Momentum Kettlebells Instructor Tom Mayes was fortunate enough to be featured in 'Firefighter' magazine, in the first edition of 2015. Firefighter Magazine is the national magazine of the Fire Brigades union. Here is the article.

IUKL World Cup,

Darlington ‘Aug 2014’

Momentum Kettlebells Instructor Tom Mayes entered his first international Competition this August. With Competitors from all over Europe this was a challenging event.

Tom competed in the Professional Division using double 32kg (just over 10 stone) kettlebells in the Long Cycle, ‘Clean and Jerk’ event.

Using what may be becoming his trademark facial expressions, Tom managed to fight his way to a Personal Best, new English Record and Gold Medal score of 45 reps.

Tom Mayes –

2x 32kgs – Long Cycle – 45 reps – Gold

GSU Welsh Kettlebell Open

Cardiff, Sat 28^th June 2014

The Team is getting bigger. 8 of us travelled to Cardiff to compete in the Welsh Open. We came back with 10 gold medals and 1 silver medal.

• Jamie Stevens kicked it off at his second ever competition. Jamie decided that one event wasn’t enough and chose to compete in 2 events. The first event was the biathlon made up of the ‘10 min 20kg double Jerk’ followed later by the ‘10 min 20kg single Snatch’. He nailed the required numbers to achieve ‘Rank 2’ and the Gold medal.

   

• Momentum Instructor Tanya Mayes was up second. Tanya had also decided to compete in 2 events. The Long cycle and the snatch only events. At 6 months pregnant Tanya had left her usual 20kg competition weight and chose to compete with an 8kg Kettlebell. Needless to say she stormed her way to a massive score and the gold medal position in the Long cycle.

   

• Next was Tracey Langham competing in her 4^th competition. Like Jamie and Tanya, 1 event wasn’t enough. Tracey decided to compete in both the 16kg Long cycle and 12kg Snatch only events. Tracey narrowly missed out on making ‘rank 1’ in the Long cycle by 1 rep, but still securing the gold medal position.

   

• Veteran lifter, Stuart Lee was next up competing for the second time in the Double 16kg Long cycle event. Overcoming some issues in his training, he romped home to a massive personal best and the gold medal, showing us all what is possible, even when you are approaching 50.

   

• First time competitors Joe McIlvenny and Martin Seville were next to lift, and they stood side by side in the Double 16kg Long Cycle event. Joe worked hard to get the required number of reps to achieve ‘Rank 3’ and maintained a great technique throughout. Martin banged out a massive score and seemed to only stop because he couldn’t be bothered to do any more. Gold for both. Heavier for you next time Boys.

   

• Chris Sanders and Jamie Stevens were next up in the Double 24kg Long Cycle event, Jamie competing in his second event of the day. This is the heaviest weight for Amateurs to compete with, and is tough by anyone standards. Chris worked up an impressive score and although he was disappointed by the result it still secured him a Silver medal. Jamie, fatigued from already competing in the biathlon, struggled to maintain the pace he hoped for, but still managed a gold medal performance.

   

• Last to compete in the Long Cycle events was Momentum Instructor Tom Mayes. Tom competed with the professional weights of double 32kgs. Approaching the last reps with some very strange facial expressions, Tom Managed a Personal Best, English record (under 85kgs) and a gold medal.

   

• Lastly the girls were back to compete in the Ladies snatch only event. Tanya with an 8kg again and Tracey was back with a 12kg. Tanya banging out a ridiculous gold medal winning score and Tracey hitting the 10^th gold medal for Momentum Kettlebells.

   

Well done to team Momentum. You have made your instructors very, very proud.

Tanya Mayes –

8kg Long Cycle – 153 reps – Gold

8kg Snatch only – 225 reps – Gold

Tracey Langham –

16kg Long Cycle – 99 reps – Gold

12kg Snatch Only – 101 reps – Gold

Stuart Lee –

2x16kg Long Cycle – 80 reps – Gold

Joe McIlveny –

2x16kg Long Cycle – 60 reps – Gold

Martin Seville –

2x16kg Long Cycle – 100 reps – Gold

Jamie Stevens –

20kg Biathlon – 61jerks/155snatch – Gold

2x24kg Long Cycle – 34 reps – Gold

Chris Sanders –

2x24kg Long Cycle – 44 reps – Silver

Tom Mayes –

2x32kg Long Cycle – 42 reps – Gold

GSU English Kettlebell Open

Manchester, Sat 26^th April 2014

5 of us travelled up to Manchester this weekend to take part in the English Kettlebell Open. 3 of us (Tom Mayes, Tanya Mayes and Tracey Langham) had competed before, but the other 2 (Chris Sanders and Jamie Stevens) were both 1^st timers.

Team Momentum came back after a tough days lifting with 5 gold medals and 2 silvers, but also a trophy for Absolute Champion in the Veterans Long Cycle event.

