WORLD POWER STARS Tournament on July 28

WORLD POWER STARS Tournament on July 28, 2007 organized by WPC/WPO Ukraine (the President Mr. Spartak Vaskovskyy).

Overwhelmingly awesome is all I can say!! Best bench meet ever!! We were all treated like Rock Stars in Ukraine. WPC/WPO Ukrainian President Spartak Vaskovskyy went all out. He completely paid for every expense including Ryan's, Rob's, Scott's, and their handlers trip to the Ukraine. Paid out $50K in prize money. Drove us around in a sweet coach bus. Hung a 30'x70' banner that covered the front of the entire theater with life size images of all the lifters. The entire town was totally jacked for this event!! Random people were approaching Ryan, Rob, and Scott on the street for pictures/autographs the entire week. As we were getting on the bus to head to the meet site a big wedding party pulled up for a reception at our hotel. The wedding party looked at Ryan, Rob and Scott in total amazement. Then the bride/groom/wedding party came over to the bus gathered around us wanting pictures with them. It was really cool. Hundreds of people were outside the theater as we pulled up 2 hours before the contest snapping pictures.

The contest itself was so entertainment oriented, and efficiently run. There was no down time. Because the meet was designed as a tri-meet between USA, Ukraine and Russia there were 12-13 lifters. So with 2 flights with less then 8 lifters in each by rule we had to give them time to rest between attempts. During those breaks Spartak had smoking hot dancers doing choreographed routines, male/female cirque du sole type acrobats, singers, pyrotechnics. But the crowd ultimately was there to see as advertised the WPO World Power Stars.

All the Ukrainian/Russian lifters lifted very well, but Ryan, Rob, Scott freaked the 1500 in attendance completely out. Mendy did 986, and was pissed he missed 1019, but I thought he did really well. Rob Luyando now the worlds best pound for pound bencher by far performance was astonishing. Hitting 854,881,903 @242/110k is unconceivable!! He was steady/strong on all 3 attempts. What an accomplish Rob!! The World's new King of the Bench Ryan Kennelly is silly strong. He did 1014 on his 3rd like an empty bar!! The most explosive attempt over 900lbs I have ever seen. The 1036 just sealed the deal going up with authority as well. Taking home $15K!! He's truly deserving of this title.

After the meet awards were giving out, and group pictures were taken of all the Lifters/Myself/Spartak/Yuri Ustinov (WPO/WPC R.U. Prez.). Then more Rock Star treatment. The entire audience rushed the stage with meet posters wanting more autographs. Gorgeous women coming up to us wanting pictures with the lifters. We all were made to feel very appreciated which felt really good for a change. Then Spartak had a unbelievable banquet with plenty of food/vodka, gifts, more dancing girls, bands, singers, and then they gave the lifters their prize money, and thanked us for coming. We were the ones who couldn't stop thanking them for their overwhelmingly gracious hospitality. Much thanks to Vitaly Bobchenko for his help. His father was the sponsor. Mr. Bobchenko owns a massive steel factory that employs over 46,000 workers. His generosity is so appreciated. He provided the prize money, and paid for all the lifters expenses.

We were all truly taken back by the whole experience. Again endless appreciation to all who made it happen. Spartak a heartfelt thanks to you hosting the greatest bench meet ever, and keeping the WPC/WPO alive and well in the Ukraine/Europe. Can't wait for the next one in Spring of 2008.

Kieran Kidder WPC/WPO President Results Below

	Name		BENCH №1	BENCH №2	BENCH №3	BENCH №4	BEST BENCH	Place
1	Sergei Koshkin,Russia	81,4	270	280	290	~~312,5~~	290	1
2	Bazilevich Oleg,Ukraine	82,5	270	280	290	310	290	2
3	Vladimir Chadkov,Russia	82,2	270	280	290-------		280	3
4	Igor Kurlov,Russia	80,5	260	~~272,5~~	~~280~~		260	4
5	Vasil KhoroshchakUkraine	82,2	~~260~~	~~272,5~~			0
6	Liudmila Bobchenko,Ukraine	64,7	150	160	~~165~~		160
7	Viktoria Karnaukhova,Ukraine	60	125	~~135~~	----		125
8	Robert Luyando,USA	109	385	400	410		410	1
9	Vitaliy Ponomarenko,Ukraine	107,2	~~370~~	370	~~385~~		370	2
10	Aleksei Nekliudov,Russia	107	~~330~~	330	~~350~~		330	3
11	Ryan Kennelly,USA	155	417,5	450	460	470	460	1
12	Scot Mendelson,USA	162	~~447,5~~	450	~~462,5~~		450	2
13	Vitaliy Bobchenko,Ukraine	112	310	320	---		320	3
14	Evgeniy Pavlov,Ukraine	125	~~275~~	275	285		285	4