Records set to be broken at Matti Tikka comp on Sunday
ONE of Australia’s most illustrious powerlifting competitions, the Matti Tikka Opal Challenge, will be held in Penrith this weekend. And local Daniel Curry will attempt an Australia squat record of 348kg.
Penrith
Don't miss out on the headlines from Penrith. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STRENGTH Nation will host the Matti Tikka powerlifting competition this weekend and organisers expect to see a world record broken.
The Jamisontown gym on Sunday will host some of the best lifters in Australia and around the world compete in the 36th running of the event.
It will be the second consecutive year the gym has hosted the tournament and event organiser Ray Owen expects competitors to put on a good show.
“It’s the biggest event outside the nationals,” he said.
“We’ve got multiple Australian record holders competing. “You’ll see a bench press of 270kg by a 120kg Richard Hozjan.
“Local Daniel Curry will attempt an Australia squat record of 348kg. He’s done it in training. He’s just got to do it in competition now. He’s a former Australian deadlift record holder.”
One of the highlights will be current world bench press champion in the 84kg category, Caleb Voice.
He holds the world record bench press of 200kg and he’ll be attempting a 220kg lift.
Surprisingly, despite the nature of the sport, with the heavy lifting, Owen said it wasn’t as hard as it looked to compete — as long as the right training and technique is taught.
“You can compete within two or three months. Once we get your technique perfect and you’re lifting safely there’s no reason why you can’t enter competitions,” he said.
“People can be a much stronger version of themselves in short matter of time.
“To get to the top level though it does take years of training.”
The event will run for most of the day and spectators will get to see 37 lifters in action.
Strength Nation is a 3/70 Mulgoa Road. The event is free and open to the public from 9am.
IN OTHER NEWS — FIRST ECHIDNA BIRTHS IN 29 YEARS FOR TARONGA
Beanies, bear suits, boiled-in-the bag food for Sydney to Hobart
T-shirts and shorts have been crew uniforms on Sydney to Hobart racers in the past but they are being replaced by beanies, bear suits and boil-in-the-bag food for the 79th race.
‘You have to be courageous’: Keen as teen all aboard for first Sydney to Hobart
His first memory of the Sydney to Hobart is watching a start from a harbourside beach at age four. Now this teen with Olympic sized sailing ambition is about to join the fleet for a “wild” ride