Over 50 participants of 12 regiments from Silesia voivodeship took part in the 1st Silesia Voluntary Work Regiment Armwrestling Championships. On Friday the 12th of March 2010 in a sports hall of 12-17 VWR Jaworzno at Batorego 18 Street we were able to see a competitions on high sports and organizational level. The place of the tournaments was crowded from the early morning. The interest of the competitions surpassed organizers’ expectations. Armwrestling is constantly becoming much more popular in Poland. We are enjoyed by the fact that among our sports family the new very interesting proposition appeared.

The  initiator of the event was Sławomir Nowak, an form-master from Jaworzno regiment. The competitions took place in accordance with the FAP regulations. Referees of the championships were professional armwrestling referees: Tomasz Szewczyk and Mariusz Grochowski. The high sports level and many interesting fights were the showpiece of the competitions.

Sabina Knapik a voivodeship educator: “When I heard a proposition of organizing the armwrestling tournaments for the first time, I was very careful approaching the subject. We hear a lot about injures and the health of competitors in the most important. But as the competitions showed, my misgiving were unjustified. Three hours of a great fun, interest and high sports level justified that armwrestling is a safe sport able to find acceptance in our voivodship. I am really impressed by the skills presented by the participants.”

Although armwrestling is associated with strong men, also girls who were not inferior to their colleagues in ambition and will of fight took part at the tournaments. Three weight classes for boys and one open class for women made the rivalry really equalized.

In each of the classes we could see a lot of interesting fights.  The strongest man turned to be Damin Salachan from Żywiec, and the strongest woman was Gosia Balcerzak from Sosnowiec. Among the competitors from Jaworzno, Mateusz Szubert was distinguished as he won his weight class.

Bożena Banasik the Regiment 12 – 17 Commander: “In my opinion sports and organizational level of the competitions was really high. It is good that we constantly trying to extend our sports offer for the participants. Apart from sport also the educational aspect is very important. For the first time in our regiment we hosted Polish and European Armwrestling Champions, who lead the competitions professionally. I would like to thank all of the people who contributed to the success of the event, as well as the competitors who came to Jaworzno.”

The Voivodeship educator Sabina Knapik, the Regiment 12 – 17 Commander Bożena Banasik and the referees presented commemorative medals, cups and awards.

Snatching the opportunity we would like to thank the internet shop www.supergymsports.pl for founding the dietary supplements for sportsmen.

The scores of the 1st Silesia Voluntary Work Regiment Armwrestling Championships (to the 3rd position):

Men (- 60 kg) 4 competitors started
1st M. Górski (Dąbrowa Górnicza)
2nd M. Kudłacz (Gliwice)
3rd M. Gąsiorek (Siemianowice)

Men (- 70 kg) 10 competitors started
1st M. Szubert (Jaworzno)
2nd K. Marciniuk (Jaworzno)
3rd M. Obrzut (Bielsko Biała)

Men (+ 70 kg) 24 competitors started
1st D. Salachna (Żywiec)
2nd T. Strzeliczek (Rybnik)
3rd P. Matras (Żywiec)

Women (Open) 15 competitors started
1st A. Skaruz (Sosnowiec)
2nd N. Poloczek (Wisła)
3rd A. Bielas (Tychy)

Final classification:
1st Żywiec
2nd Rybnik
3rd Sosnowiec


Author: Sławomir Nowak
Photos: Anna Tekieli - Bogusz