Republic Championships: THERE ARE FOUR

24.03.1973 (Sports)

In the continuation of the Republic Weightlifting Championships, the athletes achieved several excellent results. While we didn't expect any records on the first day of the competition, there were four on the second.

In this tournament, the first republican record was achieved by the USSR Honored Master of Sports Gennady Ivanchenko. The start was not promising at all. Gennady did not cope with the starting weight in the snatch (it was an impressive 150 kg) once, then a second time ... Will there be a zero? No. Right ... Will there be a zero? No. In the third attempt, the weight was fixed. Unfortunately, for the sum of the duel, taking into account Gennady's capabilities, this is quite modest.

For the fourth, additional attempt, Ivanchenko's coach M. Freifelds demands 157.5 kg on the bar. Gennady concentrates for a long time, as if trying to "feel" the barbell, and then a lightning-fast jerk follows. The athlete's muscles tense from the enormous effort. When the barbell is weighed, it turns out that G. Ivanchenko's new republican record in the snatch is 158 kg. The old one, belonging to S. Poltoratskis, is immediately improved by three kilograms. The other favorite in this weight, Vilis Pērkons, also "tickles" the nerves of the spectators, twice failing to break the starting weight of 140 kg. However, in the third attempt, Vilis is also fine.

In the clean and jerk, after lifting 195 kg, Ivanchenko once again goes into a duel with a 200 kg barbell. However, the weight is not lifted accurately on the chest, and 200 kg still has to wait for its conqueror to for the next tournaments. However, Gennady's total for the duel (345 kg) is 2.5 kg better than his a recent achievement in the international "Friendship" Cup tournament. Vilis Pērkons came second in the combined event with 320 kg. Vilis, who is the only light heavyweight athlete to lift with a "scissors", had his knee hit the weightlifting floor several times, thus dashing any hopes for a higher result.

For many connoisseurs of republican weightlifting, the final result in the second heavyweight category was unexpected. For many, but not for Valdis Alksnītis, a worker at the Jēkabpils meat processing plant from Vārpiets. Already at the end of last year, Valdis claimed the title of the republic's strongest man in the snatch. At his "home" in Jēkabpils, he set a republican record of 159.5 kg. But this time, when the very strong "snatchers" A. Sliede , G. Kalns and V. Turins competed, V. Alksnītis showed almost miracles. 

Having lifted 155 kg with amazing ease, Alksnītis is already asking for a new republic record weight of 160 kg for the second attempt. This weight also flies into the air so easily that you don't want to believe your eyes. But you have to believe it. The judges weigh the bar. V. Alksnītis' new republic record is 161 kg! But V. Aiksnītis and the coach of "Vārpa" P. Jost are not satisfied yet. 165 kg for the third attempt! When this weight is also easily fixed, the spectators and even the judges do not hold back on applause.

- How a boy plays with a stick! He hears us talking.

After the bar was weighed, it turned out that the new republican record is 165.5 kg. This is not only a republican record, but also a record of the All-Union Central Council of Rural Sports Associations. A remarkable achievement for V. Alksnītis, born in 1941!

Former national record holder Guntis Kalns recorded 150, ASK master of sports Valdis Turins and dynamic athlete Arturs Sliede - the same.

Of course, the record holder in the shot put, A. Sliede , is not satisfied with this outcome . He is preparing for revenge in "his" discipline. 

Alksnītis starts the clean and jerk with 195 kg. The approach is successful. Turins lifts the same. Kalns - 190. Sliede fixes a respectable 200 kg.

To become the republic's record holder in the total of the two-event, V. Alksnītis must lift 202.5 kg. In the second This task was accomplished in the snatch! Valdis Alksnītis set his third republican record in this competition with a combined total of 367.5 kg.

Valdis Turins also lifts 202.5 kg, but Guntis Kalns sets a personal record, lifting 200 kg. Arturs Sliede goes to 205 kg once, twice ... He doesn't succeed, he has lifted 210.5 kg, but this time even 205 does not obey. In the fourth attempt, Sliede does lift 205 kg, but it is already too late. Turins remains second in the duel with 352.5 kg, G. Kalns third with 350 kg. A. Sliede also has 350 kg, but he is heavier.

In the middleweight division, soldier Juris Baranovskis and dynamite Nikolajs Tropkins fought for first place. Baranovsky was the better fighter in the duel. Tropkin had an injured thumb, which undoubtedly affected his performance. However, the performance of both of them gives hope that even after Ivanchenko's move to light heavyweight, there will not be a "vacuum" in the middleweight division.

In the first heavyweight, the favorite Kārlis Pumpuriņš got a "zero" in the snatch and was no longer able to compete in the total of the duel. The winner was the master of sports of "Daugava" I. Tērauds, leaving behind the dynamic V. Kirejeva and A. Titarenko.

The republican championship was a qualifying round for the All-Union Championship, which was held at the end of April will take place in Donetsk. The country's 16 strongest athletes will be able to compete in each weight class. How many Latvian representatives will be among them? This will be determined by the All-Union Weightlifting Federation, but judging by the results of the republican championship, there will not be a large crowd.

Results

Middle Weight

J. Baranovskis (ASK) 300 (135 + 165)

N. Tropkins (Di) 290 (130 + 160)

J. Kerze (Da) 275 (122,5+ 152,5)

Light Heavyweight

G. Ivančenko (Di) 345 (150+195) 

V. Pērkons (Di) 320 (140+180) 

J.Ļeskovs (Vā) 310 (135+175)

First Heavyweight

I. Tērauds (Da) 332,5 (145+197,5)

V. Kirejevs (Di) 315 (140 + 175)

A. Titarenko (Di) 315 (130 + 185)

Second Heavyweight

V. Alksnītis (Vā) 367,5 (165 + 202,5)

V. Turins (ASK) 352,5 (150 + 202,5) 

G. Kalns (Da) 350 (150 + 200)

A. Sliede (Di) 350 (150 + 200)

H. Lasmanis