MORGAN Holmes of Pearson High School was the star at the recently held Eastern Cape Powerlifting Championships at the Cape Recife School in Summerstrand.
Competing in the 83kg category sub-junior men’s division, he had a dream start to the new year by setting four Eastern Cape records.
Holmes succeeded with a 215kg squat, a 130kg bench press, a massive 230kg deadlift and a smart total of 575kg. He is making big strides and looks certain to be a big factor once again at the SA Classic Championships in Potchefstroom from March 28.
Holmes previously placed second at the SA’s and also won a silver medal at the Africa Championships.
However, he was not the only star at the meeting.
Danté de Beer, a 12-year-old lifter from the Quest School in South End, became the first lifter with autism in history to enter the provincial competition. He then also made double history by winning the Youth category in the 83kg division with a 200kg total.
“This was a massive occasion for Danté. Everyone is so proud of him,” EP president André Ludik said. De Beer was also included in the provincial side for the Potchefstroom showdown.
Willem Bruwer who competed in the 105kg sub-junior men’s division, was responsible for three records when he scored with a 185kg squat, 235kg deadlift and total of 542,5kg.
Zaid Niemand and Timothy Pawson were responsible for the eighth and ninth records on the day.
Niemand bettered the bench press record in the junior 105kg division for a 140kg effort – beating the previous record by 5kg.
Pawson, competing in the junior 120+kg category, also bettered the deadlift record by 5kg, setting the new total at 230kg.
In the 83kg junior division, Daniel Diederick lifted in his second competition and succeeded with a 175kg squat. His third attempt of 190kg was just a bit of a big jump and he unfortunately missed it. He benched 135kg and deadlift 220kg.
Former Andrew Rabie High School pupil, Joshua Jantjies, also made his alma mater proud by winning the 66kg division with a smart 420kg total, following his 130kg squat, 110kg bench press and 180kg deadlift.
Lianie Bakkes in the 57kg division and Kobie Mellet in the 76kg are also two lifters to watch as this was their first competition.
In the women’s sub-junior division, Stephene Loubser, in the 69kg was the best sub-junior of the day.
The team to represent Eastern Cape is:
Sub-junior: Lianie Bakkes (57kg division), Stephene Loubser (69), Kobie Mellet (76), Abigaill Doyle (84+).
Junior:
Lu-Tay Louis (63).
Master 2: Elisabeth Barry (52).
- Dante de Beer (83), Alan de Beer (66), Seth Webster (74), Kyle Joosten (74), Donovan Tennant (74), Morgan Holmes (83), Caleb Oosthuizen (93), Willem Bruwer (105)
Junior:
Samuel Meshilinie (59), Joshua Jantjies (66), Ehli Reverly (74), Vincent Davies (83), Daniel Diedericks (83), Seth Niemand (93), Zaid Niemand (105), Timothy Pawson (120+).
Open: Dean Mcleary (105).
Master 3: Clive Geldenhuys (93), André Ludik (120).
