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I.A.W.A. (UK) Hall of Fame 2009 Awards |
Gerry Davidson Gerry was presented with his award by inducted member Steve Andrews |
The 2009 Hall of Fame Dinner was a splendid affair, the venue was the very elegant Branston Golf Club at Burton on Trent. On Sunday 6th December 40 people gathered to witness the 2009 induction ceremony, and everyone enjoyed the pre dinner sporting entertainments: |
Starting the entertainment programme was 13 year old Ellis Blake, Ellis, nick named the Assassin, is a World Junior Kick Boxing Champion, he put on a superb demonstration with his Coach and then had to leave for Birmingham where he was scheduled to fight. Next up was Karen Gardner, Karen has struggled through her last year recovering from Breast Cancer, and is delighted to have raised £800 for Breast Cancer. For fun and pure entertainment Karen raised 800 pounds on the night but in weight using 8 different lifts. Karen came out dressed all in pink, as the 'Pink Warrior' and having completed the task, Karen went again, but this time trying to compete all 8 lifts in 40 seconds. It was terrific fun and Karen made it in 39.3 seconds (phew) Karen received great applause for her efforts! Roger Davis was amazing too, he set and broke 8 new IAWA Records, all on a 2 inch bar and all part of his 40 records at 40 years old campaign. Roger went for ten but got a well earned 8, seeing him perform a 200 kilos Deadlift, Hacklift and Straddle one after the other was pretty awesome. Karl Birkinshaw Mandy Hughes, James Gardner and Graham Saxton entertained those assembled as they competed on the Powerhouse Gym's Decathlon lift. They all performed well, and found it highly amusing that James and Graham had to finish with their overhead press in the seated position because they were too tall. 50 year old Steve Andrews and son Daniel 13, performed the 2 man Hacklift together, Father and Son setting a new open record, and then Steve went the extra mile by completing an amaxing 61 repetitions in the body weight deadlift! |
After Dinner the Presentations took place: First, and before the Hall of fame inductions, Mandy Hughes (former holder) presented IAWA Junior World Champion: Josh Haydock (19)with the Health and Strength Trophy for IAWA(UK)s best junior perfomance in 2009. The Hall of Fame Presentations saw the induction of two new members: Agnes Mcinally Agnes was presented with her award by inducted member William Wright |
Agnes is 53 years old, and was born in Polmodi, Glasgow. Agnes was never involved in sports in her youth, but by the time she was in her thirties she had decided that she had become too heavy and needed to lose weight. Having joined the Castlemilk Sports Centre she was soon introduced to William Wright, and he undertook to train her with a view to weight loss and increasing fitness levels. This of course soon led to William teaching Agnes all about all round weight lifting and in 1996 with some encouragement Agnes trained for and lifted in the IAWA World Championships. This was her first proper sporting competition of any kind, but Agnes excelled and fell in love with the sport. The rest is history of course as Agnes has since notched up an impressive list of acheivements within the sport. Agnes confirms that her favourite moment in all round weightlifting was winning that first World title in 1996, and adds that she prefers deadlifting movements rather than overhead lifts (though she is proficient in both) her favourite lift is the Straddle Deadlift in which she holds the World record at 142.5 kilo Agnes states that the biggest influence in her weightlifting career has been William Wright, whom she holds in the highest regard! |
Born in 1936, Gerry is 73 years old. Never a keen sportsman at school Gerry just played Gaelic football and the usual school sports. It was when he was 23 that Gerry developed an interest in strength training and he sent off for a home training course from Health and Strength magazine. There was no equipment about at the time so Gerry made his own using broom handles and railway wheels. In 1959 Gerry joined a Police sports club where there were lots of activities and one of them was weightlifting. Gerry took part in a few bodybuilding competitions and was 2nd in the Mr Halifax competition. Having joined SAWLA in 1960 Gerry took part in some weightlifting competitions and competed in the super league where lifters performed the Olympic and Power lifts, and Gerry won the Silver Medal standard which was the highest award. Gerry didnt take part in weightlifting competitions after 1966, he was disgusted with the drug scene in the sport. In 1985 he joined the BAWG because it was a drug free body and has enjoyed all round lifting with the IAWA since its inception. Gerry has always competed in the 70 or 75 kilo class and over the years he has won everything there is to win! |