Estonian bench press championships
The Estonian bench press championships in Viljandi delivered everything a good powerlifting competition should: records, tactics and the tension of a final attempt. On 27 September, 9 teams gathered at the strength sports club Power 5, itself a sign that the sport is thriving in Estonia.
What made the Estonian championships a success?
The competition in Viljandi was more than just another day of results. Clubs came from Tartu, Kohtla-Järve, Tallinn and Pärnu. That lineup made for a lively day: the platform featured more than just one or two big names, with a whole field of athletes whose every attempt could shift the points standings.
Women were represented for the first time, too. Pärnu club Ringi entered two teams, adding a new dimension to the competition. The women’s event unfolded largely as expected: Pärnu Ringi I won, with Pärnu Ringi II taking second. But the victory was anything but routine. Tiiu Kimber, captain of Pärnu Ringi’s first team, put in an impressive performance and set three Estonian records. Her best lift was 62.5 kg. Her teammate Siret Põldur also set three Estonian records in the women’s competition.
The bench press showdown of the day
In the men’s competition, the main contest developed between Tallinn’s Metal Gym I and Tartu SK, the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club. Metal Gym brought no fewer than three teams to Viljandi, showing the club’s depth but also spreading its strength across the teams. Tartu’s lineup featured familiar names: Mitt, Nurmine, Laiv and Jürgenson. No one could afford to relax against a team like that.
The strongest men competed in two groups. Each team had two athletes in the first group and two in the second. Timo Majuri and Marko Laikask represented Metal Gym in the first group, while Janno Jürgenson and Aivo Nurmine lifted for Tartu. After that group, the Tallinn club led by just 0.02 (!!) points. In bench press, that is a margin that keeps everyone on the edge of their seat.
Timo Majuri got the crowd going. He pressed 250 kg!!! to set both a personal best and a competition record. 270 kilograms proved beyond him this time, but even 250 kg!!! was a lift that energized the entire venue.
How were the Estonian championships decided?
The second round promised an even tenser finish. Leesmann and Köster competed for Tallinn, with Mitt and Laiv lifting for Tartu. Everything remained open until the final attempts. The lead changed after every lift. Coach and team representative Peep Päll coordinated Tartu’s tactics, giving the men instructions with a calculator in hand. But one simple truth remained: a calculator can help, but you still have to press the bar.
With three lifts remaining, the Tallinn club led on points. Then Erki Laiv stepped up for Tartu. His 212.5 kg lift put Tartu back in front. Tallinn’s response had to come from Kaido Leesmann. His planned 215 kg attempt had to be raised to 217.5 kg, as that was the only way Metal Gym could regain the lead. Kaido made the lift.
Tartu still had the final say. Their last lifter, Tarmo Mitt, needed to press 225 kg to win. He had failed his previous attempt at 220 kg. Now there were another 5 kilograms on the bar. This was the moment when the entire day came down to a single attempt. Tarmo was utterly assured, pressed the weight and secured victory for the University of Tartu sports club.
Results, records and team standings
The final women’s standings were clear: Pärnu Ringi I scored 183.93 points and Pärnu Ringi II 175.72 points. Metal Gym II took third place in the men’s competition. Andrus Moroz showed his quality for the team, pressing a new personal best of 202.5 kg. That improved his previous best by 10 kilograms!!
The top three overall were Timo Majuri with 147.30 points, Kaido Leesmann with 128.67 points and Andrus Moroz with 127.21 points.
Estonian records were set by Kaljo Jürman in the -56 kg class with a lift of 105 kg, Kaido Leesmann in the -110 kg class with 217.5 kg, and Tarmo Mitt in the +125 kg class with 225 kg.
- University of Tartu Academic Sports Club (Tarmo Mitt, Erki Laiv, Aivo Nurmine, Janno Jürgenson) — 483.90 points
- Tallinn Metal Gym I (Timo Majuri, Kaido Leesmann, Raul Köster, Marko Laikask) — 481.60 points
- Tallinn Metal Gym II (Andrus Moroz, Valeri Matvejev, Andrei Kabantsev, Jaanus Vink) — 458.18 points
- Viljandi Power — 415.22 points
- Tallinn Dvigatel — 399.62 points
- Kohtla-Järve Muskel Sport — 362.28 points
- Tallinn Metal Gym III — 298.37 points
Viljandi club Power, led by Raimo Kaasik, deserves thanks for organizing the event. The competition clearly showed that bench press is a popular and exciting spectator sport in Estonia. People came to watch, and the athletes gave them every reason to keep cheering until the end.
The next opportunity to meet these men was in Saue on November 29, when the Estonian individual championships were scheduled to take place. All youth, junior and male competitors were welcome. See you in Saue on November 29!!
FAQ
Who won the men’s team competition?
The University of Tartu Academic Sports Club won with a team consisting of Tarmo Mitt, Erki Laiv, Aivo Nurmine and Janno Jürgenson. Their final score was 483.90 points.
What was the most tense moment of the competition?
Tarmo Mitt’s final attempt at 225kg proved decisive. It secured victory for the University of Tartu sports club after he had failed an earlier attempt at 220kg.
Who stood out in the women’s competition?
Pärnu Ringi I won the women’s competition. Tiiu Kimber set three Estonian records, with a best lift of 62.5 kg. Siret Põldur also set three Estonian records.
Author: EJTL
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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