The seventh annual Yankton Riverboat Days Bench Press Contest will be held Friday, Aug. 20, 2010.

The event will be held this year at the Anytime Fitness gym on the north end of the Yankton Mall, 2101 Broadway Ave., Yankton.

Weigh-ins will be held Aug. 20 from 4:30-6 p.m. Lifting begins at 6:15 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Three attempts in the bench press will be allowed. The best lift will determine a competitor's place. This is a raw power meet. Bench press shirts and blaster shirts will not be used. Wrist wraps, belts and elbow sleeves are allowed.

Weight classes for the male divisions are 150, 165, 185, 205, 220, 250 and heavyweight. There will be four Master's divisions (40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus), a female division and two youth/teen divisions. Women, MasterŐs and teens will be placed according to a power lifting formula that factors age, body weight and amount of weight lifted.

The special event this year will be a Pump and Curl Challenge. Participants in the challenge will bench press a weight based on their age and bodyweight for as many repetitions as possible, then curl a weight based on their age and bodyweight as many consecutive times as possible.

Pump and Curl Challenge lifters from age 19-39 will bench press 100 percent of their bodyweight and curl 40 percent of their bodyweight. Lifters from age 40-49 will bench press 90 percent of their bodyweight and curl 35 percent of their bodyweight. Lifters age 50 and over will bench press 80 percent of their bodyweight and curl 35 percent of their bodyweight.

Pump and Curl Challenge lifters who total at least 50 combined reps will earn a Gold Medal. Entrants who total at least 35 Pump and Curl reps will receive a Silver Medal.

Power lifting medals will also be awarded to the top three lifters in each division of the Bench Press Contest. Trophies and plaques will be awarded to the Best Male Lifter and Best Female Lifter, based on pound-for-pound strength. There will also be special awards for the Biggest Overall Bench Lift and Most Total Reps in the Pump and Curl Challenge.

The entry fee is $25 for the first division and $5 for each additional division.