Parksville's Ed Fergusson may be in his 90s but he remains as strong as an ox as continues to lift heavy weights.
The founder of Ferg's Weightlfting Club set a new Canadian record for the over-90 age group at the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Championships held in Calgary on June 27.
Ferguson competed in the 88-kilogram weight class and posted impressive results. He lifted 20 kilograms for the snatch and 24 kg for the clean and jerk to score a total weight of 44 kg. It earned him the gold medal.
His student Ray Kasten of Qualicum Beach competed in the 70-year-old division. This was his first ever national masters competition and he ended up earning a gold medal that included a Canadian record. He was entered in the 88 kg weight class and he successfully snatched 54 kg and 74 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 128 kg.
"I was nervous going in, but looking forward to seeing and meeting some of the people whose names I had been reading from past competitions; comparing myself to their achievements," said Kasten. "I was also a bit apprehensive about lifting in front of national and international qualified technical officials for the first time."
Both Fergusson and Kasten winning gold medals was a milestone. Kasten competed as a 70-year-old lifter and Fergusson, prior to the competition, turned 90 years old.
Kasten said he wasn't focusing on the gold prior to the nationals.
"I knew from the start list that I would likely win gold as long as I made a total," said Kasten. "What I really had in mind was to lift enough to set national records. I knew I could do it, as I had lifted those amounts in the provincial masters at the end of March. While the records are as yet unconfirmed, my lifts were enough to set a record for the snatch, clean and jerk, and the total of the two, for three records. At the masters level, medals are only awarded for the total. Hence, I won gold while setting all three individual records."
Kasten said it will take about two months before the records are confirmed.
"There is an application process that must be followed before everything becomes official," said Kasten.
Based on his performance at the nationals, Kasten qualified to compete at the World Masters Weightlifting Championships that will take place in Las Vegas but he has decided not to compete. Fergusson just fell short of the qualifying weight.
"Our next competition will likely be the provincials next spring," said Kasten. "In the meantime, time to take a break before getting back into the routine and gearing up for the provincials next year."
