Armwrestlers to host regional tourney

The Fort Frances Armwrestling Club is gearing up to host the Northwestern championships Feb. 7 at Memorial Arena in conjunction with the Little Amik Winter Carnival.
Attracting several former world champion competitors, the double-elimination tourney will feature a variety of weight classes in both the men’s and women’s left and right-arm divisions.
It will boast a good mix of beginner and world-class armwrestlers, said club president Bill Morrison, an avid armwrestler himself.
Morrison said top names making the trip here include Mike Barrett of Winnipeg, a world champion; Paul Levesque of Thunder Bay, a five-time Canadian title holder; and local Ken Faragher, a former left-arm Canadian champ.
Several other top competitors from Saskatchewan, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay also will be among the roughly 70 people expected to compete here.
All competitors will automatically qualify for the provincial tournament in Kirkland Lake next July, and the Canadian (September) and world championships (November).
But Morrison also said this tournament will be an excellent opportunity for amateurs to gain valuable experience.
“This tournament is probably the best chance for anyone getting started in armwrestling for the experience because there will be a lot of amateurs coming,” he noted.
“Plus they can qualify for the Canadians and the worlds, which is a chance of a lifetime to get this close,” he enthused.
Morrison said the local club, which has about 18 members, will have a strong contingent of younger armwrestlers competing for the first time.
But despite their inexperience, he figures they should hold their own against their out-of-town counterparts.
Entry fee will be $15 ($5 of which goes to the Canadian Armwrestling Association). Trophies will be awarded for the top three places in each division, with cash prizes for the overall winners.
Those interested in participating can call Morrison at 274-1294.