Haynes Strength Summer Showdown

Dear Athlete,

Thank you for signing up to compete in the Haynes Strength Summer Showdown 2025!

We’re excited to welcome you to what promises to be an epic day of strength, community and competition. This letter contains all the key information you’ll need to be fully prepared. Please read carefully and reach out if you have any questions.

✅ Event Details

Date: 02/08/2025
Venue: Banbury Rugby Club, Bodicote Park, Oxford Rd, Bodicote, Banbury OX15 4AF
Check-In Time: 9:00
Athlete Briefing: 9:30
Start Time: 10:00
Link to Event Page: https://strengthregister.com/competition/haynes-strength-summer-showdown-2025

📋 General Rules for the Day

• Check-In: Arrive early to check in, warm up, and attend the athlete briefing. If you miss the briefing you will not be allowed to compete. 
• Kit: Belts, sleeves (one pair), and wraps are allowed. No deadlift suits or squat suits, no grip tops for any events. 
• Conduct: Respect officials, volunteers, and fellow athletes. Poor sportsmanship will result in disqualification.
• Referees: All referee decisions are final.
• Equipment Use: All chalk is allowed. No tacky. 
• Spectators: Friends and family welcome! Spectator tickets available through Strength Register.
• Food & Drink: We hope to run a BBQ throughout the day, with refreshments available. 
• No dogs allowed - sorry for this - its the rugby club’s rules which must be adhered to. Please leave the furry friends at home for this one. 
• All of the events will be on loose gravel - its very shallow and works very well for strongman events - but something to be aware of! Deadlift will be on mats.

💪 Event Rules & Breakdown

Event 1 – Kratos Bar Deadlift for Max
Overview:
 Athletes will have 3 attempts to lift their heaviest successful deadlift using the Kratos bar (long axle-style bar).

Rules:

• Rising bar format. There is no minimum weight, we will start on the lowest opener. 
• All categories grouped together - 
  BAR A: Women’s First Timers, Women’s Novice, Men’s First Timers (31)
• BAR B: Women’s Inters, Men’s Novice, Men’s Inters (41)
• Straps are allowed. Suits are not permitted.
• Conventional stance only – sumo is not allowed.
• Hitching is allowed.
• Thumbs must remain in contact with the bar for the full lift – no drops from lockout.
• You must wait for the "down" command from the judge.
• Weight Jumps: BAR A: 5KG Jumps // BAR B: 10KG Jumps
• Athletes will have 30s to produce a good lift, or (2 attempts), whichever comes first. If you fail twice that’s the end of your attempt. 
• Please make sure you are queueing for the weights you want to pull. If you miss a weight, we will not go back down, it’s on you to listen to the officials and be ready. 
  
  

Event 2 – Axle Press (FTOH) for Reps
Overview:
 Athletes will clean the axle from the floor each rep and press overhead for as many reps as possible within the time limit.

Rules:

• Clean each rep from the floor (FTOH = Floor to Overhead).
• Any overhead style allowed
• Standard 50mm axle - no knurling, with bumper plates. 
• Lockout: arms fully extended, head through, feet parallel, and under control.
• Elbows and knees must be locked for the rep to count.
• 60-second time limit
• Belt cleans allowed. Sleeves allowed. No wraps. 
• We won’t be using drop pads as they tend to bounce around a lot, and its going to be a high rep event. So we will be doing it from normal gym mats. 
• I am increasing every category by 5KG due to feedback around the event being a tad too light. I still think the weights are on the lighter side for this one - apologies if this causes anyone any issues, but I do want to avoid it just being a rep-fest in the lighter categories. 

TO CLARIFY - weights will be 5KG heavier than listed on SR. EG 25KG → 30KG. 

Event 3 – Farmers Walk into Zercher Carry (15m/15m)
Overview:
 A combination medley: farmers walk down the course, followed immediately by a Zercher carry back.

Rules:

• Time starts on the farmer’s handles.
• Drops allowed
• Both implements must cross the line before transition to Zercher.
• Zercher object must be carried in the crook of the elbows.
• Entire object must cross the finish line for time to stop.
• Fastest time wins. Distance recorded if DNF.
• Zercher height will be set to the height of the shortest athlete in each category. We will NOT be changing the height for athletes. #sorrynotsorry
• 15m each way. 
• All chalks fine. No grip spray or tacky sprays. We will check hands/arms. 

Event 4 – Sandbag to Shoulder for Reps

Overview:
 Athletes will lift a sandbag from the floor and throw it to their shoulder for maximum reps in the time limit.

Rules:

• Bag must be fully on the shoulder with one arm released to count as a rep.
• No tacky allowed.
• 60-second time limit
• Bag must return to the floor between reps - touch and go is fine as long as bag touches the floor. 
  
  

Event 5 – Keg Loading Over Bar
Overview:
Keg for reps over the bar. Keg will start stood up. Athletes will load the keg over the bar, run around or under the bar, and load the keg the other way. 

Rules:

• Gloves allowed
• Most reps in 60s wins. 
• This will be ran head to head - athletes must stay in their own lane and not enter the opponents side. 
• Hands need to be off the keg when the time runs out. If you're still holding onto it and the time runs out it will not count.

🏆 Scoring, Awards & Prizes

• Events will be scored using standard strongman scoring,
• In the event of a tie, countback on event wins will be used.
• Trophies for top 3. 
• SBD Prizes for winners of each category. (Thank you SBD) 

📄 Waiver Information – Mandatory for All Athletes

All athletes must complete and sign the electronic waiver before the event to be eligible to compete. No waiver = no lifting.

You’ll receive a link via email to fill it out. Please ensure it's submitted by 01/08/2025. 

📱 Stay Connected

Follow us on Instagram @HaynesStrength for updates, athlete features, and event-day coverage.
Any last-minute questions? Feel free to send me a DM. 

Thanks again for entering the Showdown. Train hard, recover well, and bring the fire on event day. We can't wait to see what you’ve got!

As always Haynes Strength Merch and SBD goodies will be available for purchase on the day so bring some cash! I'll also be more than happy to take photos etc once the event has finished - just ask! :)

See you soon,
 Paddy Haynes
 Event Director – Haynes Strength
 @paddy_strongman