Arnold Strongman Classic UK 2024 | Full results and report

Just a few days after its big brother from America, a smaller offshoot of the famous Arnold Strogman Classic, the British one, took place on the European continent. Specifically, on the weekend of March 16th and 17th a total of 8 fighters gathered in Birmingham to measure their strength in five heavyweight disciplines.

Every spectator was sure to be in for a treat when the titans Mithcell Hooper and Hafthor Bjornsson fought it out, but the others didn't want to stand in the shadows either and fought for the top rungs.

At the race, competitors competed in the following disciplines:

• Austrian Oak (Loglift)
• Farmer's Walk
• Power Medley
• Sandbag Toss
• Deadlift

And let's get straight to the description of the individual disciplines, which produced very interesting results

Austrian Oak

Austrian Oak, what else to call a piece of log, just at the Arnold competitions... Just as in the golden era of bodybuilding was nicknamed Arnold himself. Competitors could choose from two weights before the discipline, 195 kg or 175 kg. Again, the rule was that one valid repetition with the heavier weight would give more than all the repetitions with the lighter weight. Only 3 competitors reached for the heavier one. In third place was Bobby Thompson who managed 2 reps.

This was followed by a split first place where both competitors got the log over their heads 3 times. They were Lucas Hatton from USA and the champion Mitchell Hooper. Interestingly, the giant Bjornsson not only reached for the lighter log, but one that he only gave one rep.

Farmer's Walk

Farmer's Walk, better known in Czech as discipline - kufry. This time it was not for time, although the time limit of 60 seconds is very important, but just for that minute it was for distance. It was on a fifteen meter track. Once every 15 metres you were allowed to put the suitcases down and adjust your grip in your hands. But the most important information is that the suitcases weighed - each - 181 kg. And that's where all the fun ends. This discipline requires a bit more effort than carrying my wife's groceries from the mall to the car.

The top three porters were Bobby Thompson, who carried the suitcases a beautiful 27.1 metres. Second place went to Hafthor Bjornsson, who managed to carry the suitcases 28.6 metres. The second win of the event went to the undefeated Mitchell Hooper, who stopped at 29.2 metres.

Power Medley

By the word medley, every fan imagines a discipline composed of several parts, either lifts or bridges or both several things at once. Under the word power medley we just imagine that it is not or will not be easy... but that's about it. That's why I love these names. But to make the results make a little sense, I'm happy to tell readers what's underneath the name. The competitors were tasked with carrying a 454 kg Super Yoke 15 meters and then getting a total of 3 single handed ropes weighing 110, 120 and 130 kg overhead. And since the total time limit was set at two and a half minutes, the strongmen could turn it over a total of four times in a row.

The bronze place went to the Icelandic giant Bjornsson, who completed 2 rounds in a time of 69.73 seconds. The silver was won by the great Canadian Mitchell Hooper, who did 3 rounds in 39.78 seconds. The gold was won by the only competitor who managed to complete all 4 laps in 131.81 seconds, a great performance by Lucas Hattone.

Sandbag Toss

We can also call this discipline Bag over Bar, the Czech equivalent is bag throwing. This time a 25 kg bag was thrown to the highest possible height. It started at 460 centimeters. Unfortunately, there were still a few competitors who did not manage to pass the basic bar. Bag throwing is quite a technical discipline and although it may seem like there is nothing to it and that it is relatively easy, it really isn't.

Just for comparison's sake, try throwing a 25kg weight or bag and imagine throwing it over 4 and a half metres. There were 3 competitors tied for second to fourth place, they threw the bag over a bar 549 cm high. Mitchell Hooper, Maxi Boudreault and Oskar Ziolkowski did it. They were only beaten by one competitor, Hafthor Bjornsson, who threw over the 579 cm high bar, a truly fantastic feat.

Deadlift

What to describe about the standard deadlift? Not only strongman spectators, but also triathletes and of course others. In Birmigham it wasn't the highest weight, but the number of reps in the one minute time limit. The weight of the barbell was 350 kg. Now if they think that half of the starting field couldn't even do reps and the winner took full points for three valid attempts, they are sorely mistaken. Despite the weight, it looked like a crossfit competition. Third place Mitchell Hooper for 8 reps. Great deadlifter Rauno Heinla has a second place finish in the event for 9 reps.

The winner of the discipline is one of the best deadlifters on the planet, also the holder of the absolute deadlift weight record and the second person in the world to break the half-ton mark. Hafthor Bjornnson managed 10 reps and judging by his expression and lightness of execution he could do 5 or 7 more. It is not for nothing that it is rumored that Hafthor might finally cut Eddie Hall's crap about being irregular and cheating on his 501 kg absolute record and might try to set a record of 505 kg or even higher in the near future.

So the race is over, the last 2 disciplines belonged to the giants from Iceland and so we are eagerly counting the points to see who dominated the "English Arnold". A moment of suspense and everything is known. The overall bronze went to Lucas Hatton from the USA thanks to his great performance especially in the running events. Second place went to Hafthor Bjornsson, probably for his weaker shoulders in the first event. The first place was also defended by the winner from Columbus and the current champion of champions Mitchell Hooper.

The next race to look forward to is in mid-April, Europe's Strongest Man 2024, which will be all the more interesting because of the Czech participation thanks to Ondra Fojtů.