Strongman's Games Aš 2024 - Results and reportage

Czech strongman season 2024 is now open. As it has been for the last few years, specifically for the thirteenth time, our home season is opening in Sady Míru, in Aš. Under the baton of the now former best Czech strongman Čestmir Šíma, who since he does not compete, and therefore does not have to focus on performance, is giving smiles and positive mood all around him, was again presented two competitions in one day.

The morning part was filled with amateur strongmen, while in the afternoon the strongest guys from the Czech Republic and the surrounding area competed. The competition was organized under the banner of the Czech National Strongman Federation and therefore the results of both competitions count towards this year's league competition. Thanks to Pepa Zahora for great photos.

Already established and long mastered organization, in which Čestmír and his team of helpers draw on many years of experience gave the spectators an important assurance that they will enjoy the whole day. In spite of the not very favourable weather, especially in the morning, the place was full. On the other hand, we remember worse over the years. The voice of the race was the well-known voice of the Czech big races Leoš Kubeš and Čestmír Šíma himself took care of the regularity of the race, the execution and the correct number of repetitions.

Disciplines for amateur and professional competitors were the same, they differed only in the weight of individual equipment. There were 5 known and one secret discipline. The competitors competed:

• Loglift
• Deadlift
• Running Medley (Farmer's Walk + Frame carry)
• Hammer hold
• Tyre flip
• Misterial event (secret discipline)

First we will focus on the amateur competitors, 15 of them came to Asha. How did their duel turn out?

Amateur race

Loglift

Raising a log above your head in a time limit of 60 seconds. The weight of the log is 125 kg, and in my personal opinion the log had a slightly wider grip, so it is a bit heavier for the correct execution. However, no specific rules dictate what the log should look like or what the grip should be, all we can find in strongman sport about loglifting are recommended measurements and even then they vary in several sources. In Asha, as usual, it was a great spectacle for the spectators. The competitors stood on the podium, and everyone had a great view. Of the starting field, more than two thirds of the competitors managed at least one repetition. However, three competitors tied for first place. They all managed 5 reps. Štěpán Mička, Petr Toman and Lukáš Tesar. Petr Klich managed one less repetition.

Deadlift

The classic deadlift is one of the basic disciplines of strength sports. Apart from maximum strength, proper technique is also necessary, otherwise there is a risk of injury. The competitors could choose from two dumbbells of 300 kg or 250 kg. They could also combine the repetitions in different ways. But of course, the heavier axle helped the competitors to get better results. The fourth place went to Adam Kostura with 3 x 300 kg + 1 x 250 kg. Milan - Voldemort - Čanda and Petr Toman took the second and third place. They managed to lift 3 x 300 kg + 3 x 250 kg. Petr Klich won the discipline with 4 x 300 kg + 2 x 250 kg.

Medley

The Aš Running Medley consisted of a 2 x 15 metre route where the first 15 metres required carrying 2 suitcases weighing 130 kg each and then taking a 250 kg frame and carrying it back the second 15 metres. Although the suitcases went quite well for the competitors, quite a few struggled on the frame. The third place went to Petr Klich, who completed the whole 2 x 15 m course in a great 38.76 seconds. The second place was won by Ondřej Batelka, who managed the whole route in 32.12 seconds. The fastest in the starting field was Kryštof Ptáček, who won with a time of 31.35 seconds.

Hammer Hold

Hammer hold, a discipline that is very much about endurance and head. The competitors had to hold a 31 kg hammer in their forearms while leaning on their backs. Whoever can hold it the longest wins. Another retired professional strongman, Michal Tichý, helped Čestmir Šíma as a referee. The third place was defended by Petr Klich with a time of 34,1 seconds, the second place was won by Lukáš Tesar with a time of 36,61 seconds. The discipline was won by Milan Čanda. Voldemort's time was 43.05 seconds.

Tyre flip

The giant tire flip is a very demanding discipline, both technically and in terms of strength. Similar to the deadlift, competitors could choose between a larger and a smaller tire. Again, one repetition with the large tire was more than all the repetitions with the smaller tire. To be more precise, the big tire weighed 650 kg, and that's a lot. But the smaller tyre wasn't so tiny, it weighed 450 kg. In fairness, I have to say that the bigger tyre didn't fall on the morning of the race day. Moreover, only one repetition was enough for the third place, which was achieved by Ondra Batelka, Kryštof Ptáček and Petr Klich. Milan Čand managed two reps. Lukáš Tesař won the discipline for three repetitions.

Masters discipline

The secret discipline, which was not presented to the competitors or the public in advance, was lifting 4 natural stones. The stones weighed 80 kg, 110 kg, 140 kg and 180 kg. The first stone had to be lifted above the head, the other stones on the shoulder. To be honest, no one managed to manage the heaviest stone in this part of the race, but I believe that if everyone had not been almost at the end of their strength after a hard race, there would have been some who could have done it. On the other hand, 3 stones, up to 140 kg, were managed by a total of 6 fighters. They were Lukáš Tesar, Petr Klich, Milan Čanda, Kryštof Ptáček, Ondřej Batelka and Petr Toman.

