On the 24th of April in Przezmierowo (Tarnowo Podgorne Commune) in St. Kanikowski Park we were witnesses of 3 really professional duels of the PAL organization (Professional Armwrestling League). Leading competitors of international arena met in six rounds duels for right hand. Among others there were also two Polish competitors: Mariusz Grochowski from Jaworzno and Grzegorz Nowak from Gdynia. Both of the competitors fought as befits for the professionals – all their strength, learnt tactic and life experience. However only one of them managed to come back home triumphantly. The one was the strongest Pole of 2008 and 2009 – Grzegorz Nowak who easily won +95kg class in a duel for right hand he beat the Bulgarian – Slav Sharagovich in every of the six rounds. Whereas Mariusz Grochowski yield the strengh of Bulgarian competitor - Krasimir Kostadinov, losing all of the six rounds of right hand up to 95kg class.

The organizer of this unusual sports event was the Tarnowo Podgorne Commune, Sports and Recreation Centre in Tarnowo Podgorne and Mazurenko Armwrestling Promotion company from Gdynia. The tournament was the part of Przezmierowo Days. Of course, apart from the performance of the fights of the best armwrestlers of the world the organizers ensured the audience some armwrestling fan in the morning. Over 70 people participated in the 1st Tarnowo Gorne Commune Open Championships. Among all the participants of the tournaments, apart from many local competitors we could also watch many titled competitors of Polish armwrestling arena among others: Daniel Gajda from Gdynia, Marta Opalińska and Marlena Wawrzyniak from Grudziądz, Marcin Lachowicz and Marcin Skalski from Piaseczno, Wiesław Rzanny from Wolsztyn and many other Polish sportsmen who came to Przezmierowo as they could not resist the rivalry.

As the support (and believe me – the really good support with the great applause of the audience) of the men and women rivalry of particular classes at Tarnowo Podgorne Championships we saw the rivalry of the youngest sportsmen – open children class. Here, thought the winner among 12 competitors taking part was Marcin Pawlowski, I reckon that each of the competitors of the class deserve the gold medal. And that is why the organizers of the champions decided not to let each of the “young sportsmen” leave the stage empty-handed.

After the rivalr of the children the men and women classes were fought off. In the only women class – open 5 armwrestlers participated. It was no surprise that the winner of the class was Marlena Wawrzyniak from Grudziadz. The second was Malgorzata Zuromska and the third Milena Morczynska.

Among men rivalry the number of the participants of particular classes was much larger and the gold medalists of Tarnowo Podgorne commune become mainly experienced competitors of  the Polish armwrestling arena. Maciej Gralak from Bydgoszcz who usually starts at disabled class easily won the up to 63kg class. In the next up to 70kg class the winner was Lukasz Falinski. In up to 78kg class Daniel Gajda from Gdynia was unbeaten. Wieslaw Pzanny from Wolsztyn dominated the up to 86kg class. Marcin Lachowicz  from Piaseczna exulted in the up to 95kg class. Whereas in the +95kg class the winner was his club-mate Marcin Skalski.

In the end of the 1st Tarnowo Podgorne Commune Open Championships the amateurs open class, so the rivalry of the competitors who have never started at any important national or international competitions were fought off. 18 daredevils applied. After a really exciting fights by the table, often on a professional armwrestlers scale and accompanied by the loud doping of the gathered audiencje the winner of the gold medal and the title of the best armwerestlers in Przezmierowo was 124 kg heavy Szczepan Widera from Poznan.  To audience joy Zbyszek Zimny from Przezmierowo ranked secondo. The last medal position was occupied by Dariusz Ludka. The organizers ensured quite attractive awards, medals and cups for all the medalists of all weight classes.

After such exciting fights professionals got into action. In three six rounds duels for right hand of the PAL organization we were able to see the real champions of the world scale. As the warm-up of the audience’s throats we saw the duel of +95kg class of Plamen Kisov from Bulgaria with Gyorgy Szasz from Hungary (the final result was 6:0 for the Hungarian). In the second duel, this time of the up to 95kg class we saw the six rounds clash of our compatriot - Mariusza Grochowski with the Bulgarian - Krasimir Kostadinov (the final result was 6:0 for the Bulgarian). In the last duel of the evening our next compatriot - Grzegorz Nowak from Gdynia made a start on the fight. His rival was the talented Belarusian - Slava Sharagovich. Here Grzegorz redeemed for the earlier defeat of Mariusz and “bombed” the hand of Belarusian armwrestler six times (the final result was 6:0 for the Pole).


These and other duels that took place on the 24th of April in Przezmierowo (Tarnowo Podgorne) made this region of Poland secured its place in armwrestling history. Unbelievable duels on the Przezmierowo armwrestling arena will for sure be remembered, as well by the competitors as fans and the organizers. Taking an opportunity I would like to thank the organizers of the event – Mr Tadeusz Czajka – Tarnowo Podgorne Commune Mayor, Bernard Bronski – the director of the Tarnowo Podgorne SRC and many others and sponsors who directly contributed to this unusual sports event. Let’s hope that the discipline will make a permanent stay in this region of Poland.

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