OXFORDSHIRE'S STRONGMAN & STRONGWOMAN
The Rules

Category Requirements

The details of the category entry requirements are detailed below:

Beginners: This is your first, or second, competition entry in the last three years and you have never placed in a previous competition. If you have entered two or more competitions in the last three years, or you have ever placed in a competition, you are not eligable for this category. You do not have to enter as a beginner if you feel that you would rather compete in one of the other categories.

Weighted Categories: You may not, on the day of entry, weigh more than the weight category - e.g. 82kg for Women or 105kg for Men. You will be weighed in on the morning of the competition and, if you are over weight (outside of a reasonable error margin determined on the scale with a known weight on the morning of the competition), you will be moved into the Open category regardless of the category that you applied for. We would strongly recommend that you don't dehydrate to attempt to hit the weight category, previous years have had very high temperatures during the day and this would impact at least your performance, if not your health.

Open Categories: There is no weight limit on entry in the open categories, if you have previously placed in a competition and you are over the weight limit, this is definitely the category for you !

Events Order

The events will take place in the following order:

1. Log Lift
2. Upper Body Medley
3. Car Deadlift
4. Conan's Wheel
5. Static Weight Hold

Scoring System

The following scoring system will be adhered to throughout the competition, in order that there is no ambiguity in the event of any ‘ties’ for individual events and the overall competition positions. The event organiser will have the final decision on any disputes or discrepancies during the competition.

Points will be awarded for all competitors as follows:

Points will be numbered according to the amount of people in each category e.g. if 10 in men’s open 10 points down to 1, if 6 in the beginners women’s 6 points down to 1. Therefore, in men’s open 10 points for first placed in the event, down to 1 point for the last or 10th place.

Anyone not able to complete an event (e.g. can’t lift the weight or doesn’t actually attempt an event) will get 0 points for that event.

In the event of a tie in an event, points will be averaged and shared e.g. 1st position gets 10 points, if 2nd and 3rd are tied they will share 9 plus 8 points divided by 2 = 8.5points each. Similarly, if three are tied for 4th position in an event, points will be shared 7+6+5 points divided by 3 = 6 points each.

For competition placings, in the event of any ties, we will use a countback system to ascertain who has the most 1st positions, 2nd positions, 3rd positions and so on and positions allocated accordingly.

LOG LIFT 

Loading: Floor to Overhead - heaviest 1 rep (3 lifts), minimum starting weight

• Women Beginners: 30kg
• Women U82kg: 40kg
• Women Open: 50kg
• Men Beginners: 60kg
• Men U105kg: 70kg
• Men Open: 80kg

On the receipt of the word of command ‘LIFT’ competitors will lift the log, from the floor above their head and fully lock out at the elbow. The referee will indicate with a downward hand signal and shout ‘down’ for a good lift, only then will this be determined a successful lift. Competitors will be allowed 3 attempts to lift each weight within a timeframe of 60 seconds. Competitors must pass their proposed lifts to the judge before each lift. Each person can have a maximum of 3 separate lifts but can only proceed onto the 2nd and 3rd lift if successful each time. The heaviest weight will determine the placings. Chalk, belts, knee and elbow sleeves and grip tops are permitted to be used.

Technical Details of the Log Lift

The log weighs 30kg without weight plates. The distance between each lifting handle is 55cm narrow or 80cm wide. The circumference of the log barrel is 83 cm. The length of the log barrel is 1.25m, plus 0.34m each end for the weight plates.

UPPER BODY MEDLEY

Loading: Quickest within max 75 sec for Dual Dumbbell Press, Barbell Clean and Press, Axle Clean and Press and Single Dumbbell Press

• Women Beginners: 17.5kg, 40kg, 45kg, 20kg
• Women U82kg: 20kg, 45kg, 55kg, 22.5kg
• Women Open: 22.5kg, 50kg, 60kg, 27.5kg
• Men Beginners: 25kg, 60kg, 70kg, 35kg
• Men U105kg: 35kg, 70kg, 80kg, 45kg
• Men Open: 40kg, 80kg, 90kg, 50kg

On the receipt of the word of command ‘lift’ competitors will lift 2 dumbbells from the floor to overhead. The referee will indicate with a downward hand signal and shout ‘down’ for a good lift, only then can the competitor proceed onto the next item to lift overhead. They can make as many attempts as possible at each item, but only require to complete one repetition of each. Once the first weight has been successfully lifted, they will proceed to attempt to lift a weighted 7ft Olympic barbell from floor to overhead, followed by a weighted axle barbell, and finally a single arm dumbbell (using a normal dumbbell) two hands can be used to get the dumbbell to the shoulder before a single arm press. The winner will be the person that lifts all or most weights in the quickest time within 75 secs. Subsequent placings will be awarded according to the number of weights lifted and least time to achieve their last successful lift. Chalk, straps, belts, knee and elbow sleeves and grip tops are permitted to be used.

Technical Details of the Upper Body Medley

The dumbbells are normal dumbbells, metal or rubber hexagonal. The barbells all weigh 20kg each without weight plates. The axle barbell circumference is 16.5cm

CAR DEADLIFT

Car deadlift is a neutral grip, consisting lifting a type of vehicle with or without extra weight.

Loading:

Chalk, lifting straps, belts and knee wraps are permitted to be used however no deadlift or squat suits.

