EPF Info September 1998

1. 1998 European Bench Press Championships
3. 1998 EU Cup
3. Other Business

1. 1998 European Bench Press Championships

The Bench Press Championships in Trencin were once again a great success for the EPF. In terms of the number of nominations and final competitors, it was the biggest ever European Championships. The venue was excellent and very well prepared, as were the were the lifters with many Personal Bests and European Records being set.

It should be noted that the number of entries in the disabled section of exceeded that of any previous World or European Championships. Some of the disabled athletes complained that the the Hotel not was fully adapted for wheelchairs, but the initiative of the Slovakian organisers allowed this problem to be overcome.

Thanks for an excellent championships are due to the Meet Director Jozef Ovsanka, and to the President of the Slovakian Federation, Michael Capla. Special mention should also be made of the loaders, who did an excellent job.

2. 1998 European Cup

The 5th European Union Cup in Belgium was as big as some European Open Championships, with 75 lifters competing out of 85 nominees. It is therefore apparent that Jim Caniffe had the right idea when he first proposed a competition for EU countries. The EU Cup is becoming the "West European" Championships, with only the Swedish and Finish lifters absent - hopefully they will attend in 1999.

Myriam Busselot and the Belgium Federation created a venue worthy of a European Championships. The opening ceremony was unique with a young Belgium singer being very well received. The quality of the venue was reflected in the lifting, with nearly all the EU Cup records being broken. The competition was rounded off with an excellent banquet in the former stables of Enghien Castle.

The EPF must therefore thank the Belgium Federation for a very successful championships.

3. Other Business

A. Luxembourg has organised an EPF sanctioned Bench Press competition, to be held in the Omnisport Hall, Luxembourg-Hamm on 31st October 1998. The Meet Director is Gaston Parage - tel +352 584744, fax +352 582696, mobile +352 021 165214. A team can have maximum of ten lifters (men and women together), one official and one referee. The entry fee is 100 LUF, and the best male and female athlete (on Wilks points) will receive 5000 LUF. Nominations must be received by 16th October 1998.

B. http://www.ipf.com and http://www.europower.org are the official homepages of IPF and EPF respectively. These websites are sources of information in addition to the EPF and IPF newsletters.

C. As of 27th August, Bosnia-Herzegovina is a new member of the EPF. The suspended nation Georgia is now reinstated as a full member.

D: Testing at recent European Championships.

Masters European Powerlifting in Usti nad Labem. The following lifters were tested: Toni Hollis, Toni, Serge Minquoy, Hannelore Schenk, Alexander Loginov, Ika Kekkonen, Wernfried Gerold, Harry van der Brandt, Jarolsav Chala, György Lovsz and Will Tesch.

European Masters Bench Press, Köflach. The following lifters were tested: Maire-Luise Glaris, Hildegard Utecht, Juhani Äijo, Hans van der Burg Hans, Alfred Scheffauer, Joszef Horvath, Jzef Sarköözi, Karl-Heinz Voscul, Norman Anderson, Engelbert Daris, Alfons de Becker, Jach Kromkamp, Errki Tuomikoski, Birger Sundstöl. Otto Dallas refused to be tested and is suspended for two years.

European Bench Press, Trencin. The following lifters were tested: Marcel Schauer, Zelko Skrba, Piebe Faber, Igor Varava, Frencel Kastaneer, Bernd Basse, Louise Intton, Marion Friedrich, Marta Kleszczynska, Timea Zavodsky, Bozena Bednarska, Elena Kurbakova, Pawel Prakownik, Andris Rudulis, Valeri Bogdanov.

There were three positives at Köflach and two at Usti nad Labem - lifters will be named at a later date.

Heiner Köberich, EPF Secretary. Edited for the Internet by David Hinchley.
| David Hinchley 23 Sep 1998