As always, this was a very well organised event. With so many competitors, and with several events, organising was always going to be tricky which just makes the smooth running and trouble free event even more impressive.

After a gruelling 7 hour journey up, seemingly hitting every major roadwork’s in the country, we finally managed to weigh in, on the Friday evening. Shattered we had a quick shower and dinner then early to bed in our hotel.

Saturday morning then arrived, and we headed off to the competition. With approximately 130 competitors from 9 countries in attendance it would have been easy for the 2 new boys to have been a little overwhelmed by the event, but they kept a level and calm head, saving their energies for the hard work to come.

We all listened intently to the rules speech, and then it began.

The Ladies were first to go, and first up was veteran competitor, Tracey Langham. Tracey decided to take on a fresh challenge by competing in the 12kg Biathlon event. This is a 2 part event made up of ‘The Jerk’ and then ‘The Snatch’

The Jerk was first. In the Jerk event you raise the kettlebell above your head, from your chest, as many times as possible within a 10 minute time limit. You are only allowed to change hands once and the kettlebell cannot touch the floor until the end of your set. Tracey achieved an impressive 137 repetitions.

After a short break the Snatch event was next. The Snatch involves swinging the kettlebell between your legs then over your head in one fluid motion. Again 1 hand change, in 10 mins. Tracey managed another impressive score with 140 repetitions. When all the scores were in these fantastic results gave Tracey a, well earned, silver medal. A Great start, to a new event for Tracey.

Next up was the Long Cycle, clean and jerk, event. In this event Ladies use one Kettlebell and Men use two. The kettlebells are swung between the legs then up to the chest, before being jerked overhead. This is repeated as many times as possible within a 10 minute time limit. Ladies are allowed one hand change. The kettlebells cannot touch the floor until the end of the set.

Momentum Kettlebells Instructor, Tanya Mayes was first. In her last event Tanya competed with a 20kg kettlebell, however this time, being nearly 5 months pregnant, Tanya decided it was a better idea to take a step back. She therefore chose to compete with a 12kg kettlebell, as she still wanted to be part of the team and show her support. It is worth pointing out here that we don’t recommend starting kettlebell training whilst pregnant, however, as Tanya was used to the types of movements involved, her fitness level is very high, her technique is very good and the kettlebell was light, compared to what she was used to, there was no risk involved.

Tanya proceeded to walk her way to a gold medal, whilst 5 months pregnant, with a fantastic 137 repetitions.

Tracey Langham was not content to do the one event and had decided to compete in the Long Cycle event too. This time she chose to compete with a 16kg Kettlebell. The previous and tough Biathlon event she had already completed meant that this was going to be a struggle, and Tracey certainly felt the effects of having completed 20 mins of lifting already. Even so Tracey raced to the podium again with another Silver medal and 65 repetitions. An amazing result.

Finally it was time for the men’s event. First up were Chris Sanders and Jamie Stevens. Both men were using double 20kg Kettlebells (40kg total) and competing in the Long Cycle, clean and Jerk. However they were thankfully in different weight categories, and Jamie, being over 40, was also in the veterans division.

This was their first competition, so both men were quite nervous. As soon as the time started, the nerves vanished. They both dug deep and fought their way to the Gold medal positions. Chris achieved a mighty 76 repetitions and Jamie achieved an amazing 93 repetitions. This result also gave Jamie the trophy for ‘Absolute Champion’ in the Veterans Long Cycle event. For a first event these results were outstanding, as most people start out their competitive careers competing with 16kg kettlebells.

Next to compete was Momentum Kettlebells instructor Tom Mayes. Tom was competing in the Pro Division, Men’s Long Cycle. This means lifting double 32kg kettlebells (64kg total). Tom fought through to finish with 37 repetitions,  giving Team Momentum their 4^th Gold medal of the event.

Lastly, Momentum Kettlebells Instructor Tanya Mayes, not content with her Gold medal, and fuelled on by her love of competing, took part in the last event of the day. The ‘Snatch Only’ Event. This is the same movement found in the second half of the Biathlon, but it is traditionally the only event Ladies were allowed to compete in. Again, being Pregnant, Tanya chose to compete with a lighter weight than normal, an 8kg kettlebell. Even so she managed to complete the 10 minutes with 221 repetitions, giving the team their last Gold medal of the day.

All in all a fantastic day, and an amazing medal haul for a new team, with a very bright future. Our next event is in Cardiff on the 28^th June and the team are already training hard for it. We have club members keen to join us for their first taste of competition and we are hoping for a repeat of our success in Manchester.

