OCR Text |
Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XV Issue VII March 15, 2008 Piece of Mind Quilt Guild Auctions Kevin Bongard Wins at Armwrestling Quilt Art Honoring Joan Clarke World Cup Competition in Poland The Piece of Mind Quilt Guild of Ogden Valley paid tribute to their past president and friend Joan Clarke by creating and donating a special quilting project to the Deseret Foundation. Joan lived for holidays and family time. With Joan’s memory as their inspiration, the Piece of Mind Quilters chose a project that represented holidays and seasons throughout the year. They contacted designer Janet Selck of Scraps of Time for permission to use and combine two of her patterns. With permission readily granted, the quilters spent months creating a wonderful calendar quilt consisting of a background piece with 12 interchangeable monthly scenes. The Santa block for December reminded all the members of the guild of Joan’s giving nature. Joan was not afraid to try something new and neither were the ladies of the quilt guild. Before starting this project, many Marilyn Summers and Joan Clarke quilting at the Colonial House. Joan spent years quilting for others and made regular visits to the Colonial House in Salt Lake City where volunteers met to do quilting for the Deseret Foundation. Up to the month before her death over a year ago, Joan was working on charity blocks to benefit others. The monthly blocks on display at the quilt show before the auction. had never tried foundation paper piecing or appliqué and many had never quilted by hand. The guild presented the finished work of art to the board of the Deseret Foundation. Their work was then auctioned off for $2800 with the proceeds going toward medical research and education. Those who helped on the calendar quilt were Pat Fuller, Sandy Hogge, Sandra Jenkins, Cindy Maher, Laura Martin, Annette Piccolo, Melva Richens, Becky Smith, Marilyn Summers, Janae Tanner, Close-up of “January Snowman” made Becky Toone, Adelle Twibey, and Jan Wright. by Janae Tanner, which is hanging on It was a fitting project to honor a truly the background block made by Marilyn kind and charitable woman—Joan Clarke. Summers. to Russia to compete against the Russian Olympic weightlifting team. To the surprise Kevin Bongard, of Liberty, traveled to of the Russians, they were beaten quite Warsaw, Poland in November to compete handily and were incredulous that their in the Nemiroff World Cup 2007 armwres- strongest men could lose. After this loss, the tling competition. This is the most presti- Russians started to get more serious in their gious competition and most difficult pro- armwrestling training and this soon spread fessional armwrestling event in the world. throughout the European community. Athletes compete in Bongard’s next comdiffering weight divipetition will be the Arm sions that can vary from Wars in Manchester, competition to competiEngland at the end of tion. In Poland, Bongard May. He was invited to placed third in his class wrestle only one spefor left hand and fourth cific opponent with the for right. Other teambest of five declared mates from Utah comthe winner. peting in different weight The 30th World classes were Bob Brown Armwrestling of Riverton placing ninth Championships will for right hand and John be held in Kelowna, Brzenk of Sandy placing British Columbia in first for right, first for late November and left, and first in overall. early December of this Teammate Bob year. Brown stated, “Kevin To qualify for the Kevin Bongard Bongard is arguably world championship in the best 187-pound arm Canada, the Unified National Armwrestling wrestler on the planet. He placed in the top Championship will be held at the Red Lion five and on any given day could easily beat Hotel in Salt Lake City on August 1-3, any of the other top five champions.” 2008, hosted by BTB Armwrestling (Bob Bongard competes both right- and left- and Tracy Brown). handed and has won three world champiArmwrestling is basically an amateur onships over the course of his career. sport offering little award money. To travel Armwrestling is most likely the oldest to these world championships is expensive informal athletic competition in existence. so athletes can’t afford to attend all the Approximately 30 to 40 years ago, tourna- competitions and must pick and choose. ments were begun in the United States and Training takes place frequently with the sport developed from there. It used to a focus on strengthening hands, wrists, be called “wrist wrestling.” and forearms. The key in the sport is to At first, the competitors challenged develop a strong grip. each other by gripping right hands with Women also compete but in fewer numthe winner determined by being the first to bers than the men. Youth are starting to bring the opponent’s hand to his own fore- train at around age six to ten. After age 40, arm. Left hands were clasped to provide an athlete is considered a master, although stability. However, now the competition can still compete against all ages. takes place on an armwrestling table that Bongard yearly sponsors a popular armhas a peg for each competitor to grip during wrestling tournament at Liberty Days durthe match. The basic move with the arm ing the Fourth of July celebration. has remained the same. Athletes compete Good luck, Kevin, on your upcoming using either their right or left hands or competitions! both. For more information, call Bob Over the years the sport has grown to include national championships that quali- Brown at 801-580-7774 or visit <www.2208USAFnationals.com> fy competitors for world competitions. In the early1990’s, the U.S. team went By Karen Bastow |