When it comes to armwrestling, it is not about the size of your muscles.
“It is all about technique, genetics and time on the table,” says Elizma Botma of the Karma Bulldogs Armwrestling Club in Durbanville.
More than 30 armwrestlers from five clubs in the Western Cape tackled each other in a tough competition held by Karma Bulldogs at Peppa Jack’s Tex-Mex Grill & Bar just outside Durbanville on Saturday.
The clubs – from the northern suburbs and asfar as Strand and Reebok (between George and Mossel Bay) – are all registered with the Armwrestling Association of South Africa (AASA). The other four clubs are Table Vikings (Bothasig), CapeViperZ (Heideveld), Power Guns ( two clubs – one in Strand and one in Tableview) and WellneZone (Reebok).
“Armwrestling is a sport of ups and downs, humility and learning. We are competitive but also good friends,” says Botma.
Karma Bulldogs, the first official registered club in the Western Cape, was established in March 2016 by Marius Wiese and Sas Keyser.
In November 2017 the club competed in the national armwrestling championships in Boksburg – the first time a registered Western Cape club competed in an official competition. Karma Bulldogs ended up winning most medals of any club that day – nine medals in total!
“Since then we have held many competitions and exhibition days. We had internationally accredited referees flown in to conduct refereeing courses and have seen several additional clubs being formed and registered in the Western Cape,” says Botma.
National champion
One of the club’s original members, Werner la Grange, was only 13 when he started with the sport. He is now an accredited referee, as well as the 2022 national champion for both arms in the junior u.18 category for boys 78kg.
Another original member, Victor la Grange, came in second for the left arm and third for the right arm in the masters open class at the national championships in 2017. In 2018 he attended the Arnold Classics and came third for both arms in the masters open class.
In 2019 at the national championships, he won first place for the right arm and third for the left arm in the masters open class. Two of the newer members participated in the 2021 national championships. Fanie Botes came first for both arms in the men’s masters under 95kg category. He also came fifth for both arms in the men’s asters 95kg and above category.
Jaco Botma came third for the right arm and fourth for the left arm in the men’s masters 95kg and above category.
“Now we are aiming for the 2023 national championships,” Botma says.
Results
- Women’s Open (left arm): 1. Monique Maritz (WellneZone), 2. Hanél Wilkinson (WellneZone), 3. Elizma Botma (Karma Bulldogs;
- Women’s Open (right arm): 1. Hanél Wilkinson (Wellnezone), 2. Monique Maritz (Wellnezone), 3. Elizma Botma (Karma Bulldogs).
- Men’s under 80kg (left arm): 1. Werner la Grange (Karma Bulldogs), 2. Jethro Ernstzen (Power Guns), 3. Etial Rossouw (Power Guns);
- Men’s under 100kg (left arm): 1. Raymond Steyn (Table Vikings), 2. Noel Lancaster (Power Guns), 3. Arthur Logan (Power Guns);
- Men’s 100kg and above (left arm): 1. Victor la Grange (Karma Bulldogs), 2. Sheldon Pedlar (Power Guns), 3. Jaco Botma (Karma Bulldogs);
- Men’s under 80kg (right arm): 1. Werner la Grange (Karma Bulldogs), 2. Jethro Ernstzen (Power Guns), 3. Etial Rossouw (Power Guns);
- Men’s under 100kg (right arm): 1. Vincent Woudberg (Karma Bulldogs), 2. Noel Lancaster (Power Guns), 3. Henco Smit (Karma Bulldogs);
- Men’s 100kg and above (right arm): 1. Jaco Botma (Karma Bulldogs), 2. Wynand la Grange (Karma Bulldogs), 3. Lee Barnard (private entry).
Karma Bulldogs has practise sessions every Tuesday at 18:30 at 28 Hella Crescent, Uitzicht. Contact Elizma Botma on 072 125 5828 or at elizmabotma@gmail.com or Jaco Botma on 071 012 1747 or at botmajaco8@gmail.com with enquiries.
