UK & Ireland’s Event Rules

Event rules

Kit

For all events the following kit is allowed; elbow sleeves, knee sleeves, belts, under-belts, wrist wraps, chalk, compression cuffs, all neoprene products, lifting straps (except on farmers). 1 garment per joint (you are allowed a belt over an under-belt). If it is not listed then it is not allowed. If an athlete is found to have been wearing kit that is not allowed for an event, their score will be zero for that event.

Competition t-shirt must worn at all times, failure to do so will result in a score zero of the event affected. Athletes can not touch/ rearrange any implements before the whistle on any event, other than starting ‘hands on’ on farmers. Athletes can not wear headphones/ earphones while on the competition floor, doing so will result in a score zero of the event affected. Athletes must only wear on to the competition floor clothing/ items that they intend to wear for the event (other than walking out in shoes if deadlifting barefoot, and smelling salts), any extra clothing or items brought on to the competition floor will result in a score zero for the event affected.

Baby powder, Talc, Pool chalk, baby oil or any similar product cannot be used for deadlift or any other event, if an athlete is found to have used these their score will be zero for that event.

Event 1 - Log Clean then Press away

60 sec time limit.

Factory Weights/ Strength Shop 50KG Log (32cm diameter).

There are 2 weight options, there will be 2 loaded logs left out, meaning you can drop down when you are on the platform and you can score on either log. Once you have registered a rep on a log, you can not then change.

Standard overhead rules apply, the log is brought from the pads to overhead for the first rep, at the top you must have the bar locked above your head each time with elbows locked and head through, knees and hips must also be locked and feet in-line to get the down command, after the down command the log must be brought down to the chest, before the athlete attempts the next press, the athlete can also bring the log back to the pads if necessary, if doing so the log must be brought to the drop pads with some level of control or the rep to count. Should the log roll off, the athlete must go and get it, should the log be dumped in a reckless manner, the rep will be disallowed. Regardless of whether the athlete thinks that they have achieved all of the points to make successful rep or not, the athlete MUST wait on the referee’s down command in order to receive the rep. Down command must be given before the whistle at the end of 60 seconds for the rep to count.

Event 2 - Push, Carry & Drag

60 sec time limit.

Bison Sled, Cerberus Sandbags.

Sled will start behind line, athlete will start standing behind the sled with ‘hands off’. The sled will have plates added to it at the weight stated for their weight category. On the whistle athlete will push the sled 10m until the front of the sled is fully over the line, before running back 10m to pick up the sandbag, carry the sandbag 10m and load it into the sled, before pulling the sled back 10m until the back of the sled is fully over the line where you started, at which point the clock will be stopped and athletes time will be recorded. If athlete doesn’t complete the course they will receive a split time from the last implement that they completed. Note, this is done with a metal sled on concrete floor, which should result in slightly less friction that when done on turf/ carpet.

Event 3 - Apollon’s Deadlift for reps

60 sec time limit, you strap in on your own time.

Apollon’s Wheels (13” height), Cerberus Power Bars.

Standard deadlift rules apply, conventional stance, at the top you must stand up straight with knees and hips locked with shoulders back and feet in line and wait on the referees down command to be awarded the rep. Touch and go reps are not allowed, slack must be taken out of the bar at the bottom of the deadlift before going for your next rep. Regardless of whether the athlete thinks that they have achieved all of the points to make successful rep or not, the athlete MUST wait on the referee’s down command in order to receive the rep. Down command must be given before the whistle at the end of 60 seconds for the rep to count.

Event 4 - Circus DB Press/ Rubber Atlas to Shoulder

Back & Forth in 60 sec time limit.