On the receipt of the word of command ‘LIFT’ competitors will deadlift the platform containing a car (with or without extra weight) from the floor, for as many repetitions as they can within a time limit of 60 seconds. A full repetition constitutes when the competitor lifts the deadlift frame and car fully from the floor, straightening their legs and following through with their hips (lockout). The referee will indicate with a downward hand signal and shout ‘down’ for a good lift, only then does the repetition count. The most repetitions will determine the winner and subsequent placings will be awarded according to the number of repetitions lifted. Bounce and go repetitions will not be permitted. Chalk, lifting straps, belts and knee and elbow sleeves are permitted to be used. No deadlift or squat suits.

Technical Details of the Car Deadlift

The deadlift frame is a neutral grip and weighs 60kg. The lifting handles are 82 cm apart. The circumference of the handles is 11cm. The height of the handles from the floor is 53cm. Distance from the lifting handles to the car wheels is 1.25m.

The lifts will be:

• Women's Beginners: Fiat 500 (around 2009 model year) (esimated lift 146kg)
• Women's U82kg: Fiat 500 + 25kg (estimated lift 155kg)
• Women's Open: Mini Cooper (around a 2011 model year) (estimated lift 178kg)
• Men's Beginners: Mini Cooper + 75kg over back axle (estimated lift 205kg)
• Men's U105kg: Mini Cooper + 110kg over back axle (estimated lift 218kg)
• Men's Open: Mini Cooper + 130kg over back axle (estimated lift 230kg)

This, of course, opens the question "So how much does that actually weigh ?" - the truth is, we don't really know exactly - it's the same for all competitors so it's fair in that regard. Our working caculations - tested against real world known lifing capabilities of individuals and found to be reasonable - are based on some assumptions and some physics. We got our equation for a class 2 lever from here. And used the following figures:

• (a) Full length of frame: 2.75m
• (b) Length of point where axle sits on frame to pivot point on ground: 1m
• (c) Therefore distance from handle to axle point: 1.75m (a-c)
• (d) Weight of Mini Cooper (2011): 1150kg (approx listed kerb weight)
• (e) Weight distribution front to back: 60:40
• (f) Weight of frame: 60kg (even weight distribution assumed along length (g) 50:50)

This means that the _rough_ guess of the weight on the frame at the point it is being lifted is:

(1150 x .4) + (60 x .5) = 490kg [(d*e)+(f*g)]

Using the lever calculations this makes the lift weight of the car alone approximately 178kg.

By loading weight plates into the back, they effectively go directly over the back axle and directly increase the weight that we use for the calculation so, for example by adding 75kg of plates, this makes the weight we use in the calculation 490kg + 75kg = 565kg. Which gives us a lift weight of about 205kg.

There are a _lot_ of assumptions in here, and even the amount and type of fuel in the car would have an impact on the total - 40 litres of petrol weighs about 30kg and 40 litres of diesel weights about 34kgs ...

If you'd like any more information on the calcualtions please drop Si a line at - info@objective-forensics.com.

CONAN'S WHEEL

The Conan’s Wheel arm weighs 70kg with an attached stand containing additional steel plates, and additional weight plates for Women's Open, Men’s U105kg and Mens Open.

Loading: Longest distance in 60 sec

• Women's Beginners: 91kg
• Women's U82kg: 113.5kg
• Women's Open: 127kg
• Men Beginners: 135.5kg
• Men U105kg: 150kg
• Men Open: 163.5g

On the receipt of the word of command ‘lift’ competitors will grip the Conan’s Wheel arm and lift the weight stand off the floor. They will then walk in a circular direction as far as they can in 60 seconds. Once the Conan’s Wheel weight stand is dropped to the floor, the distance will be measured (in degrees). Chalk, lifting belts, knee and elbow sleeves are permitted to be used. The winner will be determined by the furthest distance within the timeframe allocated.

Technical Details of the Conan's Wheel

The wheel arm weights 70kg and is 2.95m in length from the pivot point. Circumference of the wheel arm is 32cm. The wheel arm has a weight stack consisting of 32kg weight plates, and additional weight plate to make up the total weight required.

STATIC WEIGHT HOLD 

Static hold will be a dumbbell for 10 and 15kg, and axe trophy for 12kg and 20kg weights.

Loading: Weight hold for maximum time

• Women Beginners: 10kg dumbbell
• Women U82kg: 12kg trophy axe
• Women Open: 12kg trophy axe
• Men Beginners: 15kg dumbbell
• Men U105kg: 20kg trophy axe
• Men Open: 20kg trophy axe

On the receipt of the word of command ‘GO’ competitors will lift an axe trophy or normal dumbbell at shoulder height with elbows locked out, maintaining a ‘form’ of arms at shoulder height, shoulders and backside touching the wall. Competitors are to hold the weight for as long as possible. Once the form has been ‘broken’ the time will be stopped and recorded. The referee will provide a ‘warning’ the first time a competitor begins to ‘break form’. The winner will be determined by the longest time to hold the item with correct form. Chalk, belts and knee and elbow sleeves are permitted to be used.

Technical Details of the Static Weight Hold

The dumbbells are normal metal or rubber dumbbells, hexagonal. The axe trophy has a shield type head and long arm, which has a total length of 1m for the 20kg axe trophy (circumference 16.5cm) and 66cm for the 12kg axe trophy (circumference 16.5cm)

Notes

Please note events are subject to change at the discretion of the organiser and are weather dependent. In adverse weather conditions substitute events might be used. Changes will be circulated to all competitors prior to the event where possible.