Underdog snatches victory in CEO Armwrestle

Media Release | 09.03.03

TeamTalk CEO David Ware from Wellington, and Auckland-based MCS Digital boss Allan Cosford, were armwrestling to settle a $200,000 dispute over access to the TeamTalk mobile radio network.

A crowd of more than 60 supporters gathered to watch the titanic struggle, which saw the TeamTalk challenger defeated, in a 2-1 tussle.

Mr Ware put his loss down to his opponent's use of steroids between rounds, in the form of a Ventalin Asthma inhaler, although Mr Cosford strongly denied the medication had any performance-enhancing effect.

"I was pretty confident before the bout," Mr Ware said, "as I had the age and height advantage, but I just couldn't hold him in the last two rounds."

Mr Ware stands by the result of the match, and will honour his commitment to let MCS Digital connect to the TeamTalk network.

The armwrestling match was a serious affair, as both parties keen were to settle a long-running dispute which had already been to the subject of a Commerce Commission complaint, and was rapidly heading towards the courts.

"Sure, losing hurts," Mr Ware said, "but not nearly as much as paying lawyers bills."