The English Kettlebell Open

Alan and I are fresh back from Birmingham where we took part in the English Kettlebell Open at the weekend. We had an absolutely brilliant time, with nothing but highs all along the way...

This event was organised by the Brighton Girevoy Sport Club, in association with the European Girevoy Sport Assocation, and sponsored by Wolverson Fitness. Anyone who trains with me will know of W.F. as they supply all my kettlebells! 75 competitors (of varying experience) from across Europe all gathered with a shared passion of kettlebell sport. 

This was a full day event and there were two competitions we could take part in: The Long Cycle and the Sprint Snatch.

The Long Cycle is the Clean and Jerk. Ladies use one kettlebell and can switch hands once. Men use two kettlebells. The clock is set to 10 mins and you do as many reps as you can without putting the kettlebells down.

In the Sprint Snatch, both ladies and men use one kettlebell, and can change hands once if they want to, and its for 3 Min's. Much shorter, yep!

In this event, there were bronze, silver and gold medals up for grabs in two types of scoring methods: Coefficient and Absolute. Trophies were awarded to overall winners.

Within this competition was the chance to Rank in the EGSA. I will explain all this later.

So, with an understanding of what we were there to do, here is how the whole experience went!....

Firstly, upon entering the bustling hall where the event was taking place, it was great to see some familiar faces. Pals from the IKFF family, fellow competitors from last years Welsh Open and just friends of friends etc. The wise cracks, hearty pats on the back and friendly introductions just made for a cracking start to the day.

Alan and I soon got weighed in and completed the registration before the kick off rules meeting took place.

I was invited to judge some of the competition attempts, so when they got underway at 10am, I found myself sitting and counting in the first flight of the ladies rounds.

In this event, 4 or 5 competitors all step onto a platform and do the 10 minute Clean and Jerk set at the same time. This is called a Flight. 

In the ladies Long Cycle, there were 5 Flights before the men went, of which there were 10 Flights. Then the ladies 3 minute Sprint Snatch would run for the 5 Flights, and the lads followed as before. The Flights would run from lightest kettlebell to the heaviest until everyone had their turn.

So, the whole of the ladies Long Cycle would run, and then the men’s event would start. Alan was in the 3rd flight, so we made sure he was warmed up, had plenty of practise reps to get in the groove and mindset, and just generally prepare. 

Finally, he stepped up onto the platform, “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Lift!” 

10 Min's later and 106 reps done, and I was cheering and clapping with a bundle of excitement as Alan stepped off the platform and regained his breath after lowering the bells.

Check out Alan’s set here.
He is steady, focused and delivers good technique throughout. As a coach and pal, I am really impressed with his effort and performance, and really proud. 

A little bit of a wait before it was my turn, but this made for great time chatting to others, refuelling, sharing thoughts and watching the other events happen of course.

Next, it was my turn to warm up, get mobile and get prepared. I do my usual bouncing about to get focused and make sure I am tuned in, I think to peoples confusion and/or amusement LOL!

Anyway, up I go and get cracking with the pair of 24kg bells. It was very apparent at that point that there was a lot more people spectating than last years Welsh Open!

Thinking back, I really enjoyed the event. I’m on this platform with nothing to do but one flow of a cycle and pushing to beat my previous best reps. I am alongside fellow athletes doing exactly the same thing, so how encouraging is that?! Plus, I have a load of strangers shouting, clapping, cheering and encouraging us all to keep going. 

By now, the audience are fine tuned into the development of the 10 min set - speed, technique, focus, sweat, breathing, struggle, wincing eyes and heavy huffs and puffs as the time draws to a close....

Alan was close by and coached me well as I ploughed through my set. You can watch it here. My previous PB was 62. I wanted 63 because that's what I needed to gain the Rank Level 1. 

I got my 63, and I am still smiling yet! A PB and a rank opportunity (it still needs to be submitted and confirmed). Alan was great to stay focused on my numbers and encourage me on. 

We have both gained so much valuable experience from training, stepping up, observing others and coaching each other. This experience will make us stronger at the next event and as I develop the Aberdeen Kettlebell Club.

We both enjoyed chilling for a bit and watched the fellas who lifted the 28’s and 32’s. I am in full admiration of these guys and I really want to be up there with those heavy bells in the years to come!

Next up the ladies were back on track with the Sprint Snatch event. Again, I was back judging some sets. Being 3 Min's and a faster pace, it was pretty gritty and exciting from the off! A different technique, pace and focus.  A lot of lovely technique and a similar look of personal battles towards the end of the fast sets!

Alan was back up before we knew it. The 16kg bell got snatched 87 times. Cracking! Very nice steady and focused form again. See his set here.

My turn quickly came around too, and I stepped up with the 20kg bell. I snatched it 91 times. You can see it here.

