Name of contest: Beer Muscles 2018

Location: 2SP Brewing Company, Aston, PA 19014

Indoor or Outdoor: Both!

Number of Athletes: 77

Sponsors: 2SP Brewing Company, The Training Room of Garnet Valley, Superfit Hero, Sheepdog Enhanced Beverage (Centurion Labz), Kettlebell Kitchen, Phila Massages, Lifting Culture Apparel, SkinnyPOP, LiveSore Philadelphia, Dave Crossett Photography

It was an absolutely perfect summer day in Southeast Pennsylvania for the 3rd annual Beer Muscles competition. Seventy-seven athletes competed on-site at 2SP Brewing Company in 5 events: arm-over-arm truck pull, keg toss over bar, yoke/keg carry medley, Viking press, and keg load series.

Highlights included a neck-and-neck battle for 1st place in the Men’s MW231 class, where Nicholas Morro narrowly edged out first-time competitor Jeff Ocampo in a count-back. In Women’s Novice Lightweight, Catherine Christmas squeaked into first place by 0.5 points over Lesley Alexander, who was also a runner-up for Spirit of Beer Muscles. The Novice HW Men dominated the keg toss with Ryan Lawrence clearing all 5 kegs in only 10.94 seconds, and Steven Sooy right behind him with 11.50 seconds. Lauren McMillan placed 2nd in Open LW Women and was the only athlete in her division to load all 5 kegs.

For the first time this year, promoters presented a “Spirit of Beer Muscles” award to the person who most exemplified the spirit of the competition: camaraderie, strength, sportsmanship, and fun. The group leaders narrowed it down to 2 competitors, who also happened to be the youngest and oldest of the day. Marina Parsons, who also placed 3rd in Open Lightweight just 2 days after her 20th birthday, is a short but mighty force who showed tremendous support for everyone in her group and contagious positivity all day. The runaway Spirit winner was Glenn Church, who attended Beer Muscles as a spectator last year, came to promoter Katie Feeley and said, “I can’t explain it, but I HAVE to do this next year.” So he did. At 72 years young, Glenn put on a heck of a show and brought incredible energy to every single event. By the end of the day everyone knew his name and the cheers for his Spirit of Beer Muscles award were the loudest of the day.

This is the 3rd consecutive year for Beer Muscles!

Full album of photos is available on Dave Crossett’s website