Pure Strength was a vintage Strongman competition held from 1987 to 1990 in Scotland and England which was created by Tjalling van den Bosch.[1]

Pure Strength
Tournament information
LocationVarious
Established1987
Final year1990
FormatMulti-event competition
Final champion
United States
Bill Kazmaier
O.D. Wilson

Event History

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The first year of the event was known as "Pure Strength Challenge" and it was a single man competition featuring only Bill Kazmaier, Geoff Capes and Jón Páll Sigmarsson. The event was held at Huntly Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Jón Páll won 8 out of 10 events to become the 1987 champion. Some strength historians and analysts regard it as the replacement for World's Strongest Man in that year.

In 1988, the event became a 2-man team competition held at Allington Castle in Allington, Kent England. The teams were from the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Australia. Team USA would eventually win in 1988, with team members Bill Kazmaier and Stuart Thompson. In 1989, Team Iceland claimed victory with team members Hjalti Árnason and Magnús Ver Magnússon. Kazmaier would win again in 1990 for Team USA along with teammate O.D. Wilson.[2]

Event Placings

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Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Location
Pure Strength 1987   Jón Páll Sigmarsson   Bill Kazmaier   Geoff Capes   Huntly Castle
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Pure Strength II 1988  
Bill Kazmaier
Stuart Thompson
 
Jamie Reeves
Mark Higgins
 
Ab Wolders
Tjalling van den Bosch
  Allington Castle
Kent, England
Pure Strength III 1989  
Hjalti Árnason
Magnús Ver Magnússon
 
Bill Kazmaier
O.D. Wilson
 
Jamie Reeves
Mark Higgins
  Stirling Castle
Stirling, Scotland
Pure Strength IV 1990  
Bill Kazmaier
O.D. Wilson
 
Hjalti Árnason
Magnús Ver Magnússon
 
Tjalling van den Bosch
Ted van der Parre
  England

Venues

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References

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  1. ^ "Champ Tjalling van den Bosch - Profile". Archived from the original on 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  2. ^ David Horne's World of Grip