Amateur competitors have finished and now the results count. A moment of relief, impatient anticipation. This year's edition of amateur races from Aš is complete. Voldemort Milan Canda takes the bronze medal, Petr Klich just one point more and Lukas Tesar another half point more. Gentlemen, hats off and congratulations. This year's race was fantastic, the weather was rather April-like, but at least it didn't snow like a few days ago. The results were really close, and that's what I liked the most about the whole race, not only the strongest but also the most complete won, there was no room for mistakes.

Results:

Race of professionals

In the afternoon part, Czech professional strongmen and two foreign competitors from Poland presented themselves. The weather calmed down and everyone could concentrate on their performance. The races were not only hard, but also well put together to test not only the maximum, but also the overall strength and speed of all fighters on the starting field. Among them were well-known names, stalwarts of the Czech professional strongman league, but also new faces. In total there were 12 of them.

Loglift

The pros were loaded with 150 kg, and that is a very interesting weight. Even though I know from videos and training with professional competitors that most of them have mastered 150 kg, it was evident at the competition that not all of them managed to handle the log to their liking. As I mentioned, the log felt like it had a wider grip, that could have played a role, or nervousness, current psyche, whatever. Lukas Svoboda normally handles this weight, unfortunately here. I know Lubos KLinecki can give much more, here only 2 times. Divided fourth and third place were finally taken by Vaclav Milacek and Jan Lacina for 3 valid attempts. Split second and first place went to Roert Cyrwus from Poland and Stepan Bystrinets.

Deadlift

When you compete in a pro event, you can't lift less than 300 kg of deadlift per repetition. Just no. Moreover, if the competitor was not comfortable with 300 kg on the deadlift barbell, he could choose a second one, loaded to 350 kg. Third place went to Dominik Ponocny, who managed 3 lifts with a 350 kg barbell and added 2 reps with 300 kg. Second place went to Lubos Klinecky who lifted 4 x 350 kg. The win in the discipline went to Jan Lacin for 4 x 350 kg and 1 x 300 kg in addition.

Medley

The run with suitcases and frame showed exactly how the athletes are with grip. Who has the strongest grip in our country? I know it, I know how he achieved it. Each of the suitcases weighed exactly 160 kg, the frame weighed 320 kg. Pavel Zadražil was the only one who managed to complete the whole route less than 5 seconds before the end of the time limit and thus got the full number of points. The second Robert Cyrwus almost reached the end and finished at 25.38 meters, the third on the discipline was Matej Svoboda, who walked 21.4 meters.

Hammer Hold

The hammer hold was also held in pairs among the pros. The determination was huge, the times were really long. The third place went to Václav Miláček with a time of 37.06 seconds, second place went to Štěpán Bystřinec with a time of 41.87 seconds. The winner of this discipline was the second Polish participant Jasusz Kulaga, who held the hammer for 47.47 seconds.

Tyre flip

Among the pros, the tire flip was all the more interesting because almost half of the starting field was going to flip a heavier tire, and straight. Václav Miláček fought like a lion, the tyre would not turn until he was allowed one repetition, there was no time for more. But it's exactly this kind of fighting that is the best thing to see in storngman sport. Anyway, Frantisek Novy and Stepan Bystrinets managed 2 repetitions and took second and third place. Pavel Zadražil, who really knows the tire, took full points from the discipline, he turned it 3 times in Aš and it was enough to win. In general, he is a co-holder of the Czech record when he turned 850 kg in Golčov Jeníkov together with Zdeněk Vávra and Jiří Dejmal.

Mystery discipline

Again stones, as in the amateur competition, 80 kg overhead, 110 kg, 140 kg and 180 kg on the shoulder. Watching the performances, I have to say that the amateur competitors, statistically speaking, did better in the discipline, 3 stones were definitely lifted by more fighters. Of course, time counted here. The third place went to Frantisek Novy, who showed that he can really do it, he got 140 kg stone on his shoulder in 35,6 seconds. Second place with a time of 32.77 seconds. However, the only competitor from the whole day who managed to conquer even the heaviest stone showed everyone how it is done. Robert Cyrwus did it all in 75.11 seconds to huge cheers and applause from the spectators and other competitors.

It's over, I know I'm going to repeat myself, but the well prepared race was a feast for the spectator's eye and the fan's heart. A great race full of experienced scouts from the Czech professional strongman league and competitors who have most of their competitive career ahead of them, all this culminated in Asha during the announcement of the results. The third place and bronze with the total number of points 46,5 was won by a competitor who has a very long racing streak, I think since 2008, but at the same time he was hesitating whether he would compete this year at all... and it paid off, it's none other than the king of grip Pavel Zadražil. The second place from Aš goes to Poland, Robert Cyrwus, also a long time competitor, takes 59,5 points. Just half a point, similarly to the morning race, 60 points in total, goes to the well-prepared and fantastically racing Stepan Bystrinets, about whom you will surely hear a lot.

I will conclude this article with a message. Čestmir, thank you for everything you have done as a competitor for the strongman sport and its development, how you have managed to promote our small country abroad and how you are now taking care of the next generation of active competitors after you decided not to race anymore. I just hope that next year will be at least as great as all the previous ones... Thanks, thanks for everything.