Sport

WATCH: Mpumalanga armwrestlers lock arms at Eagle Inn

Middelburg’s Leandro Cordier and Hernus Scholtz starred at the Mpumalanga Armwrestling Provincials at Eagle Inn, with all competitors earning spots to represent Mpumalanga at the South African Championships.

Arm wrestlers from across Mpumalanga gathered last Saturday at Eagle Inn for the Mpumalanga Provincial Armwrestling Championships.

Competitors in ladies, seniors, and masters battled in left- and right-arm divisions. All athletes will now go on to represent Mpumalanga at the South African Championships, while several top performers will also compete at the Africa World Championships in Ghana on April 29, with top-three finishers advancing to the African Games in Egypt.

The Kratos Club. Front: Kevin Beech, JP Van Tonder, Henro Swart, Danielle Bester, Janine Swart, Celesté Swart, Nikitha van Vuuren, Edith Van Heerden. Back: Hernus Scoltz, Duan Kryner, Seandré Nel, Donovan Mostert, Uys Coetsee. Photo: Supplied.
The Armvictors. Front: Lize-Lee Mulligan, Tiane Mulligan, Shandre Mulligan, Natasha Fourie, Nick Fourie, Gideon de Wet, Marius van Vuuren, Mikey van Vuuren, Zaylan Sampson. Second row: Erik de Wet, Aiden Barnard, Hanre Nel, Ryno Mulligan, Marko Geering, Hanco Nel, Luan Jansen. Third row: Ruan Uys, Hennie Botha, Xavier Heyman. Back: Leandrie Cordier and Janco Kok. Photo: Daleen Naude.
The armwrestlers from Secunda. Eltienne Koen, Jaques Ellis, Ludwig Schnettler, Zander van der Merwe, Ryno Oosthuizen, Clarissa Oosthuizen and Francois van Schalkwyk. Photo: Daleen Naude.
@middelburgobserver

Power, grit and fierce competition! The best arm wrestling action was on display on Saturday at the Mpumalanga Armwrestling Championships held at Eagle Inn just outside Middelburg. Top arm wrestlers battled it out for a spot to qualify for the South African Championships. Armwrestling, MpumalangaArmwrestling, Middelburg, MiddelburgObserver, StrengthSport, RoadToSAChampionships

♬ original sound – MiddelburgObserver – MiddelburgObserver

Middelburg stars lead the pack

Leandro Cordier of Armvictors Club dominated the senior heavyweight division, securing the title of Mpumalanga senior number one. Already ranked among the top three nationally, Cordier previously finished third at world level in the youth category and is preparing for a high-profile super match on March 14 against the nation’s top left-arm competitor, Koos Fourie (from Gauteng).

Leandro Cprdier. Photo: Daleen Naude.

Hernus Scholtz, also from Middelburg and representing the Kratos Club, finished third in the senior division, proving the town’s strong presence in provincial arm wrestling.

Hernus Scholtz. Photo: Daleen Naude.

Results

Junior men u/75kg

Left arm: Hanre Nel first, Aiden Barnard second, Zaylen Sampson third, Xavier Heyman fourth, Marko Geering fifth.

Right arm: Hanre Nel first, Xavier Heyman second, Zaylen Sampson third, Aiden Barnard fourth, Marko Geering fifth.

Junior men 75kg+

Left arm: Ruan Uys first, Erik de Wet second.

Right arm: Ruan Uys first, Erik de Wet second.

Ladies u/70kg

Left arm: Celeste Swart first, Janine Swart second.

Right arm: Janine Swart first, Celeste Swart second.

Nick Fourie (Mpumalanga Chairman), sisters-in-law Celeste and Janine Swart and Ludwig Shnettler (Vise chairman Mpumalanga). Photo: Supplied.

Ladies 70kg+

Left arm: Clarissa Oosthuizen first, Nikitha van Vuuren second, Danielle Bester third, Edith van Heerden fourth.

Right arm: Nikitha van Vuuren first, Janine Swart second, Clarissa Oosthuizen third, Edith van Heerden fourth.

Danielle Bester and Nikitha van Vuuren (Krato). Photo: Supplied.

Senior men u/75kg

Left arm: Ryno Mulligan first, Henro Swart second, Hanré Nel third, Eltienne Koen fourth, Hennie Botha fifth, Francois van Schalkwyk sixth.

