A freezing Sunday morning in early March. A school playground in Bexhill, with icy winds sweeping across the venue carrying the occasional snowflake. Potentially the journey to the IFSA World Championship in Canada this coming autumn may have started here for one of the competitors?
When I woke up that morning and looked out of my window I was worried the event would take place! Snow was falling steadily without any real sign of stopping. With some trepidation I wrapped up in several layers and began my drive down the coast to the contest.
Despite the less than ideal weather, Jon Bowles and the lads from Physiques Gym had done an excellent job of setting everything up, and as the start time of the contest approached, the weather improved. There was even the vague hint of blue sky occasionally!
11 competitors arrived and prepared to do battle for a place in the top 4, and qualification for England's Strongest Man - the next step in the journey on Canada. In addition to the 11 competitors, former World Strongest Man competitor Lee Bowers had made the journey south to take part as a 'tester' and use the day as a training session.
The first event of the day was the log lift for reps with 120kg. Lee Bowers went first as tester, and his reputation as a superb presser was shown once again to be fully justified as he achieved an impressive 8 reps within the 75 second time limit. The next best anyone managed was Giant Paul Carter with 5, along with 'Sol' a powerlifter from London.
Next up was the Farmers Walk event. A test of grip strength, balance, speed and all round strength, this event entailed competitors carrying a converted gas bottle weighing 127kg in each hand, over a 40m course, as fast as possible! Lee Bowers again showed his class, completing the course with ease, but it was Mick Horwood from New Romney who dominated this event, completing the course at a jog in under 20 seconds!
The third event of the day was again about moving with a heavy load - the "Super Yoke" saw the athletes covering a 20m course as fast as possible with a 340kg yoke on their shoulders. Despite solid performances from a number of the athletes, including Jay Hughes, making his comeback to Strongman after a successful stint in Bodybuilding including 3rd in the Jr. Mr. Britain, Mick Horwood was again the fastest athlete, clinching his second event win of the day.
A third place performance in the log, followed by wins in the next two events, meant that Mick Horwood was in the lead by several points, being followed by Paul Carter and bodybuilder Jay Hughes. At this stage it looked like Mick Horwood was the likely winner, although Paul Carter looked solid and would keep the pressure on.
After a break for lunch the next event was the forward hold. A 20kg gas cylinder was to be held at eye-level and arms length, for as long as possible. The event was won by "Enzo", moving him well into the frame for qualification to ESM, although there was some controversy as to whether he has unfairly arched his back during his lift. The real drama in this event however came when contest leader Mick Horwood put in a terrible performance, coming last in this event and losing the overall lead to consistent Paul Carter in the process.
It was all to play for going into the final event. Half the competitors still had a chance of qualifying, and Paul Carter, Mick Horwood and Jay Hughes could all still win the contest if the results went their way!
The final event was perhaps the most demanding of all! A 400kg earth mover tyre had to be "flipped" as many times as possible in 90 seconds. This event works virtually the whole body, as well as being a real test of fitness to be able to make full use of the allotted time. Tester Lee Bowers started things off with an impressive 10 flips, a score that looked unlikely to be beaten, until it was eventually smashed by Jay Hughes. Jay was in imperious form as he managed an incredible 15 flips of the tyre, a performance that left all who witnessed it stunned! Mick Horwood came closest to matching Jay, battling out 12 flips, the ever-consistent Paul Carter also placed well in this event.
That concluded the contest, everyone now stood nervous in the cold waiting for the final results:
Winner: Paul Carter - 42 points
2. Mick Horwood - 41.5 points
3. Jay "Hollywood" Hughes - 40 points
4. "Enzo" - 34 points
- Above Qualify for England's Strongest Man-
5. Paul Wood - 33.5 points
6. Terry Holland - 30 points
7. Matt Cole - 26.5 points
8. Sol - 26 points
9. Jon Bowles - 22.5 points
10. Russ - 17.5 points
11. Ali - 16.5 points
Lee Bowers pressing the 120kg log | 
Group photo of competitors | 
Mick Horwood - Farmers Walk |
Paul Carter edged Mick Horwood for the win, by virtue of being solidly placed in every event. Mick shone in several of the events, but his failure to post a competitive time in the forward hold saw him throw away his early lead.
It will be interesting to see how the top four do at the England's Strongest Man contest, where the competition will be of an even higher standard.