Derek Poundstone – 2009 Arnold Classic Champion

Some might say the 2009 Arnold Strongman Classic may have lacked some star power with international perennial contenders Vasyl Virastyuk (Ukraine), Benedict Magnusson (Iceland) and six-time defending champion Zydrunas Savickas (Lithuania) not competing.

Five-time “World’s Strongest Man” champion Mariusz Pudzianowski of Poland again declined an invitation to compete in one of the biggest annual pro strongman events in the world.

But whatever lack of wattage their absence may have brought about, it was more than made up for in intensity and competitiveness.

In one of the closest competitions held since pro wrestler Mark Henry edged Norwegian strongman competitor Svend Karlsen to win the first-ever Arnold, American Derek Poundstone edged Russian Mikhail Koklyaev with spectacular 15-rep turn on the three-inch handle, 202-pound Circus Dumbbell press in the final event.

Poundstone finished with 47 points, Koklyaev with 46.

For his effort, Poundstone took home a check for $40,000, an Audemars Piquet watch valued at $20,000 and the champion’s Louis Cyr trophy.

Koklyaev’s runner-up check was for $20,000.

Day One was highly competitive and saw Hungarian Ervin Katona win the 875-pound Timber Carry with a remarkable time of 7.81 seconds. A bigger-than-ever Travis Ortmayer was barely second posting sizzling time of 7.85 seconds. Estonia’s Andres Murumets was third with an equally sizzling time of 7.93.

West Virgina’s Brian Siders wowed the crowd with his performance in the 366-pound Apollons Axel nailing eight repetitions.

Koklyaev was second with seven full reps followed by Poundstone with six. 

Most Dramatic Moment of the competition came on Day One

Koklyaev won the Hummer Tire dead lift with a final lift of 1,016 pounds. He ended up the only competitor to hit over 1000 pounds. Lithuanian Vidas Blekaitis was second with a pull of 994 pounds and Siders took third with a lift of 977 pounds.

Finishing fourth was Poundstone with the lift of 961 pounds. This lift was crucial to the Connecticut police officer and 2008 “World’s Strongest Man” runner up.

After hitting on lifts of 900 and 939 pounds, Poundstone was originally given a thumb’s down by the judges that included for world champion Magnus Ver Magnusson and Savickas.

The reason given over the PA was that when Poundstone hitched on the lift, the tires touched the stage, thus making it a bad lift.

After the lift, the PA announcer implored the judges to reconsider their originally unanimous decision, they did, and all three decided to reverse their decision.

The audience cheered the decision and none of the other competitors challenged the reversal. 

Had the judges stuck with their original call, Poundstone would have dropped to a tie for sixth place with Katona, whose top lift was 939 pounds, and may have given the overall title to Koklyaev.

Odd Haugen, a respected, veteran competitor and longtime Arnold Classic official said he would have asked for a revue regardless of what the announcer did.

“There was no question it was a good lift,” Haugen said later. “It was good they went back…Magnus reviewed the rules and made the correct call.”

Koklyaev ended Day One with a five-point lead over Poundstone and Siders. 

Biggest gain for Day Two

The competitor who made up the most ground from day one to two was that of the “Texas Stoneman.”

Ortmayer ended Day One tied for sixth with Murumets. Ortmayer did well in the Timber Carry, finishing second, but drifted in the standings after consecutive seventh-place finishes in the Apollons Axel and Hummer Tire Deadlift.

Ortmayer, who injured his ankle on the Timber Carry two years ago, said he was glad promoter Dr. Terry Todd had made some modifications to the discipline.

“They cut a little bit of the front and the back bottom part down so that you can’t catch your feet on it,” Ortmayer said. “I didn’t have any problems with my stride this time. I just picked it up and ran.”

Ortmayer said he from the instant his hands wrapped around the grips of the implement he knew was going to have a good run.

“I am going to tell you what, when I picked it up it was so freakin’ light,” he said. “It just felt easy. I wish we could do just six of those.”

A few years ago it seemed these events were overwhelming to the competitors. The Arnold had become known for being such a “heavy” contest.

This year, seven out of ten competitors completed the Timber Carry course.

Ortmayer said he is not really surprised at the level of competition.

“I’m not surprised,” said Ortmayer, who took home $15,000 for his third place finish. “I looked at the field coming in and a lot of guys were posting their training videos. I’m a little surprised, but not shocked.

“These guys are freaks of nature. These guys crushed these events. How many guys pulled over 900 pounds on the deadlift? A few years ago (Mark) Philippi was the first man with 911 pounds, and now that is like bottom points (eight out of ten posted 900-plus deadlifts).”

Ortmayer blamed his technique for his poor showing in the other two events.

“I screwed up the axel,” he said. “The form in the third rep…that would have ended up giving me four total…was my fault. I didn’t have it in the hand right. It was too far back in the fingers, but I didn’t want to take the time to readjust because it was on my throat choking me. I thought I could press it out but…it overpowered me.”

Ortmayer took first place in the Manhood Stones. Only Ortmayer, Phil Pfister and Poundstone were able to hoist the mammoth 529 pound stone over the bar.

Ortmayer finished seventh in the Heavy Yoke (1116 pounds) before his second place tie (Pfister) finish in the Circus Dumbbell. He nailed nine reps.

It was still six reps short of Poundstone’s remarkable performance in the event.

Blekaitis won the Yoke with a shot-out-of-a-cannon time of 8.47 seconds.

Siders, a champion powerlifter, faded from a second place tie after the first day of competition to a sixth place finish. He took home $5,000 for his trouble.

Still, even with the slide, Siders said he is happy with the progress he is making in the sport.

“I was hoping for a better time with that yoke,” said Siders, who has yet to be competitive in the stones event at the Arnold. “I kind of got ahead of myself. I stumbled then had to pick it back up and I finished third.”

Siders finished with a win in the Apollon’s Wheel and two third place-finishes, said he will start to tilt his career more towards strongman.

Siders was given a slot in the 2008 “World’s Strongest Man” TV show, but was not able to get out of the qualifier round.

“I want to see what opportunities are ahead of me,” Siders said. “I’ll probably do just one powerlifting contest this year…this will probably be the first year I do more strongman than powerlifting.”  

Al Thompson can be reached at al.thompson@footballstories.com