European Cup Golčův Jeníkov 2023 | Detailed report with results

It's Sunday morning, I wake up to raindrops falling on the skylight directly above my bed. Great, I think, so I better put on something waterproof and head towards Golčův Jeníkov. Already on the way there the rain slowly stops. But it is still under a cloud, so pleasant weather for today's big day, the European Cup Golčův Jeníkov 2023.

One of the best and most interesting races, which has a 15-year tradition. In a total of 16 years, the organizers have only missed one time and that was in 2018. Also in terms of the mentioned tradition, the race is on Sunday, while all other races have a Saturday reserved. There will be a total of two races today, 16 July 2023. The first one in the morning will be amateur and will feature twenty riders. The second one will be professional with international participation and 11 strongmen will compete.

The organizers have great experience in organizing competitions and so everything is carefully prepared to the smallest detail, stands for spectators, refreshment stands and also facilities for competitors. One of the organizers Pavel Cháma will be a strict but fair referee throughout the day, who will be successfully followed in the double disciplines by a successful retired professional strongman Jiří Vytiska. The microphone will be taken by the second of the organizers and the well-known voice of strongman competitions Leoš Kubeš.

Amateur competition

The morning part of the sports-packed day starts at the stroke of 9 o'clock, when 20 amateur strongmen line up for the opening ceremony. After the initial briefing, there is no time to waste. And so a show has to be made, with about a hundred spectators watching from the start, with others arriving as the event progresses, the number stopping at about five hundred, with more to come in the afternoon.

The amateur strongmen will compete in five events that will test their overall strength:

• Loglift 120 kg for reps
• Farmer's Walk 135 kg for 20 meters
• Tire flip 450 kg for 6 turns
• Super Yoke 365 kg over 20 meters
• Axle squat 235 kg per repetition

Loglift

The royal discipline of strongman sport, I've written enough about it already, but I could keep writing. Amateurs had a one minute limit to get as many attempts as possible to get a 120 kg log over their heads. In addition, the discipline was doubled, so there were always two competitors facing each other, which is hugely rewarding for the spectators, while at the same time the competitors can push themselves to perform even better. Despite several competitors failing to complete even one repetition and taking home a score of zero at the start of the competition, there were those who demonstrated with ease the so-called Viper press, i.e. lifting the log from the knees straight overhead without repositioning it on the chest. A total of five valid repetitions were earned by Vojtěch Halma, Bedřich Jochim, Jakub Navrátil and Josef Hojdar, one repetition and therefore the full number of points from the loglift went to Vítek Lorenc, he managed six of them.

Farmer's Walk

The Farmer's Walk, also known as the suitcase walk, tests the competitor's grip the most. Let the reader make a picture for himself how heavy luggage, or rather luggage can be carried in the hands. Yes I write luggage, because in one hand it is not very possible, it is necessary that a man should be evenly loaded, so that in each hand 135 kg, not only lift, but walk away, or run the designated route of twenty meters and again always two competitors. Here most of the competitors completed the entire route in the time limit of one minute. Ondrej Batelka took third place in the event, finishing in a time of 9.34 seconds. The second place went to Matěj Svoboda, whose time stopped at the stopwatch at 8.75 seconds. The first and the fastest was Emil Barták, his time was 8.19 seconds.

Tire flip

The giant tire flip is again a very welcome discipline for the spectators. You only have to look at these giant tyres. The fact that they are heavy is obvious at a glance. Once again, the competitors had to complete a total of six flips within the time limit of one minute, which unfortunately none of them managed to do. On the contrary, almost half of the competitors struggled in vain and ended up with another zero. It should be added here that tyre rotation, although it may not seem so at first glance, is a very technical discipline for which it is worth not to underestimate the right equipment, especially shoes. Climbing shoes, the so-called climbing shoes, are best suited for the tire flip because they simply do not slip. In addition, the tire must not be lifted with the hands, but pushed forward with the shoulders and only held with the hands, otherwise there is a risk of injury. The other aspect in the race was also the weather, which cleared up during the race and it was getting too warm, and the asphalt on which the race was held started to get a bit soft and slippery. Two riders, Josef Hojdar and Martin Zimmermann, managed the most 4 turns in this event. Unfortunately, I have to mention that Petr Klich was injured during the first attempt at the first turn and his biceps tendon was unpleasantly snapped. At first glance it didn't look torn, and I hope it isn't. Anyway, Petr had to withdraw from the race. Peter, see you at the next race...

