Rhino Powerlifting Club
President:
Louis H Dunn
Box 413042
Craighall 2024
South Africa
Mobile: 082-929-9295
E-mail: [email protected]
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Dear Fellow Lifters
NEWSLETTER 02/2015: RHINO CHAMPIONSHIPS: MAY1 & 2, 2015
2015 ANNUAL RHINO CHAMPIONSHIPS. Although this Newsletter is more focussed on those who
qualified to compete in the upcoming Rhino Championships, it is not limited to them. As
previously announced, the Championships will take place at:
Cornerstone College
530 Moreleta Street
Silverton; GPS co-ordinates are: -25.728042, 28.299396.
GROWTH. Last year we had 70 entries and this year 104!! We are growing; thank you all for
your support.
GROUPS & FLIGHTS.
National Champs Day 1:
Please note that all ladies and men under 90kg will be competing on 1 May. Weigh in for
you will be from 09:00-11:00 on Thursday 30/04 at Virgin Active Watermeyer (5 minutes
from the school). You will be given access to their facilities in order to drop weight, if
needed. Please bring some kind of ID/Drivers license in order to gain access to the club.
Weigh in for Day 1 lifters will also take place on the day of lifting from 06:30-07:00. Please
respect these times as they will be strictly adhered to.
http://www.virginactive.co.za/clubs/watermeyer-park.
National Champs Day 2:
Please note that all men 100kg upwards will be competing on Day 2 (2 May). Weigh in
will take place from 09:00-11:00 on Friday May 1, at the lifting venue. Spinning
bikes/rowing machines will be available if weight cutting is needed. You can weigh in
from 06:30-07:00 on the morning of the lifting if you cannot weigh in on Day 1.
Flights will be formalised and announced after the weigh-ins.
PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL. Not being on time is disrespectful. We have all been to competitions
that were supposed to commence at, e.g., 09:00 and then it starts at 10:00.
Family/friends/supporters/fellow lifters must wait for the ever present stragglers sauntering
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in after 09:00. The official competition, not establishing of rack height and warm-up, will
start at 09:00. Lifters in the first flight of each day must be there at least 08:00 to
commence activities.
COMPETITION RULES. We as management has various obligations, one is to protect and
ensure the quality, standard and prestige of the annual Rhino Championships. Qualifying
has certain implications; it implies that you have strength, lifting ability as well as a more
than rudimentary knowledge of the rules – you are not a novice lifter. You are urged to
access the GPC Rules at:
http://www.worldgpc.com/index.php/downloads/category/16-rulebook
and acquaint/refresh yourself.
Please pay special attention to Clause “03. TECHNICAL COMPETITION RULES” on
page 9 and further in the Rule Book. Dan has been so kind to provide photos of some
of the more prevalent transgressions. Familiarise yourself with the following –
Photo A1: shows shoes without/with short/no socks; A2: regulation knee
height socks.
Photo B1: shows singlet, wraps and/or socks touching each other; B2:
shows distinct space between all of them.
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Photo C1: shows tapered/bodybuilding belt; C2: regulation belt.
Photo D1: shows open/thumb less grip for bench; D2: regulation grip.
Photo E1: shows fingers/hands over the collars when squatting; E2:
fingers/hands well inside the collars.
The rules will be strictly applied, especially the one minute rule to:
 commence your lift within one minute after the announcement “Bar Loaded”;
and
 informing (either yourself or your coach/authorised representative) the
“administrators table”, in writing on the provided Attempt Card(s), of your next
attempt within one minute of completing your lift, whether successful or
unsuccessful. If no weight is submitted within the one-minute time allowance, the
lifter will forfeit the next round attempt.
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CHANGING OF ATTEMPTS.
attempts –
Your specific attention is drawn to the following regarding
-
A lifter is permitted one change of weight on the first attempt of each lift. This change may
take place at any time, up to five minutes before the start of the first round of that lift. Lifters
in following Flights are accorded the same privilege up to five attempts from the end of
the previous Flight’s final round.
-
Lifters must submit their second or third attempts within one minute of completing the
preceding attempt. If no weight is submitted within the one-minute time allowance, the
lifter will forfeit the next round attempt.
-
Weights submitted for second and third attempts on the Squat and Bench Press cannot
be changed.
This means once your 2nd or 3rd attempt has been handed to the table it may not be changed.
You can only change your openers for squat and bench press.
Only during deadlifts can lifters change their second and third attempts.
-
In the Dead lift, changes of weight are permitted. The lifter may not change an attempt if
he or she has been called to lift and the bar has been called as “ready” or “loaded”. On
second attempts, the lifter shall be allowed one change in weight, and on third attempts,
the lifter shall be allowed two changes in weight if he or she has been called to lift, but the
bar has not been called as “ready” or “loaded”.
-
ON THE LIFTING PLATFORM. Lifters may not put on equipment (knee wraps, wrist wraps, belts
etc) once on the platform. For example we could have lifters sit on the bench and then
tie their wrist wraps or walk onto the platform before a squat and then tie their belt or put
up their singlet straps; you must be ready and dressed before they step onto the platform
and that we will not allow you to put on equipment once you are on the platform.
I am making a concerted effort here to enlighten you about the rules, because, again,
it’s only human to, when unsuccessful, “blame the ref” or use your own lack of
knowledge as an excuse; there is a legal maxim stating: “Ignorance of the law is no
excuse”.
EQUIPMENT CHECK. Although the GPC Rules state there will be no equipment check, we
have decided that we have the prerogative of promulgating domestic rules. It is my
personal opinion that this rule was promulgated before RAW lifting became so popular,
because checking (and eventually disallowing) the multi-layered, hybrid fabric lifting suits
and bench vests became unmanageable and controversial. In my experience an
organisation (and its management) will lose all credibility and sow discontent once a
suspicion of underhanded action and preferential treatment for certain lifters (of certain
clubs) arises. I don’t have to elaborate on the almost “natural” inclination of sports
competitors to revert to all kind of illegal tactics, equipment and substances to gain the
upper hand. Because RAW lifting is so new, there are literally dozens of records just
waiting to be established. We want to ensure that RAW is RAW! The only way to do this is
to have a thorough equipment check at weigh-in; lifting singlet(s), T-shirt(s), socks and
wraps (knee & wrist) will be inspected. The singlet(s) will be inconspicuously marked (not
damaged or defaced). By doing this we attempt to ensure a level playing field. My
apology if my broad and much generalised statements above offend anybody by
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doubting your integrity, but it is the truth. Any referee shall be entitled to do spot checks
on equipment at any stage during the competition.
PRIZE GIVING CEREMONY. Saturday evening, May 2, directly after lifting for both Day 1 and
Day 2. There will be an informal dinner in the evening, details too be announced shortly.
Be punctual,
wise,
strong ,
satisfied and
happy!
Louis H Dunn
President: Rhino Powerlifting Club.
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