PURE STRENGTH III

The Pure Strength III competition, which was held in Britain (in either in 1989 or 1990) and was sponsored by Trebor Extra Strong Mints, was a team strongman competition pitting 4 countries against each other. The competitors were:

Britain: Jamie Reeves & Mark Higgins
Holland: Ab Wolders & Tjalling Van Den Bosch
Iceland: Hjalti Arnason & Magnus Ver Magnusson
United States: Bill Kazmaier & O.D. Wilson

The contest was judged and narrated for TV by WSM great Geoff Capes. There were a total of 16 events over 4 days.

Results of Pure Strength III 

1. Arnason, Magnusson
2. Kazmaier, Wilson
3. Reeves, Higgins
4. Wolders, Van Den Bosch

(Iceland)
(United States)
(Britain)
(Holland)
119 pts.
118 pts.
108 pts.
 99 pts.


Results by Event


Unfortunately, I only have the results for the last 12 events. If you have information on the first 4, please let me know. After Day 1, Iceland led with 30 pts, Britain and Holland were tied with 28, and the USA trailed with 26.

Event #5 - Bow & Axe Hold

In this event, one competitor from each team would draw back a bow and hold it drawn back as long as possible. When they released, their partner would lift an axe and hold it straight out until it dropped below a certain height. The team with the longest combined time wins. 

Wilson, Kazmaier
Higgins, Reeves
Van Den Bosch, Wolders
Magnusson, Arnason
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
36 pts.
36 pts.
34 pts.
34 pts.


Event #6 - Team Loading

Four objects were carried simultaneously by teammates up a hill inside a castle and loaded onto a platform. The United States was disqualified in this event when Kazmaier attempted to block Magnusson from getting up the hill. As Kaz bumped into Magnusson, the Icelander lost control of the barrel he was carrying and it fell off a ledge, landing on O.D. Wilson and nearly killing him. He recovered and continued in the competition. Not a good move on Kazmaier's part! 

Magnusson, Arnason
Higgins, Reeves
Van Den Bosch, Wolders
Wilson, Kazmaier
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 0 pts.
 
44 pts.
44 pts.
40 pts.
36 pts.


Event #7 - Dumbbell Press

One competitor from each team pressed two 100 lb. dumbbells over head as many times as possible. 

Reeves (28 reps)
Wilson (13 reps)
Arnason (11 reps)
Van Den Bosch (8 reps)
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
54 pts.
44 pts.
50 pts.
44 pts.


Event #8 - Arm-Over-Arm Truck Pull

Both contestants from each team pull an 18-wheel truck by a rope with their arms. Quite an interesting variation from the regular event seen in one-man strongman contests. 

Kazmaier, Wilson
Arnason, Magnusson
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
Reeves, Higgins
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
54 pts.
58 pts.
50 pts.
58 pts.


Event #9 - Pole Push

Like the event used in recent WSM competitions, but two men held each side of the pole and attempted to push the other team out of the ring. 

Kazmaier, Wilson
Arnason, Magnusson
Reeves, Higgins
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
64 pts.
66 pts.
64 pts.
54 pts.


Event #10 - Sled Push

In this event, both competitors from a team put their shoulders on pads on the back of a large sled used for rugby practice. The two men had to push it across grass as quickly as possible. 

Arnason, Magnusson
Reeves, Higgins
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
Kazmaier, Wilson
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
76 pts.
72 pts.
60 pts.
68 pts.


Event #11 - Log Lift

One man from each team press a log (which was actually made out of metal) overhead, starting at 120 kg. and moving up each round. Competitors were allowed to pass, and the usual rules applied. 

Kazmaier (162 kg.)
Reeves (160 kg.)
Arnason (140 kg.)
Wolders (130 kg.)
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
78 pts.
80 pts.
82 pts.
64 pts.


Event #12 - Harnessed Truck Pull

Again, a variation on the usual strongman event, but made for two people with a pair of harnesses attached to the front of an 18-wheel truck. 

Kazmaier, Wilson
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
Reeves, Higgins
Arnason, Magnusson
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
88 pts.
72 pts.
86 pts.
86 pts.


Event #13 - Battering Ram

This was a strange event in which the two teammates would pick a large log and attempt to smash it through a thick wooden plank that was obstructing a door. Once they had broken through, they ran through the door and up a hill past the finish line. 

Arnason, Magnusson
Kazmaier, Wilson
Reeves, Higgins
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
96 pts.
96 pts.
92 pts.
76 pts.


Event #14 - Barrow Loading Race

The competitors had to push a heavy barrow and load it with objects along the course. The Americans used a style with one man loading and one man pushing, but it didn't seem to work. Iceland and Holland tied exactly to the fraction of a second for first place. 

Wolders, Van Den Bosch
Arnason, Magnusson
Kazmaier, Wilson
Reeves, Higgins
 
 9 pts.
 9 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
 85 pts.
105 pts.
102 pts.
 96 pts.


Event #15 - Keg Loading

This was a one man event, run exactly the same as in any other competition. Wolders proved again that he was the world's fastest strongman. 

Wolders
Magnusson
Kazmaier
Higgins
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
 95 pts.
113 pts.
108 pts.
100 pts.


Event #16 - Car Push and Pull

This was a creative event in which each team had to find some way to move two cars up a hill. Each car had a rope tied on the front, so one man could pull while the other pushed from behind. Once they finished one car, they had to run back down and do it all again. Adrian Smith filled in on Holland's team (even though he's British!) because Tjalling Van Dan Bosch hurt his leg during the sled push and didn't want to make it worse (even though he competed in 3 events other events after he hurt it anyway!) 

Kazmaier, Wilson
Reeves, Higgins
Arnason, Magnusson
Wolders, Van Den Bosch
 
10 pts.
 8 pts.
 6 pts.
 4 pts.
 
118 pts.
108 pts.
119 pts.
 99 pts.