inducted member Steve Gardner. The host for the evening thanked everyone for supporting the raffle and the auction which helped to make the whole evening pay for itself without drawing on any IAWA (UK) funds at all, and wished everyone a safe journey home. Everyone left, already looking forward to the next Hall of Fame evening in 2009. Inductees at the Fourth Bi Annual Induction Dinner and Sports Evening for the IAWA (UK) Hall of Fame 2007 William Wright Bill has been a driving force behind weight lifters in Scotland for many years, and he has run the Castlemilk Gym weightlifting club in Glasgow for more than 22 years. Bill has been a supporter of drug free weightlifting and IAWA (UK) in particular, not only as a lifter and a coach but also by serving on committees and promoting several International competitions including the IAWA World Championships and the Gold Cup World Record Breakers event. Bill remembers his early days and thanks his mentors: Bill Montague and Andy Patterson. Bill considers one of his finest achievements was breaking the British Empire and Commonwealth record on the Press, the only other athlete in Scotland to do this was Olympic weightlifter: Phil Caira. Bill has previously had the honour of being inducted into the Glasgow Hall of Fame for winning ten World Titles, and was delighted to be selected as one of the coaches to meet the Queen when she visited the different strokes unit where Bill worked. Andrew Goddard (pictured below) Andy from Burton on Trent, is a lightweight Masters Champion of some note, he came into the sport of weightlifting by joining the Powerhouse Gym in the 90’s. In earlier days Andy was a very keen and active sportsman in the Army, and between 1977 and 1981 he represented the forces at Boxing and Cross Country running. Andy left the Army and was struck down by a serious illness, but he soon got back into training to help aid his recovery. Andy worked hard in the gym and entering all of the IAWA competitions that he could possibly get to, Andy has now amassed an amazing array of all round weightlifting titles and records, winning many British and World Masters Championships. Having recently undergone surgery again he is working towards recovery, Andy continues to work hard in all aspects of his all round weightlifting career, as a lifter, a referee and as a help to other promoters in all event organising matters. Karen Gardner For the last 16 years Karen has been a shining beacon, lighting the way for ladies in the sport of all round weight lifting. Karen did not get involved in sport until she was 32, but soon made up for lost time. Having travelled the IAWA circuit and involving herself in every aspect of the sport including refereeing and coaching, she is a fine example of what can be achieved. Karen has many British and World titles to her name and a host of records also, Karen was the first woman to perform the one hand dead lift with 100 kilos on a straight bar. Karen has competed in the sport of tug of war for many years also, and has achieved National and European honours. A look at all of the IAWA (UK) events for the last 16 years will find Karen's name listed on almost every one, and it is this extraordinary dedication and commitment to all round weightlifting that has seen Karen now become the first female athlete (and very proud Grand Mother) to be inducted into the IAWA(UK) Hall of Fame. |