ULSTER'S STRONGEST MAN 2010

Ulster Strongest Man is

Francis Kirby

Ballymoney

First of all thank you to North Down Borough Council for hosting this event to all our sponsors, our main sponsor Sammy Mellons, College Driving.com/Depot Drive Motorbike, Bangor Cabs, GNC, Wright Skips, Esporta Health Club, Complete Gyms, CCRS.

A special thanks to our New Official Irish Strength Association Referee Martin Campbell, Co Antrim (I.S.M 2000 & 2003) for a professional and excellent job in his new role and we wish him all the best for the future.

Final Results

9th place - Philip McKinstry - Co Down - 6 pts

8th place - Barry Webb - Co Armagh - 11 pts

7th place - Chris McNaughten - Co Antrim - 18 pts

6th place - Ade Paul - Co L/Derry - 21 pts

5th place - Tommy McKinstry - Co Down - 28.5 pts

4th place - Pete McCallen - Co Tyrone - 30 pts

3rd place - Leslie Steele - Co L/Derry - 31 pts

2nd place - Jonathan Kelly - Co Antrim - 45 pts

1st place - Francis Kirby - Co Antrim - 49.5 pts

Competitors in red have qualified for Ireland Strongest Man, along with the 2009 Northern Champion Dave Warner from Co Antrim

A great day was had by all with a fantastic crowd four deep around the arena and the sun did shine.

Event 1 - Deadlift Hold

This was a head to head event with Hyundai i10 cars being lifted, straps were allowed so it was a blood and guts event with over 2000lb of pressure from the vehicles on the back and traps of each competitor. A Shock win came from this event with The Mighty Adi Paul showing all hes worth with an amazing time of 1 min 24 secs, a terrific performances from the former 105kg competitor, he certainly showed the competitors he wasn't there just to make up the numbers. Second in this event was Jonathan Kelly with 1min 10 sec and 3rd was Francis Kirby with 1min 2 secs.

Event 2 Daddy Dumbell

This is an individual test of strength were the dumbell must be lifted from the ground and lifted with one arm above the head to the lock out position and returned to the ground under control before continuing with the next rep, 90 secs time limit was given to complete this event.  There was a 5kg increase put on the dumbell this year, the dumbell now weighs 65kg.  Again we had a shock result, the Highland Warrior Jonathan Kelly destroyed all rival press monsters by setting a new Irish Record with 11 reps of the Daddy dumbell.  Leslie Steele a former press record holder only managed 9 reps to secure 2nd place with Tommy McKinstiry and Francis Kirby getting 7 reps for joint 3rd place.

Event 3 - Arm Over Arm Truck Pull

This was the heaviest arm over arm truck pull ever in the Irish Strength Association, nobody completed the course in the 90 sec time period.  Two men came very close, Francis Super Grip Kirby got his first win of the comp (only 1.5 metres from finishing the course) and second was Pete McCallan only 3.5 metres from finishing the course.  Though Jonathan Kelly completed a creditable half the distance to secure 3rd place in this event and to keep his lead in the competition against 4 times winner Francis Super Grip Kirby by only 1.5 points.

Event 4 - Silver Dollar Deadlift

Overall was a little disappointed with this maximum lift from the knees, I think most of the guys will agree they have done better in training and in competition with this style of lifting, not taking anything away from the 5 guys who lifted it out of the 9 ,but there seemed to be only 1 guy stepping up to the plate Francis Super Grip Kirby. He clearly could have went on to do more by winning this event with only a deadlift of 345kg. To our amaze this was done with his hands and did not go with the option of using straps which made the lift more impressive especially with the ease that he pulled it.  He needed this second win in the forth event as this pushed him first into the lead a he tried to claim his undisputed 5th Ulster Strongest Man title.  Second was Leslie Steele with 340kg and 3rd was the Mighty Adi Paul with 335kg.

Event 5 - Stones

A Real classic event the Atlas Stones, 5 stones ranging from 85kg - 145kg.  This proved to be a great event to watch again this year as 7 men attempted the 5th heaviest stone, 4 only looked like they may achieve this, Pete McCallan, Jonathan Kelly and Tommy McKinstry. However only one managed to complete the 5th stone, Francis Super Grip Kirby with a time of 5 stones in 1 min 27 secs.  Jonathan Kelly did 4 stones in 18.22 secs and Lesley Steele came 3rd in doing 4 stones in 24.56 secs.

Event 6 - Wheelbarrow Medley

This was an event change from Super Yoke due to sponsorship commitments on the day, but I will have to say it turned out to be a classic.  A 2 min time limit was set and competitors again had to load 3 heavy implements into a skip wheelbarrow, a chain, an anchor and barrel.  With the handles on the skip -lift it and carry it in a wheelbarrow fashion and carry it down the course.  A real tough one for the guys, especially when it came to carrying the wheelbarrow as the guys forearms where still pumped from the previous arm over arm.  Nobody carried the wheelbarrow up the course without it coming out of their hands several times, gruelling to watch.  Securing his 5th title Francis Super Grip Kirby took the wheelbarrow up the course, 2nd was Jonathan Kelly and 3rd was amazingly in a grip event was Leslie Steele (he has improved greatly),  with his best result ever in the Irish Strength Assoication with a third place, well done.

Pete McCallan put up a sturdy performance in the deadlift hold, rope pull, and stones to secure his qualifying place for Ireland Strongest Man, just losing his lead for a third podium place to Leslie Steele by one point but his best result in strongman to date well done.

Overall a magnificent performance by all the guys namely the new comer Tommy McKinstry who received the Warrior's Medal for a very consistent performance and by coming 5th in his first ever competition in the Irish Strength Association.  I was also impressed by Adi Paul proving that size doesn't matter, if you have a big heart and self belief you can beat any one.

The runner up spot went to Jonathan Kelly previously Novice Ireland Strongest Man 2008, the Highland Warrior Games Champion 4 times, a Junior Rugby star, a podium arm wrestler and now 2nd in Ulster strongest Man what else can this guy do and what an overall star we have in the Association, a gentlemen and a sportsman and a credit to the Irish Strength Assoication and all he stands for, well done.  Lads he is one to watch don't discount him in the All Ireland Final.

Francis Kirby, Super Grip by name and Super Grip by nature, once he gets a hold on a lead in a competition its going to take a big big star to move him, guys he is going to be a serious contender for this years Ireland Strongest Man, a slow start but what a finish winning the last 4 events as the great Jon Pall Sigmarsson said its better to have a bad start and a good finish rather than a good start and a bad finish and Francis Kirby indeed on Easter Monday was that man.

A big well done from the Irish Strength Association in securing your 5th Ulster Strongest Man title and lifting the Culcullen Warrior Prince Trophy, we will see you to do battle on the Isle of Mann.

Easter Monday

North Down Borough Council Presents

Venue:

McKee Clock Arena, Bangor Seafront, Co Down