Nation’s strongmen and women fight for arm-wrestling glory at Meatstock

While the smoked delicacies took centre stage at Meatstock, there was plenty of athleticism on display as well, including powerlifting, rodeo and arm-wrestling.

While teeming crowds of Meatstock carnivores devoured a mouth-watering feast of barbecued and smoked meat, a dedicated core of athletes were at the back of the Toowoomba Showground Pavilion fighting for glory.

Men and women from across the country had come to compete in the Australia Arm Wrestling Federation’s Meatstock championship.

It consisted of three weight classes, a men’s and women’s division, and a right and left armed divisions in a two-loss elimination competition.

The top prize, the super heavyweight title, went to Melbourne Table Kings’ Andy Boskovski, who beat the Northside Vikings’ Jacob Tuxworth in the final.

“The beauty about this sport is a community’s quite close and really supportive, but it is also very diverse, we have everyone from teenagers to people in their 60s,” Mr Boskovski said.

“It is one of those sports that if you really take care of yourself, you can do for a very long time.”

Andy Boskovski (left) from Melbourne Table Kings, won the super heavyweight division of that Meatstock Toowoomba arm wrestling competition, beating Jacob Tuxworth, out of Brisbane.

Mr Boskovski’s win is the latest in a wave of victories over the past few years which have included multiple national titles and a recent state title in the US.

The 27-year-old strongman said he got his start in the sport after a chance encounter at a fitness expo when he was a teen.

“There was an array of disciplines on show such as powerlifting, strongman bodybuilding, martial arts, boxing.

“Then I saw arm-wrestling and thought hang on, ‘is this a sport?’”

“I quickly realised that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, so I got chatting to some of the guys and before long I was invited to train at a local club.

“I just got hooked after that, and just fell in love with the sport.”

After Saturday’s competition, members of the public were welcomed on stage to try their hand, while the professionals offered advice.

“Don’t worry about winning, think about safety first,” Mr Boskovski said.

“Always look at your hand and never let your shoulder or humerus externally rotate past its end point. If you do that, you’re more likely to break your arm.

“Keep your hand in line with your shoulder and then pull towards you.”