WSM 105 - wishful thinking!

Like many other 105 strongmen past and present I have spent the last few years dreaming about competing at WSM under 105kg.

I received a PM on here from Terry Holland's 5 weeks ago saying that I should be able to compete in Norway at this years finals. I have since been unable to get in touch with him (for obvious reasons - WSM).

I've just had a conservation with Marc Cherry on facebook and been told that the 1 British spot has been given to Sean Kennedy.

My understanding is that due to Terry's friendship with Svend he had the final say in selection (this is not confirmed so I'm happy to stand corrected on this).

Before I go any further I want to emphasise that this is not a personal attack on Sean, Terry, Marc or anyone else. I have the up most respect for the contributions all 3 have made to strongman.

This years UK's was NOT a qualifier for WSM 105, it was not advertised as such anywhere. The UK's hasn't been a WSM 105 qualifier for at least 3 years. There was no qualifier for WSM 105 this year. Yet Sean has been selected.

I don't see how a competition can be used as a qualifier retrospectively when myself and several other top athletes chose not to compete and therefore didn't even have the chance to qualify. Equally my English and British title's shouldn't qualify me to compete at WSM. The place should go to the best 105 strongman from this year.
I beat Sean at England's most powerful winning 5 out of 6 events, was 1/100th of a second away from a clean sweep at Britain's and a comfortable winner at England's. I feel that I have done enough to justify a spot in Norway at WSM 105.

As many people on here will know these opportunities don't come around very often and right now I feel absolutely gutted. There's little I want more right now than a chance to compete in Norway.

I'm not a big one for discussing problems in public but I have spent the last 4 weeks trying to get in touch with Terry and feel that my only 2 options are to sit quietly and accept I won't be going to Norway in 3 weeks time or to post here in the hope that something can be done.

I am more than happy to pay whatever it costs to compete in Norway, I don't want anything other than an invite.

Just to re-iterate I think Sean is a great guy and a very competitive 105 strongman, but I feel the selection decision is unfair and that I have a stronger claim to the spot in Norway based on this years performances.

Don't see how anyone could even think to send someone other than yourself tbh Ben!

Shame if you can't go, no offense to other 105's but at the moment can't see any one holding there own in a worlds but yourself!

You IMO are clearly being shafted.


Chin up mate , like Hixxy you're too f**king strong to be ignored for long

If nothing else mate, the system (such as it is...) doesn't seem transparent or fair.

I don't know the ins and outs, but if you do deserve to go I think it's pretty s**t

Thanks for the support fella's.

I don't imagine anything will change but I couldn't sit here and do nothing! It's kinda sad when your only option is to rant on Sugden!

Damn shame. For my money, you have been head and shoulders above anyone else in the weight class this year and deserve a chance to represent the country.

Sugden is awsome, it will eventually kick off

Shame so many pulled out / didn't do UK's (to fat0.... Seb.... Ben_F, yourself.... Robbo..... bish ....

that's bulls**t your the best 105 by miles anyone can see that

This is bulls**t activity....

Check outta your mailbox Ben

bulls**t by who ?

I know bens the best, but i found myself in this situation when i missed uks.

Its been well known for years that UKs has been the qualifier for worlds 105 whether they actually held the worlds or not it was the qualifier.

You should contact sven direct - maybe send him some videos of yourself. If he doesnt know who you are then its not his fault........

I agree with Hix,you are a quiet athlete and you might benefit from trying to sell yourself a bit more . If you dont push yourself out there noone is gonna notice you. Hardcore UK strength followers know exactly who you are but would someone in America ? Make yourself more public otherwise you might find yourself a top strongman who isnt marketable . Its not a critisism just a bit of advice

Ben i haven't had the pleasure of meeting you or watching you in person but from what i have read and seen of your performances you are a Strong Mother f**ker that's for sure.

by the sounds of it based on your performance this year you would think that you'd be in contention for a spot at the 105 Worlds.

Hixxy has pointed out that if you were to throw your sell out in to the world ofr clear recognition then this is going to be a good option as your very well know in the strength world here in the uk but in Norway or other places not so. and if there using the results for the UK's then i know its frustrating but thats the way it is.

you should try and get in contact with Martin Cee and do a interview and training session with him and maybe through in clips of you in comp action. he gets its out in the world of Youtube.

i hope you can get something sorted out.

Why can't they send 2 Brits? Would make the comp a helluva lot more interesting!

For what its worth (and i don't know Sean or seen him compete) I don't think there are any other 105's who can come close to you and reckon you'd have a very very good cahnce of title at world's!

Mongo does make a good point about getting yourself known though - get more vids up and get em on here!

My 105k 2012 season lasted only one event so i haven`t really been involved ..

BUT i know from years gone by that the situation is clear as mud . I thought that we would have a lifeline thrown by the United Strongman federation but it doesn`t seem to have come off .

Why things can`t be a little more organised is beyond me but its out of the hands of British promoters i think . More the guys who organise the Worlds throwing on the competition last minute i think .

In 2008,2009,2010,2011 UKs Strongest Man u105kg was the qualifier for the Worlds 105kg .. This year i don`t know whats been arranged.

But BEN whatever happens i think you need to keep your focus because you are one of the best 105kg Strongmen we`ve ever had and big things are set to happen next season with the European Strongest Man 105kg ran by Darren Sadler . It will be what the 105kg Athletes deserve and i think it will be worth sticking around for ..

I would imagine that both you and Sean will be invited to that one .

UKs has historically been the qualifier for WSM 105 (by that I mean it was often talked as of the qualifier, but the winner (Woods) only went once as far as I can remember)

IMO Ben this year has stepped into Hixxys shoes, as in, he is untouchable, no 105 can or has got anywhere near him

That being said, i'm not really sure what can be done if the decision has been made. And if Terry/Woods had the UKs in mind as a WSM qualifier all along, then by rights, the winner of that comp should go!