Strong-arm tactics win day for wrestlers

First up in the supercategory was Oswald Pretorius who took on Bennet Nel, both of Arm Victors with Pretorius coming in victorious with 5-0. The next match saw the local Frans Keyser taking his match 3-2 against Lasni Botha of Brothers in Arms, Pretoria. 

The third was an official rankings match and was contested left and right arm between one of South Africa’s top 10, Danie Stroebel from Fochville, also representing Brothers in Arms, and the tallest arm-wrestler in Africa, Keith van Zyl. Stroebel won the left-arm contest 5-0, but Van Zyl came back and took the right-arm match 5-0. Marius van Vuuren of Arm Victors was up next against Hannes Viljoen from Lynx Armwrestling Club in Polokwane. 

Van Vuuren’s ‘hook’ technique proved just too strong for Viljoen on the day and also netted him a 5-0 victory.

The sixth match had long-time rivals Dirk Toerien of Arm Victors up against Roy Maherry of Champs4Africa club in Witbank. Toerien’s motivation and hard work in perfecting his technique paid off with another 5-0 victory. 

The match between Riaan Webb of Arm Victors and Danie Fourie of Lynx Armwrestling, both in the top 10, was long talked about and did not dissappoint. Although Fourie eventually walked off with a 5-0 victory, it didn’t come easy as this was the longest supermatch of the day. 

The last match and highlight of the day was between Arm Victor’s Hanco Nel, occupying the number-one spot on the top 10, the South African Champion in his weight category for the last four years and the number one in the South African rankings over 95kg weight class. Nel was challenged by Brother’s in Arms’ De Wet Botha. In the end, Nel lived up to his nickname of “The Eliminator” by winning 5-0.

Novice open – Right arm:

1st – Lasni Botha, Brothers in Arms

2nd – Frans Keyser, Arm Victors

3rd – Hannes Viljoen, Lynx Limpopo

 Pro open – Left arm:

1st – Hanco Nel, Arm Victors

2nd – Hendrik Fourie, Lynx Limpopo

3rd – Riaan Webb, Arm Victors

 Pro open – Right arm:

1st – Hanco Nel, Arm Victors

2nd – Dirk Toerien, Arm Victors

3rd – Danie Stroebel, Brothers in Arms.

Lowveld Arm Victors would like to thank their sponsors for the day without which such a great competition would not be possible. They are: Hi-Tech Security, Mopani Pharmacy, Rotunda Plant Hire, HerbalLife, Game at iLanga Mall, Silvix Forestry Supplies and of course iLanga Mall for sponsoring the venue, table and chairs. We highly appreciate your commitment!

Armwrestling is an exciting, fast-paced and adrenalin filled sport and can be enjoyed by anyone as armwrestlers compete in their 10kg weight classes at national competitions thus not only for the big and burly’s, but also for the u/70’s.

There are also junior (u/18 yrs), master (+40yrs) and grandmaster (+50yrs) classes. Ladies are also welcome and South Africa is proud to have been represented by two ladies at the last two world armwrestling championships.

Lowveld Arm Victors is the fastest growing armwrestling club in South Africa currently and wish to invite anybody to join to grow the club further and promote the sport of armwrestling in South Africa. If you have any queries or aee interesred in joining, please contact Riaan Webb at 0828922967 or riaan@armvictors.co.za.