I don’t think Alan or I achieved out personal bests on these sets, although not far from it I don’t think. Perhaps some fatigue from the earlier set? In training, we concentrated on one event per session, and never really back to back, simulating this event. Again, experience gained! And regardless, it was still exciting to take part and put ourselves to the test on the day.

Soon after everyone had competed and the hustle of bustle of eating snacks, drinking fluids, chatting and packing bags, there was a welcomed bit of a chill out time before the prize giving went underway. Congratulations and thanks were offered to the competitors and the event organisers and helpers that made the day run so brilliantly. I know everyone in that room appreciated just how well it all went, and seriously, the day flew past!

So, the two scoring methods, put simply....

Coefficient: The total kettlebell weight times the reps, divided by your body weight. 

Example using my C&J set: (24kg x 2)x63 reps/ 83.5kg = 36.2155. Ultimately, the highest number wins.

Absolute: The total kettlebell weight times the reps.

Same example: (24kg x 2) x 63 reps = 3024. Again, ultimately the highest number wins.

The official results were posted last night - and it makes for really interesting reading. Again, I have gained loads more knowledge to take forward into the next competitions about how to train for them.

Back to the event:

As I explained earlier, there are bronze, silver and gold medals for both scoring methods, and for all kettlebell weights (8kg to 32kg)

To cut a long story a bit shorter, Alan competed with 16kg kettlebells in the C&J, and with 19 others.

Sitting in the audience, you can imagine the excited cheer and punching of the air from me when Alan’s name got called out as winning the SIlver in the coefficient scores! Up he went to receive his bling! 
"Waaay Heeey Brilliant!"

...About 3 minutes later and he was up again!!! 

Silver in the Absolute scoring too!! 

“Ya beautie!!”

Well done Alan, you put the training time in, learned a hellovalot along the way and performed on the day. The reward tops it off mate, proud of you, well done! Take all this experience and knowledge and get going for the next one, eh?!! 

Some people knew about my personal challenge and trying to make a certain weight category for this event. Let me explain why:

In my training for this event, stepping up to the 24’s was a challenge and making good numbers was tough. However, to gain a Rank Level 1 in the EGSA seemed achievable through hard work. As it turned out, this interested me, and while I was doubtful of a medal finish (nevertheless, secretly hopeful!!) I wanted that Rank 1.

Simply put, The EGSA Rankings have weight categories for each kettlebell weight. Each weight category has a required minimum number of reps. The fact I was lifting 24’s meant Rank Level 1 was on offer. (Using 20’s it’s Rank 2, using 16’s it’s Rank 3 etc). 

If I weighed in below 84kg, I needed to lift 63 C&J, if I weighed in over 84kg, I needed to lift 68 reps.

At the peak of my training, I achieved 62 reps, and it was hard getting there, and I was sitting about 85/86kg. I didn’t have 6 extra reps in me, so I decided to drop to the 84kg category. I know, I know... debatable!

Ultimately, weighing in less that 84kg and getting that extra rep to 63 means I earned what I set out to achieve. 
Again, “Ya Beautie!!” 

No medals, but watching the others compete with the 24’s and bang out massive numbers now drives me back into that direction where my training will focus on increasing numbers with the 24’s. 

Happy Days all round for Team KBA!!

In the Sprint Snatch event, medals were awarded in the Absolute scoring only, and for all kettlebell weights again. In these 3 Min's, there is some SERIOUS weight getting shifted. The biggest number went to a lady from the Ukraine using 20kg bell with 85 reps. And for the guys, an Englishman snatched the 32kg bell for 84 reps!

Attending a competition like this is a absolute joy. There were 75 people of varying ages, prepared to travel varying distances and at varying expense to step up on the platform for varying expectations.

Some are athletes competing to win the competition. Some are athletes wishing to better their previous personal best. Some are athletes proving to themselves that previous injuries don’t have to hold you back. Some are athletes just wanting to hold out and last 10 minutes.

I think Kettlebell Sport is interesting that way. There can be many winning results achieved on a day like this, and it’s very encouraging at all levels because if you take away the experience and choose to better it next time by lasting longer or lifting heavier or achieving additional reps, then the desire is there to train at it when you return home - and then competing again!

We know kettlebell lifting had many different applications - rehab, strength & fitness, juggling, strongman lifting - sport & competition is one avenue, and I think it’s pretty cool.

I am launching the Aberdeen Kettlebell Club and it will focus on the Sport element of kettlebell lifting. There are competitions already in line in Dublin and Portugal.... oh, and Aberdeen is in the planning right now too! 

I am looking forward to making some very cool and diverse announcements soon!

Thanks to everyone who supported Alan and myself, and wished us well! It was really appreciated!

Thanks for reading (blogs are meant to be short and sweet, right?!?) 

If you train with me using the kettlebells, and you are interested in kettlebell sport, talk to me and next time you can be stepping onto the platforms!!