“Go Beaner!”
That was the loudest cry from the audience at the second-annual Northwestern Ontario armwrestling championships Saturday in Rainy River–and it was for local favourite Allan Hartnell.
It must have worked. Hartnell, who finished third at the world championships two years ago, earned top honours in both the right arm (+200 pounds) and left arm (+176 pounds) categories.
Hartnell beat Ward Drake (Emerson, Man.) in the final of the right arm category, and defeated Doug Friesen (Grunthall, Man.) for the left arm title.
Among the women, Donna Heyens of Stratton also was a double winner, beating her niece, Melissa Hartnell (Rainy River), in the final of the +136 pound right arm category.
In the left arm open category, Heyens topped Nicole Sinninghe (Rainy River).
Other winners included Friesen, who beat Rick Tymkin (Rainy River) in the final of the 180-200 pound right arm category.
Meanwhile, Drake had to beat Joe Bonhomme (Rainy River) twice to capture top honours in the 151-175 pound left arm category.
In total, 19 men and women competed in the qualifier. By competing, they’re now eligible for the provincials July 15 in North Bay.
If successful there, they will advance to the nationals in Calgary.
Hartnell said he wouldn’t miss the provincials for anything!
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
