Our next meet will be held on the weekend of November 23-25th and will be a military bench press meet. A military bench press is a strict form of the bench press where the feet must be held in the air and only minimal arching is allowed.

From our technical rule book:

1. The rules of the military bench press are those of the bench press with the following exception:

a) The lifter must lie on his back so that the shoulders, lower back and buttocks are in contact with the bench surface at all times during the lift. Minor arching of the upper back is allowed. The feet must be elevated higher than the bench surface at all times during the lift, i.e. feet are held in the air. The feet and legs may move during the course of the lift as long as the action is not deemed to aid the execution of the lift and the feet are kept above the bench surface. Failure to maintain the described position throughout the lift disqualifies the attempt.

...and a YouTube video of Ove Lehto demonstrating the lift:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVZjTfRvghE

Unlike the bench press, a T-shirt is optional in the military bench press.

As before, the deadline to sign up as a lifter is three weeks before the meet, i.e. November 5th; after this date, only judge sign-ups will be accepted.

To pre-register for the meet, just post a short reply to this message. This implies that you:

• HAVE READ AND ACCEPTED THE RULES (be aware that minor changes may occur as the rules is a draft in progress)
• AFFIRM YOUR DRUG-FREE STATUS (again, see the rules)
• REALLY AIM AT DOING THE MEET, not just thinking about it. Of course, injuries and life can happen, so you are naturally free to cancel your entry if needed.

You will be asked to provide further details on your participation closer to the meet. If you are interested in judging, this is also the place to offer your services.

ANY DISCUSSION RELATED TO THIS MEET SHOULD GO INTO THE DISCUSSION THREAD, THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR LIFTER SIGN-UPS.

Best of luck with your meet prep!!

I'm in, and drug-free as always.

I'm also willing to act as a Judge too, if needed.

I'm also willing to act as a Judge too, if needed.

Thanks, Matt! Should not be needed, I am now signing myself up as a judge for this one. We have our second child due in two weeks so I'm not even going to pretend to be in benching shape come November. 

I am in, too. Being drug free is a principle for me.
As it looks right now I might be in Germany or the UK at that time. Be that as it may, I will find a way to take part. Rules are clear.

Im in as long as i can figure out the technical element.


[MODERATOR'S NOTE: Answered Shawn's technical question here, hopefully that cleared it up. Thanks!]

As if I could stay out...

Already started doing all my benching Military style again. Believe it or not, this is how I always benched before the first virtualmeet, when -gasp- the feet had to be on the floor! That was sooo alien to me at the time.

Anyway, count me in. Natch.

I'm in 

I'll be taking part this time since a broken ankle can't stop me benching and I am indeed drug-free.

It'll be my last weekend in Exeter before I move to London and quite possibly my last weekend in my current gym. A very sad day indeed (although I'll be training at one of the best powerlifting gyms in the uk in London :-) ).

All the best

Tim

I´m in as a judge.

Sadly I have injuries in my lower back and right chest muscel that stops me this time.

[not]

Sorry but I have to pull out.

The reason is a lot happier than expected; we're getting a puppy that week and I'm going to be home alone with him the entire weekend. A 7 week old puppy simply can't be left to it's own devices...

Oh, he's an Alaskan Malamute and his name is "Devil". You know, the Phantom's 'dog'..? 
Still, I will absolutely not be getting blue tights and red-black striped underwear. Nor riding boots. Come to think of it, that getup sounds a bit perverse, doesn't it..? 

The deadline to sign-up as a lifter for the meet has ended. This will be short and sweet with three men having a go at our first ever Military Bench Press event.

MEN

GROUP I (Friday 23rd):
1. Christian Burger (Austria, 34 years old)
2. Timothy McIlhinney (Great Britain, 27 years old)
3. Matt Reed (United States, 34 years old)

Out:
1. Shawn Brown (Canada, did not confirm meet date)
2. Måns Rinne (Finland, conflicting schedule)

JUDGES
1. Michael Amos (United States)
2. Olle Harju (Sweden)
3. Kristoffer Lindqvist (Finland)

EDIT, 20 Nov 2007: Added Michael Amos as the third judge.
EDIT, 18 Nov 2007: Confirmed final line-up with lift dates

Final results!