Barbell 1610

Wishing Steven Coleman white lights today, as he takes to the platform at the World Equipped Benchpress Championships in the competitive M1 66kg category.

Watch live on the IPF YouTube Channel at 9am SA time 🇿🇦

Let’s go, Steve!!!

SA EQUIPPED RESULTS 2026 🏆

🥇 O 84+kg - Olivia Perotti (210.5kg SA Squat Record)
🥇 M3 69kg - Heather Leighton (96kg Squat, 70kg Bench, 111kg Deadlift and 277kg Total SA Records)
🥇 O 83kg - Daniel Asiwe
🥇 M1 93kg - Derik Van Wyk

Awesome lifting !!!

Our team is heading to Fochville today for SA Equipped Champs, the last National competition for 2026! Wishing white lights to Olivia, Heather, Daniel and Derik! 💪🏼

SA CLASSIC RESULTS 2026 🏆

Classic Women:
🥇 J 57kg - Joanna Ridgard
🥈 J 69kg - Gaia Mottalini
🥈 M1 84kg - Zanele Ngwenya
🥇 M2 84kg - Jodi Poxon
🥈 M2 84kg - Janine Vaughan

Classic Men:
6th SJ 66kg - Thomas Vaughan
5th SJ 74kg - Kuaan van Tonder
7th SJ 74kg - Jonathan Ridgard
🥉 SJ 83kg - Chris Botha
11th O 83kg - Chris Botha
🥈 J 59kg - Tankiso Mayaba
🥇 M1 93kg - Deon Smedley
4th O 93kg - Deon Smedley
🥈 M1 120kg - Tony Mudau
🥇 M2 83kg - Jerry Botha
10th O 83kg - Jerry Botha
🥈 M2 120kg - Cornel Welgemoed
🥇 M3 93kg - Alan Ridgard (M3 SQ, DL & TL Records)
9th O 83kg - Daniel Asiwe
7th O 105kg - Khotso Thekiso
🥉 O 120kg - Daine Groenewald
8th O 120kg - Yusri Ally

We also had the privilege of assisting the following lifters:
🥇 SJ 63kg - Mia Breytenbach
🥈 J 63kg - Natanya Rossouw
🥈 M1 76kg - Pia Marangoni
🥉 O 76kg - Pia Marangoni
🥇 O 84kg - Nicole Coopoosamy (Best Lifter, O SQ & TL Records)

🥇 SJ 53kg - Gabriel Chiremba (SJ BP, BP-only, DL & TL, J DL & TL Records)
11th J 83kg - Satvik Nrusimhadevara
🥇 J 93kg - Oladapo Jaiyeola
13th O 83kg - Simon Sishamge
🥇 O 93kg - Gian Havemann (O SQ & TL Records)
🥉 O 120+kg - Joaquim Geraldes

Congratulations to all of you! We are so proud!!

It’s SAs week!!! Let’s go, ⚪️⚪️⚪️

The strongest lifter doesn’t always win… There, we said it.

You’ve ticked all the boxes and your peak for SA Champs is well underway… maybe you’ve made it this far by yourself, but don’t think you can walk into SAs without someone having your back. That’s where a handler comes in.

Competition day is more than loading up PBs. It’s strategically deciding which goals to go for and when, dealing with nerves and adrenaline, timing your warmups and keeping you fresh, cues, lifting standards, staying fueled throughout and executing under pressure. Having a handler take care of the all details, allows you to focus solely on 3 things: Squat, Benchpress, and Deadlift. Anything more than that is unnecessary.

We’ve watched favourites lose their spot on the podium because they took a greedy 3rd attempt, SA team hopefuls miss out on their Protea Colours because they couldn’t adapt after getting a red light, and lifters bomb because they didn’t time their last warmup properly.

Set yourself up to perform at SAs, not just show up thinking your training is enough.

Chantelle and Meg have limited spots still available. DM us to lock yours in.

SA BENCHPRESS RESULTS 2026 🏆

Classic Men:
🥈 SJ 66kg - Ruben Roodt
🥈 SJ 74kg - Kuaan van Tonder
🥇 SJ 83kg - Chris Botha
🥇 O 66kg - Steven Coleman
🥇 O 83kg - Chris Botha
🥇 O 120kg - Tony Mudau
🥇 M1 66kg - Steven Coleman
🥇 M1 120kg - Tony Mudau
🥇 M2 83kg - Jerry Botha

Equipped Women:
🥇 O 63kg - Meg Leighton
🥇 M3 69kg - Heather Leighton (Best M3)

Equipped Men:
🥇 O 66kg - Steven Coleman
🥇 M1 66kg - Steven Coleman (132.5kg SA Record)

Everyone qualified for a spot on the SA team 👏🏼 well done !!!

The 1610 lineup for SA Classic & Equipped Benchpress Champs, happening today in PE!

Classic:
sa M1/O 66kg
SJ 74kg
Chris Botha SJ 83kg
botha.powerlifting M2 83kg
M1/O 120kg

Equipped:
O 63kg
M3 69kg
sa M1/O 66kg

Let’s go, team!

We’ve all been there… you’ve watched the gals at VA and something just doesn’t look right, you’re not sure that’s how you’re supposed to squat and now you’re scared to try it yourself in case you look like that.

In the space of 5 minutes, you’ve convinced yourself out of squatting so instead, you’re heading back towards the safety of the dumbbell rack to do more RDLs for the glute gains…

Come visit us for a 1:1 technique session designed to meet you where you are in your lifting journey.

💪🏼 improve your technique
🧱 build confidence
😎 and feel prepared to follow movement standards that suit your body type, strength level and experience!

Now say it with me: this is the year I conquer the squat rack.

Drop us a message to book your session.

Scroll to see our faces when you hit a PB on platform 🥰

The 2026 Comp Season began with 28 of our lifters competing at Gauteng Classic! Next up: Gauteng Equipped & Bench-Only in 2 weeks time 😎

Thank you to for the pictures!