Strength in Depth Masters Division Recap

CrossFit Sanctional Strength in Depth (SiD) ran an incredible competition with top athletes from all over the globe competing in London at the NOCCO stadium from the 24th to the 26th January 2020.

Open age male and females had the chance to win a ticket to the CrossFit Games, but alongside this SiD also ran a Masters competition with age groups from 35-60+ for both males and females. This was the inaugural year for the Masters categories.

The top 10 male and females from the qualifiers were offered invites in each age group up to 55 years, and the top 5 in the 55-59 and 60+ age group.

The Masters competition attracted a field of top athletes from all over the world and numerous CrossFit Games athletes took part.

This included Kelly Friel from CrossFit Southampton, who placed 2nd place in the 40-44 age group at the CrossFit Games in 2018 and 2019, Tony Kurz, who placed 8th at the 2019 Games in the 40-44 category, and Eirik Solen, who competed at the 2017 CrossFit Games (45-49 year olds). All three of these athletes won their divisions at SiD.

THE COMPETITION

There were seven workouts in total over the three-day competition. Events were balanced, well programmed and varied.

Here are some noteworthy performances from the weekend:

Event 1 was a 3km run around the streets of London and saw some incredible times. Top times in the younger age groups for both men and women were under 12 minutes.

The fastest time was by Christopher Cothliff in the 35-39 age group, taking only 10.24 minutes. Impressively in the 55-59 age group, Michael Johnson ran 12.26, giving some of the younger guys a run for their money!

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A dumbbell version (with 2x 15kg/22.5kg DB) of Fran left athletes gasping for breath for Event 2. According to Kelly Marshall, the winner of the 35-39 age group, this was “fast and brutal”.

The fastest times were clocked by James St Leger (35-39) from the UK with 2.35 and Kelly Marshall, also from the UK, with a time of 2.35 (35-39 age group). David Doig in the 50-59 age group clocked an impressive 3.01 (weight was reduced in 55+ age groups to 15kg/9kg DB’s).

A 1 rep max snatch for Event 4 was a great spectacle as always, with some incredible weights being lifted. Kelly Friel in the 40-44 year age group narrowly missed 82.5kg after hitting 80kg successfully. PB’s were had all around. It was great to see.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7w64ZOAZVj/

FINAL MASTERS LEADERBOARD

Women:

• 35-39 Kelly Marshall
• 40-44 Kelly Friel
• 45-49 Stella Bartram
• 50-54 Laura Fitzpatrick
• 55-59 Mandy Dean
• 60+ Kathy Upton

Men:

• 35-39 James St Leger
• 40-44 Tony Kurz
• 45-49 Eirik Solen
• 50-54 Simon Wilson-Storey
• 55-59 David Doig
• 60+ Rob Wanders

Have a look at the full leaderboard here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yWXSYHjR9/

WHAT DID MASTER ATHLETES THINK OF THE COMPETITION?

SiD was an exceptionally well-run competition and it seems all the Masters Athletes had a great time. According to Kelly Marshall (35-39 age group winner), “the organisation and judging was flawless and the atmosphere in the NOCCO arena was AMAZING.”

Tony Kurz, who won the  40-44 male age group, said: “the 40-44 age group was full of great athletes and awesome dudes and by the end of the weekend we all had become fast friends. A number of them had served as well so it was like being back on a team. This is why most of us compete anyway.”

Sanctional events offering a Masters division give athletes an opportunity to travel, compete, make friends and have some great experiences.

We are looking forward to following everyone over the coming months as Masters divisions make appearances at other Sanctional events including the Italian Showdown, West Coast Classic, CanWest CrossFit Championships, The French Throwdown, Wodapalooza and the Granite Games.

STRENGTH IN DEPTH MASTERS WORKOUTS

Event 1

• 3km Run

Event 2

• 21-15-9 (double dumbbell thrusters 22.5/15kg x2 (55-59 & 60+ 15/9kg) pull-ups)

Event 3

5 rounds for time:

• 20 wall ball (9/6kg)
• 15 toes to bar
• 10 assault bike calories

Event 4

• 5 mins to find 1RM hang snatch

Event 5

For time:

• 42 kcal ski
• 30 down ups
• 18 double kettle bell front squats 2×24/16kg (55-59 & 60+ 1x KB goblet squat 24/16kg)

Event 6

6 rounds for time:

• 3 rope climbs (55-59 & 60+ 1 rope climb)
• 10m handstand walk* (55-59 & 60+ bear crawl)
• 20m sand ball carry 70/50kg (55-59 & 60+ males 50kg/ females 20kg)

Event 7

8 rounds for time:

• 5 clean and jerk 60/40kg (55-59 & 60+ 50/30kg)
• 20 double unders

Interested in CrossFit Masters Stories?

Helen Harding is the founder of The Masters Movement, a group set up to connect masters athletes around the world and sharing stories and masters-related information. She’s also a two-times CrossFit Games Champion (2016/2017) in the 40-44 age group and a four-times Pacific Regionals Athlete.

Professionally, Helen is a Physiotherapist with over 20 years clinical experience and has a special interest in exercise rehabilitation and health.

Follow her work @themastersmovement.