Right arm: Ryno Mulligan first, Hanré Nel second, Henro Swart third, Eltienne Koen fourth, Hennie Botha fifth, Francois van Schalkwyk sixth.

Senior men u/95kg

Left arm: Ruan Uys first, Ludwig Schnettler second, Ruan van Vuuren third, Zander van der Merwe fourth, Donovan Mostert fifth, Uys Coetzee sixth, Kevin Beech seventh.

Right arm: Ruan Uys first, Ryno Oosthuizen second, Zander van der Merwe third, Kevin Beech fourth, Uys Coetzee fifth, Ruan van Vuuren sixth, Donovan Mostert seventh.

The senior men u/95kg winners. Nick Fourie (Mpulanga Chairman), Ruan van Vuuren (Armvictors), Ruan Uys (Krato), Ludwig Shnettler (Secunda).

Senior men 95kg+

Left arm: Leandro Cordier first, Janco Nel second, Hernus Scholtz third, Luan Jansen fourth, Duan Krynen fifth, Jan-Paul van Tonder sixth, Marius van Vuuren seventh, Nick Fourie eighth, Seandre Nel ninth, Ryno Lategan tenth.

Right arm: Leandro Cordier first, Janco Kok second, Seandre Nel third, Luan Jansen fourth, Duan Krynen fifth, Jan-Paul van Tonder sixth, Nick Fourie seventh, Marius van Vuuren eighth, Ryno Lategan ninth.

The senior men u/95kg winners. Nick Fourie (Mpumalanga Chairman), Leandro Cordier (Armvictors), Hanco Nel (Armvictors), Seandre Nel (Kratos), Ludwig Shnettler (Vice Chairman, Mpumalanga). Photo: Supplied.

Masters and heavyweight divisions

Master Men u/100kg (both arms): Ryno Mulligan.

Senior Men 100kg+ left arm: Hanco Nel first, Ryno Mulligan second, Jacques Ellis third, Marius van Vuuren fourth, Nick Fourie fifth, Ryno Lategan sixth.

Senior Men 100kg+ right arm: Hanco Nel first, Jacques Ellis second, Nick Fourie third, Ryno Mulligan fourth, Marius van Vuuren fifth, Ryno Lategan sixth.

HERE IS ALL THE ACTION OF THE DAY!

Danielle Bester and Edith van Heerden. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Nikitha van Vuuren and Clarissa Oosthuizen. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Clarissa Oosthuizen and Danelle Bester. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Janine Swart and Celeste Swart. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Mulligan and Marius van Vuuren. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hanco Nel and Jaques Ellis. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hernus Scholtz and Janko Kok. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Lategan and Duan Kryner. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Yanko Kok and Duan Kryner. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan Uys and Ludwig Shnettler. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan van Vuuren and Seandre Nel. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan van Vuuren and Ludwig Shnettler. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan Uys and Kevin Beech. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Mulligan and Henro Swart. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Mulligan and Henro Swart. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Henro Swart and Hanre Nel. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hennie Swart and Henro Swart. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Lategan and Hanco Nel. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Lategan and Ryno Mulligan. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Lategan and Jaques Ellis. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Erik de Wet and Ruan Uys. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Janco Kok and Leandro Cordier. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryano Mulligan and Jaques Ellis. Daleen Naude.
Nick Fourie and Hanco Nel. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Marius van Vuuren and Nick Fourie. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Marius van Vuuren and Nick Fourie. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hanko Nel and Jaques Ellis. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hanre Nel and Francois van Schalkwyk. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hanre Nel and Etienne Koen. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hernus Scholtz and Janco Kok. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ryno Lategan and Janco Kok. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Luan Jansen and Hernus Scholtz. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Janco Kok and Duan Kryner. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Hernus Scholtz and Luan Jansen. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan Uys and Ludwig Shnettler. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Zander van der Merwe and Ludwig Shnettler. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Ruan van Vuuren and Donovan Mostert. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Zander van der Merwe and Uys Coetzee. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Kevin Beech and Donovan Mostert. Photo: Daleen Naude.
Some fun after the competition! Clarissa Oosthuizen and Francois van Schalkwyk. Photo: Daleen Naude.

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Daleen Naude

Daleen Naudé is the news editor of the Middelburg Observer, Observer Daller and the Observer Express. In 2024, she was named FCJ Journalist of the Year for the second time, and has won numerous other accolades during her illustrious 36-year career. As an industry leader in investigative reporting, Daleen has uncovered various hidden truths in her time at the Observer.
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