By Stephen Smoot, Moorefield Examiner
MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — Not long ago, a rising star in the sport of professional arm wrestling took on one of the sport’s all time American greats. Beau Horner of Keyser, who has earned one national championship, grappled with the legendary Bob Brown of Utah, one of the all-time greats who has earned world titles.
Brown, nearly 60 years old, has three decades of competition under his belt.
Horner is still looking ahead to his 30th birthday.
That age gap makes a difference in almost any other sport requiring strength, stamina, and risk of serious injury in competition, but not arm wrestling. When the world’s other great athletes have long since terminated their careers due to age or injury, arm wrestling’s unique style favors old man wise and old man strong.
The two men stood center stage at the finals East Versus West 18 in Chicago the day after West Virginia Day earlier this year in a Pay Per View television event.
Horner appears as a layman unfamiliar with the sport might expect a professional with years of experience to look – late 20s, a determined and almost Robert Mitchumesque countenance, arms massive and sculpted from endless hours in physical training and skills development.
Brown in his closely cropped silver hair and non-descript glasses resembles better a professional in an office more than athletic competition, but as Horner might say, don’t be fooled.
As he described, “we started, then slipped. Then we strapped up.”