Athlete starts standing over whichever implement they choose to start with. When the athlete completes a rep and brings the implement back down to the pad they then move on to the other implement and do the same. On Circus DB athlete must bring the implement from the floor/ pad up to their shoulder, and then from their shoulder to a locked out position overhead (feet in line, knees, hips and elbow locked with the dumbbell stable and not moving above head and their feet stable and planted) to be given a down command, after the down command athlete must bring the dumbbell safely back to the pad, any reckless or dangerous throwing of the dumbbell will result in a no lift. The dumbbell must be pressed (or moved from shoulder to overhead) with only 1 hand on the implement, 2 hands can be used to get it from the floor to their shoulder. On the rubber atlas, the implement must be brought from the floor/ pad to the athletes shoulder, only when the implement is on the athletes shoulder, with only 1 hand/ arm in contact with the implement, with athletes feet in line, and knees and hips locked, with the implement resting on the shoulder with no movement, will the down command be given. After the down command athlete must bring the implement safely back to the pad, any reckless or dangerous throwing of the implement will result in a no lift. If either implement rolls away at any point, it is the athletes responsibility to get and get it before they can complete the next rep. Down command must be given before the whistle in order for the rep to count. All athletes will go out with 3 weight options (light, medium and heavy). Athlete starts at their desired weight option. Athletes can score on 1 implement, but in order to trump more reps on the weight below, athletes must score on both implements. So if Athlete A scores 1 rep on the dumbbell but then can’t score on the rubber atlas, they will score higher than Athlete B who only scores on 1 implement on the light option, but not than Athlete C who scored 4 total reps on the lighter option. You must score on both implements in order to trump the weight below.

Event 5 - Farmers Walk with Turn

60 sec time limit.

Strength Shop Riot Farmers Handles

Athlete starts ‘hands on’ the farmers. When the whistle blows, athlete picks up the farmers and carries them 15m before breaking the line with at least 1 foot (what this means is that a part of your foot should be completely over the line and the part of the line affected will not be visible due to being completely covered by your foot) and then turning with the farmers handles still in hand. After the turn, athletes will then carry the farmers back down 15m to the start line, putting the farmers down so that the front of both implements is completely over the line. If the athlete drops the farmers at any point before the 30m course is completed they are done, and they will receive a distance for their score.

Event 6 - Keg Loading Medley

60 sec time limit.

Women’s Loading Heights: 57/64/LWM=44”, 73/82/OWM/J=46”, Open=48”

Men’s Loading Heights: 72/80/LWM=48”, 90/OWM/J=50”, 105/Open=52”

Athlete starts standing over lightest keg with hands off. When the whistle blows, athlete picks up keg and carries it 10m before leaving it standing up on the platform, when the keg is standing up on the platform the athlete goes back and gets the next (middle weighted) keg and carries it 10m and loads it standing, before getting the final, heaviest keg, and carrying it down and loading it standing up, at which time the referee will stop the clock. Keg must be loaded, standing on the platform and not moving before the whistle goes in order for the load to count. If the keg comes off the back of the platform, the athlete must go retrieve it and load it before moving on to the next keg or completing the event. Kegs must be loaded in correct order (lightest to heaviest) or the athlete will score zero for that event. Belt buckles must be to the back for this event.

Qualification spots

The top 2 in each category - Qualify for European’s and World’s

3rd to 6th place in each category - Qualify for European’s

• Extra invites may be awarded, at Natural Strongman’s discretion, to athletes in large categories or categories of very high standard.

Appeals Process

Natural Strongman is committed to the continual improvement of its competitive standards, officiating processes, and overall athlete experience. Following a comprehensive review of the 2025 competition season, we identified several areas requiring greater clarity, consistency, and procedural transparency in order to further strengthen the integrity of our events. As a result, this Appeals Policy has been developed to provide athletes with a clear, fair, and structured mechanism to raise concerns that may arise during competition, while also supporting referees and officials with a consistent framework for decision-making. This policy is designed to ensure all appeals are handled efficiently, respectfully, and decisively within the constraints of live competition, and will be implemented on a trial basis for the 2026 UK and Ireland National Championship events.

Athletes are strongly advised to review the full Appeals Policy document prior to competition, which can be downloaded below.

Download the Natural Strongman Appeals Policy (PDF)