World Postal Championships 2023 – The Andy Goddard Memorial

By Al Myers, IAWA President

2023 IAWA WORLD POSTAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Another great year for the IAWA World Postal Championships!!

This year we had 51 lifters compete from the United States, Australia, England, and Canada. This World Postal Championships is one of three (with the World Championships and the Gold Cup being the other two) promoted by IAWA.   I want to REALLY thank all those that participated. Your participation is what makes this a great event!  As per the tradition the past few years, the lifts of the first day Worlds were contested.  I’ve included all class winners and best lifters, individual overall rankings for men and women, 3 person team rankings, and club rankings.

I want to give special mention to the overall winners in each category.  The Overall Best Men’s Lifter was ABE SMITH, and the Overall Best Women’s Lifter was MAX ELL.  The Overall Best 3-person Team went to CLARK’S GYM (Abe Smith, Travis Luther, Tony Hose).  The Overall Best Club went to CLARK’S GYM, which had 11 members participate.   The Overall Best Association went to the USAWA, with the IAWAUK in second, and the ARWF in third.

The youngest lifter that entered was KYRAN VOCE at 5years of age. The oldest lifter in the completion was BILL CLARK at 91 years of age! I want to mention 2 lifters who competed as Exhibition Lifters (because of lack of an official to judge their lifts) just to show support to IAWA and the memory of Andy Goddard.  These lifters were Chad Ullom and Sylvia Stockall of Canada.

If anyone notices any errors in these results please let me know as soon as possible so I can get things corrected.  Sometimes I have difficulties reading the handwriting on the official scoresheets.

Again, I want to thank everyone for entering this meet and making it an outstanding annual event in IAWA.

Click here for the full results

Coming soon…..I.A.W.A. Southern Grip & Strongest Event

Sunday 15th October at Bionic Branch Barbell Club – Club3B, Essex

A unique blend of mainstream IAWA Lifts that will appeal to strongman athletes…and carefully selected strongman style lifts that will appeal to IAWA lifters…..

The Southern Grip will consist of:

2″ Bar Clean & Push Press

1″ Vertical Bar Lift

Shanks Lift

The Southern Strongest Event will consist of:

Deadlift for Reps

One Hand Monster Dumbbell for Reps

Farmers walk (max weight over 10m)

Click here for full details of both events

Gold Cup 2023 – Change of Banquet Venue

Due to unprecedented demand, it has become necessary to change the Venue for the Gold Cup 2023 Banquet.

The Banquet details together with updated Gold Cup entry forms are available on the website here…


The View Hotel, Eastbourne are offering preferential room rates of 15% off the best available rates, details on the info sheet. This is a lovely venue more centrally located and can cater for our increased numbers.

The View Hotel – Grand Parade, Eastbourne

Postal League Results – Leg 4

Here are Leg 4 Results of the Bob Smith All-Round Postal League.

Congratulations to the top 3 lifters this leg – Glenn Branch, Mark Godleman & Danny Kingsland. The top 3 teams were Bionic Branch Barbell Club – Club3B, MetamorFIT1 & Granby.

Many thanks to Christopher Bass for his work in compiling the results and the record confirmations.

Click here for the full results

I.A.W.A. Gold Cup 2023 – 4th November, Eastbourne

Entries are now being welcomed for the 2023 IAWA Gold Cup at MetamorFIT Gym, Eastbourne England!

Click Here for the Application Form – Word Format

Click Here for the Application Form – PDF Format

Click Here for the Information Sheet

Click Here for the Banquet Menu

Click Here for the Children’s Banquet Menu

Please note – Closing Date for entries is Saturday 14th October!

The Gold Cup is IAWA’s annual international record breakers event.

To take part, lifters must be the holder of an IAWA World Record.

Lifters have the opportunity to choose a lift and attempt to break (or set) a World Record in their age and weight class on that lift, but the first attempt has to be for the record. Three further attempts can then be taken.

If successful they receive a trophy based on the theme ‘Gold Cup’ presented at the evening award ceremony.

Lifters also have the opportunity to compete against each other to determine the overall winner (based on Blindt score, age & bodyweight) for the Howard Prechtel Memorial Award.

Usually (time permitting) lifters have an opportunity to attempt a record in a second choice lift.

Please direct any enquiries to the promoter –

Paul Barette – Email iawa@metamorfit.co.uk

Karen Gardner – Funeral Arrangements

Here are the details and arrangements for Karen’s funeral which Steve has asked me to share…

The Funeral Service for our dear Karen will be at 12pm on Tuesday 22nd August 2023

At: St. James Church -Church Lane, Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs. DE13 8HU

Phone: 01283 712359.

Afterwards, at the Waterfront (Upstairs in the Crow’s Nest) – Barton Marina, Barton Turn,

Barton-under-Needwood, Staffs. DE13 8AS Phone: 01283 711500

Dress: Traditional Black, BUT as Karen’s favourite colour was Red, the family invite

those attending to wear something red as a special tribute, if they wish.

Family Flowers only, and any donations received will go to Cancer Research

Karen Gardner 14/11/58 – 27/07/23

At 14.07 on Thursday 27th July, an angel on earth joined the angels in heaven.

Karen fought an immensely challenging battle against an aggressive brain tumour with strength and unwavering courage with Steve and their wonderful family and friends by her side every step of the way. She received the best possible medical care and months of treatments and therapies but sadly lost her battle peacefully whilst being cared for at the Barton Cottage Hospital.

Steve expresses his unending love for his life partner of 50 years, inseparable to the end. Our Prayers and thoughts go out to Steve, their sons Jon and James, grandchildren Dom, Grace and Sonnie and their extended family and all those that knew her.

There is another family that Karen’s love and affection touched the lives of so many and that is our IAWA Family.

Karen started lifting 30 years ago with IAWA and was soon to be known as ‘Mum’ by so many in the organisation. Jon and James would shout ‘come on Mum’ as encouragement as she lifted.

Always there to support and inspire others and dedicated herself to working as an official, helping at the desk and capturing the days events on camera side by side with Steve.

Karen and her family travelled to support so many national and international events over the years and this is why our global IAWA organisations retain such wholesome values and inclusivity.

Winning so many titles over the years and the being the first woman to pull 100 kilos in the One Hand Deadlift, she can certainly be declared a champion not only in lifting but in every facet of life.

Rest In Peace Karen

Paul Barette on Behalf of the IAWA(UK) Committee

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