PORT HAWKESBURY: Elbowroom was in short supply at The Carriage House due to the efforts of the Nova Scotia Arm Wrestling Association (NSAWA) and the provincial championship hosted by the group.
“It was the biggest tournament ever held in Nova Scotia for arm wrestling,” said NSAWA Director Mark MacPhail, in regard to the May 6 event.
“We had exactly 150 entries. It was standing-room only. You couldn’t have wished for better. If there were more people, they wouldn’t have fit. We had regular-circuit arm wrestlers and some locals there.”
It’s been a few years since the NSAWA held an event in Port Hawkesbury, and MacPhail said it was great to be back. Though now living in Ben Eoin, MacPhail is no stranger to the local area, as he’s originally from River Denys.
He’s also no stranger to success at the arm wrestling table, as he is a 10-time Canadian Heavyweight Champion and 28-time Nova Scotia Provincial Heavyweight Champion. He’s also amassed 12 Atlantic Championships and taken a bronze medal at the World Championship.
The Saturday trip to Port Hawkesbury saw him add to his trophy case.
“I won the left, and that was my 28th provincial title,” he said. “I’m pretty proud of that. My left arm felt dynamite, but right-handed I took fourth – losing to Shaun Ross.”
MacPhail wasn’t the only local doing well, as Shannon Paul of Whycocomagh was impressive on the ladies’ side, finishing second in both the Right and Left Open divisions. Elaine Googoo of Whycobah was also good, taking a third in Left Open and fourth in Right Open.
Krista Miller of Whycocomagh took fifth in Right Open for the ladies.
Former SAERC Saint football player Gary MacDonald was competing and took a respectable fourth place finish in the Left Hand Open division.
Former SAERC athlete Willis Kersten had a good day on the table, as he took eleventh in the competitor-heavy Right Open division. He and 20 other pullers were competing. In the Left Open category, Daulton Denny of Whycocomagh also managed an eleventh place finish.
In addition to the senior classes, junior classes were also very busy. Fifty-six entries were competing on that level.
Part of the reason for the large crowd at provincials, MacPhail said, is that the arm wrestling nationals are coming to Halifax on Canada Day. A number of competitors were looking to qualify.
It’s a road trip MacPhail is looking forward to, as he once again will be gunning for a national prize.
Results
Seniors Classes
Right 154 lbs
1. Jake Chute, Middleton
2. Nick Zaedow, Aylesford
3. Darren Taylor, Middleton
4. Vernon Weatherbee, Dartmouth
Right 165 lbs
1. Trever Weatherbee, Hatchet Lake
2. Jon Wagner, New Minas
3. Jake Chute, Middeton
4. Donavon Crouse, Beaconsfield
5. Gavin Cremo, Waycobah
6. Vernon Weatherbee, Dartmouth
7. Garry Kell, Antigonish
Right 176 lbs
1. Sean Weaver, Middleton
2. Doug Henderson, Truro
3. Kirk Meuse, Bear River
Left 176 lbs
1. Donavon Crouse, Beaconsfield
2. Jake Chute, Middleton
3. Jon Wagner, New Minas
4. Nick Zaedow, Aylesford
5. Darren Taylor, Middleton
Right 198 lbs
1. Randy Bayers, Ship Harbour
2. Ralphie Bayers, Ship Harbour
3. Phil Carty, Digby
4. Jason Hall, Timberlea
5. Shaun Deveau, Halifax
6. Chris Tingley, Hubbards
7. Morris Benoit, Truro
8. Jonathan Meagher, Mulgrave
Left 198 lbs
1. Ralphie Bayers, Ship Harbour
2. Phil Carty, Digby
3. Randy Bayers, Ship Harbour
4. Shaun Deveau, Halifax
5. Mark Crouse, Beaconsfield
6. Jason Hall, Halifax
7. Morris Benoit, Truro
8. Chris Tingley, Hubbards
9. Hobie Dennis, Whycocomagh
Right Open
1. Shawn Ross, Kingston
2. Randy Bayers, Ship Harbour
3. Ralphie Bayers, Ship Harbour
4. Mark MacPhail, Ben Eoin
5. Shaun Deveau, Halifax
6. Josh Mulholland, River John
7. Pasamay Doucette, Eskasoni
8. Kenny Snow, Truro
