Crossfit Reading are very excited to announce the date for the next CrossFit Reading Strength and Power Invitational, in Association with FK.UK.

Get this date in your family diaries - Saturday 5th June, 2010.

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the format, it's based around the traditional Strongman event - you can expect pulling vehicles, lifting heavy things, picking up and carrying odd objects, putting things overhead, flipping tyres…and much more!

If all of that sounds a little crazy…it is! But it is also a lot of fun and particularly empowering. The competitor pool is split into male and female, and each gender is split into weight categories.

A very important factor when planning it all is making sure that everyone is able to have a good go at all events. In this way, the events are carefully considered so that they are scaled in a fair manner for each weight class. Also we look to make the events as even as possible throughout the day, so that the bigger competitor does not automatically have a huge advantage.

For those of you that were at the last one, you can expect more of the same in terms of the fun, the friendliness and no doubt the fight of the competitors.

In November, every single category was ridiculously close, right down to the final event, with the following people emerging victorious:

Men's Sub 75kg: Tom Sherwin
Men's 75kg-90kg: Thong van Cao
Men's 90kg and over: Phil Nourse
Women's Overall: Sally Moss

Can you knock them from the top? Can the rivals of last event turn the tables this time around? Only one way to find out!

You can also expect quite literally MORE of the same - this event is being planned to be bigger and better. The Winter event lent itself to getting stuck in and gritting it out under any conditions - and to their absolute credit this applied to the spectators too!

The fact that this next one is in June, and that we have use of more space at the venue, and more interest in the event as a whole means that we can make it more of a spectator event too, so bring friends and family - the more the merrier and there will be lots to do and see for all!

On that note, We are also extremely happy to announce the involvement of two sponsors who are with us from the outset. They have both been very generous in their sponsorship and support, and are really helping to make this event everything it can be.

In alphabetical order, they are:

Strength - Started with Strict Press.  4 sets of 10 reps

Dear diary, today was one of, if not, the most amazing days for Crossfit Reading, its members and me. We lifted heavy shit today!

The Event 

Saturday 21^st of November 2009 was the finishing line of months of planning, organising, re planning and re organising. Chet of www.funckey.co.uk and I went to watch a strongman contest in August and as soon as it started we looked at each other and said "lets do one". To say it has snowballed would be a criminal understatement! Over the last few weeks the atmosphere and anticipation for this event had gone through the roof and we unfortunately but sensibly had to turn people away from competing. We have made some amazing new contacts, even more amazing friends and learnt some extremely valuable lessons in preparation for this event, all of which will make the next one and even bigger success. 

Before anything else I want to thank some special people. 

Tadley rugby club for making us extremely welcome and allowing us to hold the day at their rugby club.  Chet for helping organise the event and keep our feet on the ground. Definitely will be working with him again on the next event! Stephen of www.spqrfit.com for arranging the tipper, transporting equipment to the event and helping on the day! Neil for helping with scoring and equipment on the day! Julie and Nicky for being our little raffle ticket and tee shirt sales girls. Don't think anyone got away from purchasing tickets. Danny for giving up his time to iron out any aches or pains for the contestants, Emmie of www.spiritpictures.co.uk for taking some fantastic pictures of the day, Ang, for working on her day off (and her birthday) to provide food for everyone throughout the day and last but not least my wife for putting up with me for the last month, looking after our 18 month old Macey on the day and allowing me to act like a big kid and do what we did. The Day 

The day started with a weigh in at 10 a.m. This would determine who would sit in each weight class <75kg, 75-89kg and 90+kg. With some spanners being thrown in the works and some peeps getting naked to try and make weight we were set to go. A quick announcement of the events followed with the order of the day being set out. 

The day's events ran like this 

Event 1 - 5kg shot overhead throw for distance. 1 attempt!

