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CAPO NT Benchpress Titles
Well folks there was alot of talk around town regarding the contest that was fast approaching and there seemed to be 4 different names on everyones lips Peter Lilliebridge who was the favourite coming out of a 2 year retirement after the world titles in Vegas 2000 and still recovering from a separated pec which slowed him up for some 5 months. There is a giant of a man Wayne Green who was said to be going to rise to the challenge and was throwing some big weight around at the time and has for some time been threatening to enter the stage to powerlifting but has never made the transition into the sport. Mark Simpson the new kid on the block who can hold his head high after a good result at the CAPO National titles in Perth. And Shane Stringer who until recently held a world title in the 100k class masters in the bench press. Shane was still licking his wounds after a dismal showing at the WA CAPO bench titles last year in November. There were some 12 - 15 lifters putting their hands up in anticipation of the Tooheys & Top End Hotel sponsored show but as always bullshit walks and the night produced 9 lifters in all. There were some old timers in the wings that you could see were chomping at the bit to have a go but knew that they just were not competetive enough to go the distance, faces of the past like Carlo Zamolo who in his day was a pretty handy lifter but a constant ring of injuries has kept the "ole dog" off the platform for a number years just like Joe Zollo and our old favourite Baz Murray. David Smith elected not to lift and instead compered the show ....some say he was scared but I guess we will never know will we David. David has actually finally managed to put a bit of muscle on those bones and is actually starting to look like a powerlifter, one thing for sure he is still as handsome as ever.....specially in the morning when you definetely dont want him getting to close to you cos when he says HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHello one tends to cringe. Anyway on with the show Carlo's son Jim Zamolo stepped up to the plate and had a go as did Mark Mushanag as a disabled competitor, Ken Smith who was in the Masters as a 90k lifter, Stewart Bush has made a return to the sport after a lengthy absence and a chunky little fella called Jimmy Bouhrus had his first time crack at the big time. All competitors nominated their opening weights and all blitzed their openers Lilliebridge made 210 look like a warm up as did Shane Stringer with his opener at 190. Mark Simson opened at 180 and was a little shaky but sucessfully completed the opening lift. Second round things took a different turn with the young bloke Jim Zamolo and Mark Simpson missing their seconds. Simson was not comfortable with the 200 he nominated and this was reflected in the lift. A lovely collection of red lights ....who said 3 out of 3 was no good, it looked pretty anyway. To say he was upset is an understatement ...the box of swearwords came out in earnest and he told the bar exactely what he thought of it, which was quite alot. Stringer and Lilliebridge were both sucessful in their second lifts Shane pushing 200 and Lillo driving 225 up without even hesitating. Everyone was asking the question of how much was Lillo actually looking for on the night as all saw how easily the 5 plates plus came up. Third lifts produced a national record for Ken Smith at 117.5k. Ken went on to have a lash at 120 in a fourth attempt but although he gave it a good go he was unsucessful and it must be said he was delighted to have a national record under his belt. Simpson once again failed at 200 and all could see how dishevelled he looked especially as he was expecting to give Lillo and Stringer a run for their money but words are cheap and its back to the drawing board for Simmo. Lilliebridge even at a boned out body weight for him of 105kg was the eventual winner pressing 235 and was all but teed up to take a 4th lift when he thought better of it as it was his opener for the year and with 3 comps to go in the next 8 months he wisely let it go. Had he had a go he was looking at 245 and the way he was pushing on the night with only a single ply suit which he used as a 225 kg competitor it would have been unlucky to get it. Back to the drawing board and time to purchase a 3 ply suit and time to gain 15 kilos he reckons. To be competetive once again he is going to have to step up to the big time to go with guys like Paul Nay and others at the same body weight at the national level later in the year. Shane Stringer came a credible second to Lillo in both formula and open with a 3rd successful lift of 210. Lillo won on formula and on open weight with Stewart Bush narrowly beating Simmo by .4 of a kilo on formula and Simmo taking 3rd place in the open. All in all the night was deemed to be a great success and raised valuable dollars for the worlds to be held in Darwin later in the year around November. N.T State Titles to be held in Darwin in May look like being a huge comp with locals looking to compete in a world titles in their home town and all having to come thru qualifying. The future looks good for CAPO in the NT yet again with plenty of interest from all around regarding the Worlds and the State titles.
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