| Rossendale's Strongest Man Competition | Body Fitness Gym: | Strongman 2002 Strongman 2003 Body Fitness Gym |
2002 Strongman Event Results |
Sponsors | Strongman Event News | Information | ||
 The Rossendale Free Press is providing weekly coverage of the event, local and national competitors and event sponsors.
Rossendale Wholesale Meat will be giving £100 of steak to the local winner. Contact Sean Ashworth Become a Sponsor In return for funding prizes or providing services all sponsors are featured in event publicity, the Free Press and this website. Kenross Containers are a long established family run packaging company that supply corrugated cardboard products. They will be supplying manpower and equipment including fork lift trucks to lift the strongman equipment into place. Visit www.kenross.co.uk for more information.
Killelea and Co are contributing £500 prize money for the event. Bob Killelea the managing director felt it was important that his firm got involved. He said, 'We are the biggest employer in Crawshawbooth and Goodshaw, and I thought it would be a bad do if we could not help. The guys who are organising it needed a main sponsor and we got involved. This can only be good for Rossendale.'
The ESP Sign Company Company of Haslingden are producing around 20 large banners for the event. They will be hung around the grounds of the venue and competition areas and many will feature the main event sponsors. Miranda and Darren Bell of EPS say that "We have had to work overtime on them. We are sure that the event will be good for the area."
| Sunday 1st September 2002 (Click here for a location map) Who is the Rossendale's strongest man? The biggest names in television 'strong man' competitions will be heading for Rossendale as the Valley puts itself on the map as the top warm-up location for the stars. Local body builders will tough it out with the nations elite by pulling trucks and lifting cars and logs in the Rossendale Strongman Championship. The winner will receive a cash prize and the strongest Rossendale competitor will earn steak worth £100 and a Free Press trophy. Preparations for the event carry on at a pace. Darren Entwistle a local carpenter is producing a 100kg log for the Log Lift event. It is made from the notoriously heavy Wallaba wood with very solid handles attached. Darren said "I was happy to do it. This event should be something to really look forward to."
Free admission is just one of the many reasons why this will be a great day out for all the family. Spectators will also benefit from plentiful supplies of beer, hot food, ice cream and trade tents in addition to the competition itself. Competitors July Jon Nield, organiser, says the inaugural Rossendale Strongman is already recognised in bodybuilding circles. He said 'Mike Gosling is in the top five in the UK and is the latest to enter. He is coming because it looks like a good show with good prize money. At least one other from the top five is expected to come and with two of the best in Ireland it means that we can expect bigger crowds. That means it is a great chance for the lads who are not so high up the ladder to compete against those that are.' Local Competitors
National Competitors Darren Fawthrop is the first major UK competitor to throw his hat into the ring. A former amateur boxer from Batley, West Yorkshire, Darren (age 36 and 22 stone) has had several top 10 placings in major tournaments. Strongman event organiser Jon Nield was instrumental in Darren entering. He said: "I know Jon through bodybuilding circles and the Rossendale tournament will be an excellent preliminary to this year’s UK Championships." Mark Felix (36) Canadian-born, Mark lives in nearby Accrington and trains at the Ultimate Physique Gym. Measuring in at 6ft 4in Mark has competed in strongman shows in Britain and America, but he insists that his wife Denni is responsible for his entry into the Rossendale competition. Lee Bowers of Earby (on the Lancashire, Yorkshire border) was a British top three Strongman before a recent break to study for a sorts psychology degree. Lee trains at Barnoldswick's Rolls Royce gym and has twice entered the World's Strongest Man competition. Lee modestly says, 'I am the biggest and best-looking strongman in Britain, but I can see the cash being the attraction to a lot of the other top competitors if the calendar permits.' Martin Campbell and Stephen Gracey are two top competitors that have entered from the Irish Strongman Association. In fact Martin is the current Irish number one. The ISA is also sending a representative to the competition with a view to entering more competitors next year. |
Events
Volunteers Required Entry Information Prizes The Rossendale Strongman challenge is fast becoming a prize bonanza as organisers added a holiday abroad to the lures on offer. The original £500 winning prize has been doubled by local businessmen Robert Cort and Bob Killelea who have promised £1,000 in prizes to go with the £100 slice of beef on offer to the best Rossendale Competitor. Pete Everson, landlord of event location Jester Inn, has joined forces with Altham's Travel Services to throw in a holiday for anyone who breaks a national record. Peter said, 'The holiday will be attached to a specific category but we have yet to decide which one.' Entry Form
|
The Jester Inn is hosting the event. Set in the beautiful Rossendale hills it provides the ideal scenic venue.
Rossendale web design company 
Valley competitor Ian Sandiford limbers up for the Truck Pulling event with a truck supplied by Rossendale Wholesale Meat, one of the first sponsors to commit to the event. Co-organisers Jon Nield of the Gym and Peter Everson of The Jester Inn shake hands.
Ian Sandiford, 33, of Rawtenstall is married to wife Trisha and has two children.
Graham Monaghan a 32 year old road digger from Haslingden is another local contender. He has been training at home for over 10 years, is 6ft 1in and weighs 18.5 stone. He said: "I used to work very unsociable hours, so I built my own gym at home. I just thought it would be good to give it a go and see what I can do."