The Banbury bench press competition was the creation of Steve De-Meis a local powerlifter who now specialises in the bench press discipline and competes at national and international events. Steve is currently in the UK squad lifting in the 110kilo weight category of Masters II section. The competition was first hosted at The Que Pasa night club venue in High St. Banbury in 2003 and has grown in popularity ever since. This year it will be held at the The Pavilion on Sunday 13th September (weigh-in 12:00 to 13:30pm).
The bench press is a single lift discipline which along with the dead lift and squat constitute the three disciplines of Powerlifting. The bench press is widely accepted as a measure of one's individual strength and is growing in popularity as a weight training exercise and as a participation sport in its own right.
The intention of the Banbury bench press competition is to promote awareness of the sport of bench pressing and to raise funds through sponsorship for a wide spectrum of charities. Initially,the sole beneficiary for all fund raising was Scope a charity that helps so many with cerebral palsy integrate and mix with able bodied people in their communities.
More recently there has been a shift in emphasis to support and promote lesser known, local charities in an effort to improve their profile in the community. In more recent years funds raised have been used to purchase a mobility scooter for a local man with cerebral palsy. Donations have also been made to MIND a charity that helps people with mental health issues, SANDS (Stillbirth and Neo Natal Death Society, charity number 299679) and Dogs For The Disabled (charity number 1092960).
This year we will be supporting Home-Start (charity number 1114860).
The
Pavilion, completed in 1996 and maintained to a high standard, is one
of North Oxfordshire’s leading sports and meetings venues. Constructed
in local honey coloured Hornton stone featuring exposed roof timbers
and a cathedral ceiling, the Pavilion is a change from the bland,
modern hotels and tired function halls.The Pavilion is a family and health oriented environment which completes the attitude and goals of the event. Please see the section on bench press as a spectator sport for more about this increasingly popular sport.
Directions from the M40: From Junction 11 proceed straight
over the
first roundabout and take the first exit at the second roundabout. At
the third round about take the first exit, and straight over three set
of traffic lights and turn left at the fourth set. Continue for
approximately one mile towards Bodicote passing the Horton Hospital and
Sainsbury's on the left. Take the left before the flyover and turn
right to pass over the flyover. At the mini roundabout take the second
exit into Whitepost Road. The entrance to the ground is situated on the
right.
Directions from Oxford: Following the A4260 from Oxford,
proceed through the village of Adderbury towards Bodicote. On approach
into Bodicote take the exit on the left before the flyover and the Esso
garage. At the mini roundabout take the first exit into Whitepost Road.
The entrance to the ground is situated on the right. Also see http://www.the-glebe-pavilion.co.uk/findus/index.php.
Since its inception in 2003 the amount raised has steadily grown from £800 to nearly £3,500 in 2008. This success is due mainly to a number of generous donations from local companies sponsoring the event, individual contributions and proceeds from competitor participation fees and spectator entrance fees. Unless we receive notification to the contrary we respect that some of our benefactors may wish to retain a degree of anonymity and have not released their names. We are constantly looking for new sponsors in return for which we will happily promote individuals and companies if they wish to benefit from local publicity. We pride ourselves in the knowledge that every pound raised goes to the charity chosen with no deductions being made to meet expenses. All expenses are borne by the event organisers.
Last year (2008) we have successfully raised £1920 to Katharine House and £1500 Dogs for the Disabled.
Last year's bench press results are here.
It could not be more simple just download the form listed below and return it no later than 5th September completed and with a cheque for £15 payable to:
Mr M S De Meis at 42
Western Crescent,
Banbury, Oxon OX16 9BX
The competition is open to absolutely anybody regardless of age, weight, gender or ability. Consequently, we receive entrants from all over the UK ranging in ability from novice to world championship class. Lifters are grouped according to their weight on the day of the competition and therefore compete alongside fellow lifters of comparable body weight. Weight and age banding is the same as laid down by th British weightlifting association.
Entrants will be be required to complete an official entry form which can be downloaded from this website and must be accompanied with the correct entry fee which will be passed on to the charities being represented at the event. The entry form must be returned to the organisers by the due date to be accepted.
