Arm wrestlers get a grip at inaugural tournament
By Lethbridge Herald on March 10, 2020.
Herald photo by Dale Woodard -
Jeff McCrae of Calgary (left) and LethbridgeÕs Dustyn Rasmussen arm wrestle in the first event of the LAWC Classic Armwrestling Tournament put on by the Lethbridge Arm Wrestling Club Saturday afternon at the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4. Dale Woodard
Lethbridge Herald
sports@lethbridgeherald.com
Local armwrestlers took the stage and showed a little muscle Saturday afternoon at the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4.
The Lethbridge Arm Wrestling Club invited everyone to get in on the act as the club held its first LAWC Classic Armwrestling Tournament.
With two world titles and 25 Canadian titles to his credit, Lethbridge Arm Wrestling Club president and founder Len Houghton noted a new wave of arm wrestlers coming up.
“I’ve been to 11 world championships and the new guys are trying to make their way.”
The one-day event featured super matches in addition to an amateur/pro/masters class, a women’s class and a youth class for ages six to eight and nine to 11 with proceeds going to the Support The Veterans fund.
“We’re going to start off with six Super Matches and pro Pullers, a best-of-five,” said Houghton prior to the first match of the afternoon. “Once that’s wrapped up we’ll start the youth and the amateurs. It’ll be a busy day.”
The LAWC Classic Armwrestling Tournament packed the Legion room with some vocal and enthusiastic spectators, offering support and a few helpful tips from the crowd.
As well, a referee clinic was given to provide the finer points and rules at the table and what officials are looking for.
Saturday afternoon was the inaugural LAWC Classic Armwrestling Tournament, but the Lethbridge Arm Wrestling Club has been around almost 40 years.
“We’ve been around for about 37 years,” said Houghton. “We have a very strong club. We get together about three times a week, 15 to 20 of us. We go four about three or four hours a night.”
After last weekend’s tournament, local arm wrestlers have a few more events to gear up for later this year.
“We have provincials coming up and nationals and worlds,” said Houghton.
Provincials are May 17 in Grande Prairie, while Winnipeg hosts nationals in July 3-5.
The IFA World Armwrestling Championship is Sept. 15-21 in Orlando, Florida.
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