Modern ‘Olympian’ Mark Westaby Sweeps Board To Claim 2008 Inaugural Title
One absolutely world-class sport was unaccountably missing from the Olympics. While the rest of the world showed off its prowess in any other number of sports in Beijing in August, the 2008 inaugural season of the UK Strongman Premier League – the UK’s first devoted to athletics of pure strength – ended on a successful note in Nelson, Lancashire on August 10th.
The winner of the 2008 title was Mark Westaby, who produced a towering performance to seize the league title at Nelson’s Seedhill Stadium, along with the first prize of £500. He became the first holder of the title after sweeping the board in all three heats.
"It’s one of the toughest events I’ve ever competed in," said Mark, a farmer and fencing contractor from Healaugh near Tadcaster, who took four of the six events on the day. "I’m honoured to think I’m the first winner. The other competitors pushed my strength to the limit, and I really enjoyed the show," he added. "The weather made it really tough, but it was tough for all of us, it was a level playing field."
Runner-up for the League title was the North East’s Mark Lawson, with Simon Flint of Nottinghamshire coming a close third.
The first year of the League, sponsored by CNP Professional, the sports nutrition specialists, has seen a group of new names emerge into the strongman spotlight, including Lancashire’s Mick Townley, who at 34 is still young for the league and shows remarkable and growing upper body strength.
"This first season has been really successful beyond our expectations" said organiser Derrick Lynagh of 2 Bold Productions. "Despite bad weather at all three events our ‘open door’ policy paid off and we attracted a lot of attention for the sport."
On the final fixture the six strength events included the popular crowd pleasers Farmer’s Walk, Vehicle Deadlift, Log Flip, Truck Pull, Log Press, and Atlas Stones. "For the first time in a UK event, three men each stunned the crowds by managing to lift a 200kg Atlas Stone," says Derrick Lynagh. "This was amazing stuff, a really Olympian performance!"
Mark Westaby believes his big opportunity came in the Log Press, where he opted to employ his massive strength on a single press of the big 130kg log, rather than the two repetitions of the lighter 110kg log, which relies more on stamina.
With increasing prize money for the top-placed athletes the League has attracted other big UK names alongside Westaby, who was a World’s Strongest Man finalist in America last year.
"The new League has created a huge buzz in our community" adds Derrick Lynagh.
"We are already considering adding extra events for the 2009 season."
As well as committing the funding to help the 2008 League get started, CNP Professional supplied sports nutrition and protein supplements for competitors – particularly the company’s popular Pro Slam pre-exercise booster.
Kerry Kayes, sports nutrition expert and founder of CNP Professional, said the company got involved because it helps increase understanding of the nutrition ‘message’. "The body needs the right fuel and training to perform stronger and for longer," he adds.
The CNP Professional Strongman Premier League is organised by 2 Bold Productions. For information phone 07790 484 382 or email cjlynagh@hotmail.co.uk.
CNP Professional is one of the UK’s leading sports nutrition specialist companies. For more information visit www.cnpprofessional.co.uk or call +44 (0) 161 320 1212 for sports nutrition advice and +44 (0) 161 320 8145 for sales.
Notes for editors
The CNP Professional Strongman Premier League:
The League consisted of three fixtures during summer 2008, all with free entry, and lasting up to five hours each:
- 4 May 2008, The Fitness Factory, Burnley.
- 19 July 2008, Burnley Athletics Stadium.
- 10 August 2008, The Seedhill Athletics Stadium, Nelson.
Each fixture featured six strength events. The events at Seedhill Stadium, Nelson, were:
- Farmer’s Walk – 128kg in each hand, repeatedly walking a 20 metre course back and forth until exhausted.
- Vehicle Deadlift – Raising 330kg on the handles.
- Timber Flip – A 180kg 8ft long ‘railway sleeper’, lifted and flipped over repeatedly, to complete a 40 metre course.
- Truck Pull – A 7.5 tonne lorry pulled over a 30 metre course.
- Log Press – Pressing a 130kg log overhead once, or a 100kg log twice.
- Atlas Stones – Ranging in weight from 110kg to 200kg. Each stone to be placed on platforms starting at 6ft and getting lower as the weight increases.
CNP Professional’s Pro-Slam pre-workout supplement delivers a source of amino acids to help the body repair and build muscle. Supplied in a ready to drink, one-portion 86ml vial, it provides 27g of quality protein with zero fat and zero carbohydrate. "The Pro Slam formula also includes beta Alanine, a carnosine synthesizer that delays muscle fatigue. It helps strength athletes get peak performance during the event, and helps them recover for the next one.