Super Yoke

The structure, which is worn on the shoulders, again weighed a heavy 365 kg on the 20-meter long track in Golcova Jenikova. Even so, most of the field was able to handle it. And since it was a time trial, I'll mention the fastest ones again. Matěj Svoboda took the bronze in the event, completing the course in 16.62 seconds. Josef Hojdar was just a hair faster, he finished with a time of 16.28 seconds. The fastest and therefore the winner of this discipline was Ondřej Batelka, who ran away from everyone and completed the route in an amazing 14.75 seconds.

Axle Squat

Squats. Yes squats. What a nice change and a good idea of the organizers spiced up the whole race. Not only are squats as such not seen much at our domestic races, it is different abroad. In addition, the giant weights prepared, which could also be precisely adjusted to the desired weight, that's great. Moreover, the discipline was performed on an axle axis, i.e. an axle 5 cm thick, which is absolutely static, it does not bend even a millimetre, so it does not help the competitors one bit. It's all about squatting technique and leg strength. Despite the initial problems of how to deal with the discipline, which was planned to "tap" on the mat, with especially taller competitors not having a chance to get close to the mat, it was fairly determined that the judge would watch the depth of the squat. The competitors were loaded with 235kg and squatted like a race, with most competitors easily completing more than ten reps. However, there were four competitors who managed more than that. 15 valid reps were scored by Petr Toman and František Nový. Jakub Navrátil and Matěj Svoboda managed 20 repetitions.

The first part of the competition in Golčov Jeník is over. Since most of the disciplines were double, i.e. 2 competitors always started together for a discipline, the race went very fast. Around 11:30 we were done and that included the announcement of the results. The next part then started around 2pm, so after a nice lunch break.

The announcement of the top three amateur strongmen from the morning part of the competition was pretty clear, as they all more or less comprehensively took the best places in all disciplines. Jakub Navrátil took the third place and the bronze medal for a total of 81.5 points. The silver medal and second place goes to Matej Svoboda, who scored a total of 86.5 points. Josef Hojdar, who collected 88 points, takes the gold and the title of Jeník. Congratulations.

Results

Professional race

It's 2pm, the sky has cleared to an azure blue and the sun has picked up its summer strength. Despite the race taking place during the hottest weekend so far in 2023, most fans didn't head to the water as one might expect. But a few hundred stayed in the square in Golčov Jeník and watched the following competition of the strongest men that could be seen this weekend.

Already before the competition, well-known names from the current and recently past strongman sport started to arrive here. Josef Mazač, the matador of strongmen, was sitting in the auditorium, Zdeněk Teplárek, Jarda Svoboda, Ondřej Fojtů or Dominik Hušek could be seen at the stands. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, and if I have, I'm sorry...

Professional fighters from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Finland competed again in five disciplines, which were harder than the amateur ones.

• Loglift to the max
• Farmer's Walk 165 kg on 20 meters
• Tire flip 450 kg for 8 turns
• Axle squat 265 kg
• Atlas stones

Loglift

Traditional Jeníkovská discipline with their beautiful logo - Jeníkovský oak tree. The first discipline has been running for years as a separate Czech Championship in Loglift. Until recently Jiří Vytiska held his Czech record on the Jeníkovský Oak. However, it was moved and currently Ondřej Fojtů is the Czech record holder with a valid performance of 206,5 kg. Ondra is not competing today, he is preparing for a big competition in Great Britain, which I will definitely write about. The base weight was set at 155 kg, the competitor had one minute for his successful attempt. In addition to the standard starting field for the pro competitions, the loglift was also attended by Bedrich Jochim, who competed in the morning, and also Tomas Sikora, an excellent pusher from Brno, but who is otherwise recovering from various injuries. The mentioned 155 kg was too much for about half of the starting field, but the other half fought with all their strength. Stepan Bystrinets and Jaroslav Stastny got to 175 kg, the best performance was by Matyas Funiok with 180 kg, who won after Tomas Sikora jumped 180 kg, but he could not put another attempt of 190 kg over his head.

