Second annual TAslay event hosted
Te Awamutu’s Trainstation gym along with promoter/coach Mike Smith hosted the second annual GPCNZ Waikato regional show the TAslay on March 26.
It was sponsored by Paul Wheeler and Rebecca Fraser of Te Awamutu’s Century 21 Gadsby Realty and supported by ACTN3 gym in Auckland.
This event, based on the popularity of last year’s, sold out three months prior to 52 eager contestants looking to win the big prizes on offer from local sponsors and to claim New Zealand records.
Team Trainstation had 12 entrants, all qualifying for the nationals, all placing and all hitting personal bests.
Further to this, Jakob Merson coached by Waikato club Kiwi Strength and training out of Trainstation won the overall junior championship with some great lifts.
New Zealand records fell to team members Bri Longstaff with a 190 deadlift.
Lisa Murray in her fifth comp hit a PB as well as a New Zealand record of 170 deadlift.
Dean Williams collected more New Zealand records with a 205 squat.
A newbie on his 55th birthday, the Dave Harwood coached Paul Johnson hit a 120 New Zealand bench record and 200 New Zealand deadlift record.
Harwood himself got a PB and unofficial New Zealand bench record of 142.5.
Michael Fernandez grabbed a 240 New Zealand junior record while Coach Smith finishing on a New Zealand equipped deadlift record in a heavy eight category of 235kg.
The team would like to thank sponsors Committed AF apparel, Species Nutrition, ZB Homes and Smith’s personal sponsor Sportsfuel.
The overall winners of the heaviest lifts went to crowd favourite Aaron McKay of Kiwi-Strength Hamilton with a huge 350kg squat and Ash Williamson, also of Kiwi-Strength, with a 240 deadlift and New Zealand record in her first ever GPC contest.
They each received $500 courtesy of ZB Homes.
Warren Brewster from Te Aroha Powerlifting took out the male’s competition overall and Ash Williamson again was undeniable as the overall women’s champion.
“This was our second TAslay and it literally doubled in crowd size and the entrant’s quality was recorded as being one of the best in the New Zealand calendar,” says Smith.
“So, for me personally I am so happy the entire team and supporters’ work paid off as I am just the figurehead and there’s a huge group behind me that made this happen,” says Smith.