Powerlifter goes for gold
Powerlifter is currently ranked second in South Africa in the 105kg category against all other age groups and presently holds three South African records in this category.
Well known in the Muldersdrift community, Community Policing Forum chairman and the present Master 1 Powerlifting Champion in South Africa, Jorncy Page, has his sights on gold as he prepares for the first time to compete on the World Stage in the 2013 World Powerlifting Championships.
For Jorncy, who first started power lifting in 1997 this will be a dream come true.
“The years of training are starting to pay off and I will be competing in the under 105kg body weight division in my Master 1 age category which is between 40 to 49 years. I am hoping to come in the top 5 in my division and my dream would be to place in the top three,” says Page.
Page is currently ranked second in South Africa in the 105kg category against all other age groups and presently holds three South African records in this category.
The South African Powerlifting Federation is the only Powerlifting Federation recognized and registered with Sport and Recreation South Africa and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
It has around 700 members, which includes 450 development lifters.
The sport is gaining in popularity in South Africa and at this year’s South African Raw Championships four months ago there were 85 competitors on stage.
Internationally the international IPF body has 96 member countries who will compete in the World Championships.
Unfortunately the funding in South Africa is still very limited to send athletes abroad and most comes from private fund raising or is paid for by the athlete themselves.
Page says he wished more people could be encouraged to join the sport.
“I love power lifting because it is a strength based sport that is safe and accommodates all body types and age groups. The adrenaline rush of successfully lifting a huge dead lift must be the best feeling it the world!”
The training is in fact more of a lifestyle than a training program as you have to be committed to it for an extended period of time. “Strength builds slowly and diet and recovery time plays an important role. Eating sufficient protein to reduce the recovery times will make the exercises effective and beneficial,” explains Page.
Page trains four times per week.
“Some of the training sessions involve speed work, where we select weights which will allow us to fatigue after completing 8 to 10 reps done with maximum acceleration. On the strength days we will try to fatigue after 2 to 5 repetitions and this is focused on the slow twitch muscle fibres,” he says.
The power lifters will jet off to Orlando in September and besides maintaining their hectic training programme are still trying to raise funds to cover their travel and accommodation costs.
Page is currently selling a maximum of 200 raffle tickets for R250 with a first prize draw of R10 000.
Anyone interested in supporting Page can mail him on Jorncy@hudson-rubber.co.za.
The draw will be held at the Bosheuwel farm on 27 June.