Event 2 - Press event. 70% of bodyweight. Below chin to overhead anyhow - max reps in 1 minute 

Event 3 - Deadlift hold. <75kg 120kg, 75-89kg 150kg and 90+kg 180kg 

Event 4 - Medley. 65kg anvil carry 15m, farmers walks 15m 65, 75 and 85kg per side in respect to each weight class and 5 tyre flips for time 

Event 5 - Tipper truck pull 30m for time 

Event 6 - Loading event. 60m slosh keg carry and load, 40m 2 x 30kg sandbag carry and load and 20m 2 x 25kg plates per side farmers walk and load for time. 

Our aim from the outset was to allow anyone to be able to participate in the day's event while still holding on to some of the more renowned strongman type disciplines. We wanted it to reflect Crossfit to some extent by not just benefiting the heavier contestants. We did that and from all the feedback we have been receiving the format was fantastic. 

After watching the weather forecasts we were braced for some shocking weather. As by fate and as if someone was watching over us the weather held out till after lunch and only at around 2.30 p.m. did the heavens open. We carried on regardless and contestants and supporters rallied through as if nothing had changed. 

Event 1 

This took place on the field. The grass was damp but nothing bad enough to hinder performance. With only one attempt it was all or bust. Technique played a big part in this discipline along side some great explosive power. This was apparent in the standings after the first event.  

Standing after event 1 - The throw

Standings after event 5 

Event 6 

The final event! With each weight class being neck and neck and being decided on this event alone, it was nothing less than insatiable to watch. The heavens had now truly opened and what was a hard event to start with was now getting gradually more difficult. A 60m slosh keg carry and load greeted each contestant first. 45kg for the lighter guys and 55kg for the mids and heavies! Next up 40m with two 30kg sandbags on their shoulders! To finish they had 20m with two 25kg plates in each hand. All objects had to be loaded on to the back of the tipper.  

The light was fading and we actually finished this event in the dark. There is something quite surreal about watching contestants in the pouring rain battle to get disgustingly heavy, wet and awkward objects 60 metres on to a truck.  

Endurance was the name of the game for this event. Speed between the load and next object was crucial and the ability to get those damn sandbags on the shoulder quickly was paramount. Some came unstuck with the fatigue, some with the wet but all battled through to finish strongly.  

 

Final standings after event 6 

Name	Weight Class	Time	Position/Points for Carry	Final Cumulative Points
Chris Chapman	Sub 75kg	100	2	7
Tom Sherwin	Sub 75kg	89	1	8
Sally Moss	Sub 75kg		3	15
Paul Mccabe	75-90kg	107	4	23
Mark Tunstall	75-90kg	144	5	24
Chris Barclay	75-90kg	78	1	17
Thong van Cao	75-90kg	102	3	17
Jimmy Saunders	75-90kg	179	6	21
Martin Phoenix	75-90kg	93	2	21
Alex Hawes	90+kg	81	6	22
Daryn Clarke	90+kg	78	5	32
Will Dollar	90+kg	61	1	16
Phil Nourse	90+kg	71	2	14
Matt Nourse	90+kg	75	3	24
Koing Chea	90+kg	76	4	16

 Final Standings  

Name	Weight Class	Final Cumulative Points	Final Position
Chris Chapman	Sub 75kg	7	2
Tom Sherwin	Sub 75kg	8	1
Sally Moss	Sub 75kg	15	3
Paul Mccabe	75-90kg	23	5
Mark Tunstall	75-90kg	24	6
Chris Barclay	75-90kg	17	2
Thong van Cao	75-90kg	17	1
Jimmy Saunders	75-90kg	21	3
Martin Phoenix	75-90kg	21	3
Alex Hawes	90+kg	22	4
Daryn Clarke	90+kg	32	6
Will Dollar	90+kg	16	2
Phil Nourse	90+kg	14	1
Matt Nourse	90+kg	24	5
Koing Chea	90+kg	16	2

We finished the day with the raffle, prizes for the winners, a huge round of applause and a pat on the back for everyone and a well deserved beer. 

This is the first of our events. More will follow and Tadley RFC are happy to have us. We are thinking of May next year for the next one.

Some great photos were taken and can been seen on facebook.