Although the event is hosted as a fun day the lifting is still taken seriously and many of the lifters have excelled and perform at international level representing their country. Their training regimes and diet are therefore strictly regulated as they compete at the pinnacle of their chosen sport to achieve the recognition and success they justly deserve. All competitors will be expected to wear either a weightlifting leotard or or bench shirt and shorts.
Bench Shirts
The use of bench shirts is now widely accepted and you will notice some
of the competitive lifters struggling (with the help of their coaches)
into what resembles an extremely tight elasticated tee shirt just
before their lifts. Whilst they are extremely restricting and
uncomfortable they can boost an individual's lifting ability by as much
as 25%. For those of you that are familiar with bench pressing there is
Equipped (lifting with bench shirts) or Unequipped (lifting without
bench shirts).
European and world championships are always in the "equipped" category whereas British championships hold competitions in both categories. As our event is a charity event lifters are free to use bench shirts if they wish.
The Bench Press is becoming increasingly more popular as an international sporting event and several countries including the UK have highly successful squads of lifters that lift at international level. In recent years the sport has developed quite a following with spectators frequenting events from local level through to the international events.
There are some interesting characters which adds to the appeal of the sport.Their charisma and amazing super human strength combine to draw in ever increasing numbers of spectators. We like to think our charity event attracts spectators because of their desire to help local charities as well as their interest in the sport. To this end we do our utmost to encourage as many spectators as possible to attend for a nominal entrance fee all of which will be passed on to the charity. Many of the spectators will be keen lifters themselves and may want to help on the day by loading and spotting. Previous years events have always proved highly popular and also have a social theme with refreshments available. Families and their children are particularly made welcome.
This year in addition to our bench press event we will be
organising an
exclusive raffle. We have contacted local businesses and retailers and
received numerous donations of prizes. The response has been
overwhelming with some really top prizes all of which can be viewed on
this website. Raffle tickets are available at a cost of £1 each. All
receipts from sales of tickets will go direct to our chosen charity
Home-start with no costs being deducted. In addition, Bibbys will apply
the "matched giving" arrangement they have with us by doubling any
proceeds to a maximum of £1,500. You can help by purchasing some
tickets and stand a very good chance of winning a valuable prize. The
raffle will be drawn by the Banbury Guardian late in September.
Prizes include the following:
Chalky's Record Store - CD Voucher
Banbury Post Office - Thirty pounds of Argos vouchers
Argos - DVD Player
Cargo's of Banbury - Perfumed Candle set in Wicker display basket
Pizza Express - Twenty pound meal Voucher
Lakeside Bowling - Two Family Bowling Tickets
Sound Exchange Nightclub - VIP entry and champagne for 10 People
Odeon Cinema - Four complimentary cinema tickets
Spiceball Leisure Centre - One month free membership
Mill Arts Centre - Two complimentary theatre tickets
Cafe Nero - Ten free coffee vouchers
Local restaurant - Free meal for two
This website would not be complete without mention of local "strength athlete" (as he preferred to be known) Mark Jennings. Mark was well respected for his all round strength and ability and regularly competed at power lifting, strongman and highland game events. His passion for the sport was apparent to all and he would often give advice and proved a reliable and worthy training partner for many years.
In the words of Marco (event organizer and personal friend of Mark):
I think it is fair to say that we inspired each other. He helped me considerably during our first two charity events with setting out and refereeing. In later years Mark had to come to terms with a number of medical conditions which frustratingly would interfere with a sport that he was so passionate about. Sadly Mark died in September 2005 a young man still in his 30's and in the prime of his life.
His family are happy for us to mention him here and each year we keep his memory alive by awarding the best lifter a trophy and shield in his name. In 2006 at the behest of Mark's mother Sue, half of the monies we raised were donated to MIND a charity that does so much to help people with mental health issues. An anecdotal reminder of the sort of character Mark was relates back to a competition he entered in the late 90's. Mark was asked what weight he wanted on the squat bar. When he replied 215kilos he was misheard and the bar was loaded at 250. Mark successfully squatted the heavier weight and exclaimed "that felt bloody heavy" or words to that effect.
The referee then asked Mark if he was happy with the lift or did he want to go again with the correct weight. Naturally, he stuck with his personal best of 250. Just goes to show there was always more in the tank where Mark was concerned.