9. Gary Macdonald, Queensville
10. Warren Benoit, Truro
11. Willis Kerston, Port Hawkesbury
12. Noel Francis, Eskansoni
13. Matt Gosselin, Sydney
14. Patrick Mulholland, Mabou
15. Wayde Graves, Bedford
16. Chris Scott, Sackville
17. Desmond Benard, Waycobah
18. Trevor Adams, Timberlea
19. Vic Armes, Halifax
20. Christopher Scott, Sackville
21. Daulton Denny, Waycocomagh
Left Open
1. Mark MacPhail, Ben Eoin
2. Ralphie Bayers, Ship Harbour
3. Shawn Ross, Kingston
4. Gary Macdonald, Queensville
5. Chris Scott, Sackville
6. Kenny Snow, Truro
7. Randy Bayers, Ship Harbour
8. Pasamay Doucette, Eskasoni
9. Wayde Graves, Bedford
10. Vic Armes, Halifax
11. Daulton Denny, Waycocomagh
12. Warren Benoit, Truro
13. Shaun Deveau, Halifax
14. Christopher Scott, Sackville
15. Patrick Mulholland, Mabou
16. Josh Mulholland, River John
17. Trevor Adams, Timberlea
18. Willis Kersten, Port Hawkesbury
Ladies Right Lightweight
1. Melissa Louvelle, Porter’s Lake
2. Ashley Oldford, Truro
3. Nicole Foster, Coldbrook
4. Aurora Cremo, Waycobah
5. Paula O’Connell, Sackville
Ladies Left Lightweight
1. Melissa Louvelle, Porter’s Lake
2. Paula O’Connell, Sackville
3. Ashley Oldford, Truro
4. Nicole Foster, Coldbrook
Ladies Right Open
1. Angela Hall, Timberlea
2. Shannon Paul, Whycocomagh
3. Margaret Dort, Aulds Cove
4. Elaine Googoo, Waycobah
5. Krista Miller, Whycocomagh
Ladies Left Open
1. Angela Hall, Timberlea
2. Shannon Paul, Whycocomagh
3. Elaine Googoo, Waycobah
Overall Champion
Shawn Ross, Kingston
360 lb Strong Hand Hold – Men
1. Ralphie Bayers – 1.21.42
2. Dylan Benoit – 1.20.07
3. Randy Bayers – 1.19.87
4. Warren Benoit – 1.17.46
5. Randall Googoo – 1.13.21
6. Morris Benoit – 59.40
7. Gary MacDonald – 56.32
8. Willis Kerston- 53.80
9. Christopher Scott – 52.75
10. Jake Chute – 39.53
11. Trevor Adams – 38.82
12. Mark Crouse – 30.20
144 lb Strong Hand Hold – Ladies
1. Ashley Oldford – 2.09.36
2. Angela Hall – 1.50.84
3. Melissa Louvelle – 1.47.99
4. Paula O’Connell – 1.33.42
5. Taylor Latimer – 1.32.37
Junior Classes
Right Under 5 yrs
1. Kylie Mattice, Sackville
2. Cloe Deveau, Halifax
Left Under 5 yrs
1. Cloe Deveau, Halifax
2. Kylie Mattice, Sackville
Right Lightweight
1. Jenna Muise, Middleton
2. Peter Khoury, Timberlea
3. Gavin Weaver, Middleton
4. Ava Mattice, Sackville
5. Brooke Mattice, Sackville
6. Payton Jessome, Boularderie
7. Johnathan Deveau, Halifax
Left Lightweight
1. Gavin Weaver, Middleton
2. Jenna Muise, Middleton
3. Peter Khoury, Timberlea
4. Ava Mattice, Sackville
5. Johnathan Deveau, Halifax
6. Brooke Mattice, Sackville
7. Payton Jessome, Boularderie
Right Middleweight
1. Jesse Watton, Middleton
2. Brody Milner, Deep Brook
3. Keaton Muise, Middleton
4. Khalil Walker, Middleton
5. Gairett Hazelton, Middleton
6. Aziz Benjamin, Auburn
7. Gabe MacNeil, Millville
8. Damon Googoo, Whycocomagh
9. Nick Khoury, Timberlea
10. Kylie Jessome, Boularderie
11. Lucas MacPhail, Ben Eoin
Left Middleweight
1. Brody Milner, Deep Brook
2. Jesse Watton, Middleton
3. Keaton Muise, Middleton
4. Nick Khoury, Timberlea
5. Gairett Hazelton, Middleton
6. Khalil Walker, Middleton
7. Kylie Jessome, Boularderie
8. Gabe MacNeil, Millville
9. Lucas MacPhail, Ben Eoin
10. Aziz Benjamin, Auburn
11. Damon Googoo, Whycocomagh
Girls Right Open
1. Rhianna Walker, Middleton
2. Madison Seely, Halifax
Girls Left Open
1. Madison Seely, Halifax
2. Rhianna Walker, Middleton
Boys Right Open
1. Dylan Benoit, Truro
2. Luke Sawler, Wilmot
3. Jesse Watton, Middleton
4. Landon Guld, Membertou
5. Kirk Meuse, Bear River
6. Brylen Googoo, Whycocomagh
Boys Left Open
1. Dylan Benoit, Truro
2. Luke Sawler, Wilmot
3. Jesse Watton, Middleton
4. Kirk Meuse, Bear River
5. Brylen Googoo, Whycocomagh
6. Landon Guld, Membertou
