Starting Strong Classic

Starting Strong Coaching's debut strongman competition has arrived to round off your 2025.

If you're a first time competitor, looking for a way into the sport, this will be the perfect set of events to give you a well-rounded strongman experience!

Categories are men and women first timers, but because we want to give women the spotlight we're putting in a women's amateur category to showcase what a little time in the sport can do. The amateurs category is aimed at a blend of both novice and inters to bridge the gap between levels.

Entry fee is £40 and to be paid via PayPal friends and family to PayPal.me/Startingstrong
Please include full name, category and t-shirt size with payment. No refunds except in the event of competition cancellation.

All events subject to change but advance notice will be given.

Athlete registration from 9am. Athlete briefing from 9.30 for a 10am start.

Event 1: Deadlift
Women's amateurs (WA) - max deadlift
Starting at 100kg then onto 110kg and 120kg. At this point athletes can opt to remain at 120kg and perform reps within 60s to determine their placing. Athletes who choose to proceed with the max deadlift will resume at 140kg then onto 150 and 160kg. Any athletes who reach this point can then continue in 5kg increments until we have a winner.
A separate trophy will be given to the highest deadlift.

Women's and men's first timers (WF & MF) - deadlift ladder. 60s to complete as many bars as possible before repping out the last bar.
WF: 80/90/100/110/120
MF: 140/150/160/170/180

Straps allowed. No suits.

Event 2: Axle overhead press - 60s
Choice of 2 weights. 1 rep on heavier trumps anything on the lighter. You can drop down in weight but can't go back up after.
WA: 45kg or 55kg
WF: 35kg or 45kg
MF: 70kg or 80kg

Event 3: Squat
WOMEN'S AMATEUR ONLY
This will be a strategy as well as physical event. It's important to know what your 10 rep max is. Which is why we're not running this event for first time competitors.
Athletes will have 60s to complete up to 10 reps of their nominated weight. Weights will be set before the start of the event and only yourself and the ref will know your chosen weight ahead of time.
Biggest accumulative total wins. Be smart... 80kg x 10 reps =800kg total, setting your weight at 100kg but only managing 5 reps = 500kg!

Event 4: Drag and Pull
60s to complete. Athletes to complete a 15m drag of a cargo net filled with cerberus sandbags before running back to the start position to begin the 15m rope pull to bring it back.
Gloves allowed.
WA: drag 200kg/ pull 150kg
WF: drag 150kg/ pull 100kg
MF: drag 250kg/ pull 200kg

Event 5: Husafell carry
Max distance Husafell sandbag carry in 60s. 25m turns. If the bag touches the floor before the 60s, score will be taken from that point.
WA: 70kg
WF: 70kg
MF: 100kg

Event 6: sandbag over bar - 60s to complete
Sandbags are cerberus atlas shaped bags.
WA: athletes can either start at lighter sandbag or heavier sandbag and go in order
WF and MF: 2 reps at each weight, must start from lightest bag first.

Trophies for all podium places plus additional trophy for the winner of the women's max deadlift.

Food and drink available at Farsley Celtic clubhouse right next door.

Plus some fun challenges for spectators to join in with including a sandbag throw, dinnie hold, hammer hold and other grip challenges!

Our junior stronglings will also be putting on an exhibition to showcase their skills.