Farmer's Walk

The biggest enemy of grip disciplines is the sun and heat. The competitor sweats, the handles get hot and burn. Then it's easier to get calluses. It happened in the morning when it was still beautiful compared to the afternoon. It happened now. Unpleasant, but it's part of our sport. For this reason only two riders reached the finish of the 20-metre route with 165 kg suitcases in each hand. Pavel Zadražil, in 34.15 seconds and Polish Jakub Sczechowski, in 30.55 seconds. The others took points for the longest possible distance within the 60-second limit.

Tire flip

The same discipline as in the morning, but the competitors are stronger, more experienced and bigger. Their limit for one minute was eight flips. The bronze on the discipline was won by Matyas Funiok, a well competing, only 17-year-old, yes I didn't misspell 17-year-old, who has a very promising strogman career ahead of him, the main thing is to hold on and not get injured. Matyas managed 7 turns. Pavel Zadražil managed eight, i.e. a complete sicipline in 55,32 seconds and took silver. The first place was confirmed by Jakub Sczechowski with his time of 54,85.

Axle squat

The same discipline as in the morning, only the weight was increased to 265 kg. Can anyone imagine getting a weight of this weight on your back and doing one or several squats with it? No problem for the competitors. Matador Lukáš Svoboda, giant Luboš Klinecký and Benjamin Matyáš Funiok managed 4 repetitions and took bronze in the discipline. Pavel Zadražil won the silver with fantastic seven repetitions. The gold on the discipline was taken by Jarda Št'astný, a small in stature but with huge legs and strength, a cool guy from Český Brod, who by the way has been competing for only a few years and immediately became one of the Czech top. Just a little info here Jakub Sczechowski looked very painful after the squats and held his hamstring, so I hope it was nothing serious.

Atlas stones

The discipline that ends the world competitions, so why not also the one in Golcova Jenikova. The clock shows 17 hours gone and so everything is coming to an end. The competitors have the last 4 stones in front of them, which they have to place on different high pedestals, the lighter the stone, the higher it is placed. Stones weighing 120, 140, 160 and 180 kg. Since the Czech record, held by Jiri Dejmal and Lubos Klinecki at 200 kg, fell two weeks ago, this may sound like a relaxing walk in the park. But it is hot, the sun is burning and the competitors have already completed four very difficult disciplines. That's why it's literally a fight from the last strength. Pavel Zadražil enters the Atlases as the intermediate leader, unfortunately all the aspects described above have taken their toll on Pavel and the 180 kg stone falls twice from his knees to the ground, he has neither the strength nor the time to finish the discipline. Unfortunately this happens too, it's sport. Matyáš Funiok is in a similar situation, he has a 180 kg stone almost on the pedestal, but his foot slips and the stone falls, Matyáš with it, only it must not happen what happened last year to Ludvík Lang, the same stone falls on his foot during training and mercilessly crushes the bones, which required almost a year of convalescence. Matthias screams out in pain, his leg is seated, but luckily the stone misses. So hopefully it won't be anything serious. However, only Lubos Klinecki managed to finish the discipline in 38.95 seconds and the slightly faster Finn Heikki Pohjonen in 34.72 seconds.

The race was over, there were supposed to be more foreign competitors, but some of them cancelled their participation a few weeks before the competition in Golcova Jenikova. For various reasons, it shouldn't happen, it's not professional, but it happens. It makes it all the more difficult for the organizers to arrange everything. Mainly to make the race attractive for the spectators, without spectators it would be impossible to show this wonderful sport.
At this point I would like to thank Mír Machek for the photos and Vitek Zlámal from the youtube channel Be Strong for the videos. Thanks gentlemen.

Third place overall and bronze medal with a total of 42 points goes to Pavel Zadražil. Second place went to Jaroslav Št'astný, who also got 42 points, but he had better placings than Pavel. The first place, the gold medal, the title of the European Cup Champion from Golčov Jeník 2023 and also the title of the Champion of the Czech Republic 2023 in Loglift for the placement in the first discipline went to 17-year-old Matyáš Funiok. Huge congratulations.

Results

Cut from the races