Records were sent tumbling this weekend as powerlifters competed for a spot on the provincial team travelling to the national championships later in 2019.
Eastern Cape and SA powerlifter Eben Booyens was the pick of the bunch alongside fellow Protea lifter Vanessa Lessing as the pair scooped the best overall lifter accolades at the Eastern Cape Classic Powerlifting Championships at Cape Recife High School on Saturday.
Booyens was at his powerful best, squatting 200kg before claiming a hat-trick of new provincial records in the bench press (190kg) and deadlift (245kg) to end with a total of 635kg, which secured the third record.
Lessing, competing in both the Senior and Masters 1 categories, added three new provincial records to her name.
Lessing began her pursuit of the top spot in the 63kg division with a 92.5kg squat before setting a new record for the deadlift with 52.5kg and followed that up with a 132.5kg deadlift, totalling 277.5kg.
Meanwhile, in the women’s sub-junior category, Mienke Vinson claimed top honours in the 72kg division, posting a 75kg squat, 37.5kg bench and 97.5kg deadlift to take her total to 210kg.
Zylmari du Preez, lifting in the 63kg division, posted a 55kg squat, 30kg bench and 80kg deadlift to put up a total of 165kg.
The junior category saw Nicola Maritz claim top spot in the 63kg division as she posted a 70kg squat and 37.5kg bench before pulling a 100kg deadlift, totalling 207.5kg.
Patricia Harding, contesting in the 47kg division, set a new record when she squatted 65kg before posting a 35kg bench and a 105kg deadlift, adding up to 205kg.
On the men’s side, the subjunior category saw Simon Curtain claim first place, competing in the 83kg division. He produced a 100kg squat, 90kg bench and a 195kg deadlift, bringing his total to 385kg.
In the 120kg division, Jarrod-Lee Barnard took top honours and rewrote the record books as he posted four new provincial records – a 150kg squat, 120kg bench and a 200kg deadlift, totalling 470kg.
The 93kg division saw Gabriel Adamstein place first after posting a 130kg squat, 105kg bench and a 180kg deadlift, bringing his total to 425kg.
In the junior category, Eldeano Booysen, in the 66kg division, claimed gold and two new provincial records with a 140kg squat and a 115kg bench. His deadlift was 145kg to take his total to 400kg.
In the 83kg division, Ignatius Muller claimed first place after posting a 120kg squat, 115kg bench and a 160kg squat, totalling 395kg.
The 93kg division saw Cameron-John Parker claim first place with a 140kg squat, 120kg bench and a 190kg squat, totalling 450kg.
Anrich Els, in the 120kg division, placed first after setting two new provincial records for the squat (245kg) and deadlift (277.5kg). He also posted a 115kg bench to take his total to 637.5kg, a new provincial record.
Senior Wonga Jola, in the 83kg division, also claimed a quartet of records, posting a 210kg squat, 140kg bench and 242.5kg deadlift (total 592.5kg).
In the Masters 1 category, Steve Harding, in the 93kg division, posted a 135kg squat, 100kg bench and a 195kg deadlift to take his total to 430kg...