New Zealand Powerlifting Federation National Bench Press Championships 2019, Atlas Gymnasium, Ōtautahi

2019 NZPF National Bench Press Championships
Atlas Gymnasium, Christchurch, New Zealand

Ok, the primary competition of the year.  Been a long series of preps, competitions, injuries, and a whole host of PR's

This year they have been:

Bench
100x60
165x8
175x7 (also 165x7 and 172.5x7)
190x5 (also 182.5x5 and 183.75x5)
195x4 (also 190x4)
198x3 (also 197.5x3 and 195x3)
210x2 (also 195x2, 197.5x2 and 205x2)
215x1

2board
227.5x3 (also 217.5x3 and 210x3)

1board
207.5x2
227.5x1

Pin Press
200x3 (also 190x3)

Closegrip
180x3 (also 175x3)
165x6 (also 162.5x6 nad 150x6)

So, its been a very successful year of training, and the reality was, I was expecting good numbers.  So how did it go.

First, weight.  I came into the peaking phase heavy, around 124.  So I cut for a few weeks, nothing too drastic, and did one practice water cut, then final water cut heading into the last week.  The issue was compounded by not really knowing the difference between my scales and competition scales. So I weighed 120.5 ish on my last weigh-in at home, then water restricted.  Normally, that last day gives me about a kilo of weight loss, maybe 1.2kg.  I weighed in at 118.55kg, which would mean my scales are approximately 600g overweight.  So, comfortable weight session.  Then fluided up.  Basically my normal sports drink with added sodium chloride.  A cookie, and some sour gummies.  Drank my way through the best part of 1.8L by warmups, then just kept topping up as I went.

I warmed up early, getting banded work in and then bar.  70kg, then 100kg, then 140kg, 160kg and 180kg.  All felt good.  On an Eleiko bar in an Eleiko rack.

First attempt: 200kg
Felt light, but the bar was shaking in my hands.  Felt like it was floppy.  Got the start command, then took it down, command, then back up, easily enough, touched the rack with my right hand.  It was also a little low, as I tend to do.

Second attempt: 210kg
The first attempt felt more difficult than it should have, and the wobbling bar meant I kept it lower than planned.  Took it out, it also shook.  Down, up a little harder (looks easier in the clip than it felt).

Third attempt: 212.5kg
Small jump, and didn't really feel that confident.  Hindsight might have pushed me to 215.5kg for the win and National record, but a conversation they were having made me think the record was higher, and much less likely for me to hit.  If I didn't make it, I would have been lower IPF points.  So, 212.5kg it was.  Shakey again, but down, paused (right side lower again), up, with uneven extension, and locked out.

Three attempts, three good lifts and nine white lights.

Could not ask for better, other than lifting more.  I think I got all I was capable of on the day.  The winner took 215kg for a second attempt and was going 217.5kg  for a third.  He had been discussing with the table about a record attempt around 217.0kg, which didnt really make sense to me, but they made it seem like the NZ Masters record was 217.0kg and he had to go 217.5kg to break it.  He set the Masters 1 record with 215kg on his second (according to the updated record sheet).   He failed the 217.5kg.  Because of that I thought I would have to jump to at least 218 for the last attempt, so just left it at my one.  Which was good, as while I placed second in my class, which was an OK outcome for my first Nationals in 16 years, I placed third overall in the Mens category.

So, since November last year, I have done

HB Champs: 195kg bench (three good attempts)
Masterton club lift: 200kg bench (three good attempts, the 200kg was dodgy)
WCPA Regional bench champs: 202.5kg bench (two good attempts)
NZPF National Bench champs: 212.5kg bench (three good attempts)

So far, the bench has gone up 17.5kg, and I have hit 11/12 attempts.

No idea about the shakey bar, it didn't happen on the Eleiko from last week, nor did it happen on warmup, just on the competition bar.  It was brand new, so maybe something there? so I am unsure how to combat that.  Other than getting stronger, and thats the goal.

This time, no break really, other than one day off, so straight into training.  Have a fun lift in early December, and will see how much weight I can move then.