Anybody interested in learning about REAL Kettlebell training involving the traditional lifts is welcome to join us at our club. We train several times a week in a friendly, positive and very motivational setting. Just have a look at our website for more details.

www.momentumkettlebells.co.uk

Tracey Langham:

12kg Biathlon – 137 Jerks, 140 Snatch – Silver Medal

16kg Long cycle – 65 reps – Silver Medal

Tanya Mayes:

12kg Long Cycle – 137 reps – Gold Medal

8kg Snatch Only – 221 reps – Gold Medal

Chris Sanders:

2x20kg Long Cycle – 76 reps – Gold Medal

Jamie Stevens:

2x20kg Long Cycle – 93 reps – Gold medal

Absolute Champion Veterans Long Cycle

Tom Mayes:

2x32kg Long Cycle – 37 reps – Gold Medal

‘The Newbury and Tadley, Momentum Girevoy Sport Team’ come back from the British Kettlebell Sports Open Championships with 2 British Champions, and a silver medal.

On the 1^st September 4 members of Team Momentum travelled to the Reebok Gym, in Canary Wharf, to take part in the 2013 British Kettlebell Sport Open Championships. It was the largest Kettlebell Sport (Girevoy Sport) event yet to be held in the United Kingdom with over 80 competitors from 7 different countries taking part.

Whilst Tom and Tanya Mayes had competed several times before, this was the first time for Stuart Lee and Tracey Langham. What an event to have as your first competition!

If you are unaware of Kettlebells, then they are essentially a large cannon-ball shaped weight with a handle on top which vary in weight. They can be used for fitness, strength work, fat burning and improvments in athletic ability. Kettlebell Sport (also known as Girevoy Sport) is an extension of this fitness tool. Whilst still a fringe sport in this country, it is one of Russia's national sports, and is growing quickly in poularity in this country.

All 4 of us competed in the Long Cycle ‘Clean and Jerk’ event. For Ladies this means swinging a single kettlebell between your legs, then up to your chest (the ‘rack’ position) then you ‘Jerk’ the kettlebell above your head to hold it out straight to complete a single repitition. You have a 10 minute set where you have to perfrom as many reps as possible without putting the kettlebell down and you are only allowed to change hands once. Men do the same action, but with 2 kettlebells at the same time, one in each hand. (Click here for some examples)

There is a ranking system in Kettlebell Sport similar to Martial Arts. A rank is awarded to the competitor when they achieve a certain amount of reps with each individual weight. To make it fair, the higher the weight of the competitor, the higher the amount of reps they need to achieve. (click here to see the ranking tables for the ‘Girevoy Sport Union’ who hosted this event)

The result of the clean and jerk is an all over body workout recruiting all the different muscle groups in your body in one exercise. This is gruelling to say the least, and as well as requiring tremendous amounts of strength, strength endurance and Cardio it also requires a mental fortitude that has to be experienced to be believed.

Tracey was up first using an 8kg Kettlebell. As an entry level weight it was a very competitive group, she really pulled it out of the bag with an amazing score, performing 124 reps winning her the Gold medal and the title of British Champion in the Ladies 8kg Long Cycle event. It also gave her the level of ‘Rank 3’ lifter.

Next up was Tanya Mayes, one of Momentum Kettlebells Instructors, who was competing with a 16 kg Kettlebell. The people in this group were all experienced competitors which meant everyone had a fantastic chance of winning. Tanya was one of the lightest in her category putting her at a distinct disadvantage. However with 106 reps she achieved a Silver medal and was only beaten by a Russian Lady (Natalia Gorbynova) who trains and competes with some of the worlds greatest competitors (Anton Anasenko) . This was a fantastic achievement and a very competitive performance. Under the GSU (Girevoy Sport Union) this easily gave her the level of ‘Rank 1’. Another great achievement, even though Tanya already holds the level of ‘Candidate for Master of Sports’ with the EGSA (European Girevoy Sports Union). To Achieve ‘CMS’ with the GSU Tanya needs to compete with a 20kg kettlebell. Next Time!

Stuart Lee was third to compete, and was using double 16kg kettlebells. Being the entry level weight, it was again a large and hotly contested group. Stuart finished the set with a Personal Best, by 26 reps, of 66 reps in total. With the best sprint finish we had seen, he narrowly missed out on the bronze medal, but was still over the moon after annihilating his previous best score. A fantastic performance that he should be, rightly, proud of.

Last to compete was Tom Mayes, Momentum Kettlebells Chief Instructor, who competed with double 28kg kettlebells. These are heavy weights to use for the Long Cycle event and at a body weight of 77kg, Tom was the only competitor in his group, with the vast majority of competitors using 24kg and under. This meant that he was assured a gold medal even if he only performed a single rep. However, with a ranking level of ‘Candidate for Master of Sports’ available, Tom had his goal of 60 reps in sight. Toms previous best of 57 reps had already given him the rank of ‘CMS’ with the ‘EGSA’, but after 8 long minutes he pushed out his 60^th rep, giving him the rank of ‘CMS‘ with the GSU, the Gold medal and the title of ‘British Champion in the Mens 28kg Long Cycle event’.