Powerlifting: Lifters from Muscle and Figure Gym in Widnes enjoy success

Dec 31 2009 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

DECEMBER proved to be a busy and fruitful month for powerlifters from Muscle and Figure Gym in Widnes.

Coach Martin Flett led the way in action for his native Scotland at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Pune, India.

Flett, who lives in Frodsham, entered in the 100kg open class and lifted 185kg to become the new Commonwealth bench press champion on his international debut.

Flett said: “A lift of 185kg is not my biggest by any means, but in all the circumstances it has to go down as one of my best.

“The trip over took 32 hours, including long waits in London, Bahrain and Mumbai and there was nowhere to get food after weighing up.

“But every other title I have ever won has been an Over 50 title, so to win my first ever open title at the age of 53 is fantastic.”

Flett will now compete at the British Bench Press Championships at the end of January.

Enjoying similar success were five of Flett’s lifters from the Widnes club, who all made their debuts in the three-lift form of the sport at the coveted North West Championships,

First up was 14 year-old Sean Wynn, lifting in the U60kg class and he managed to squat 60kg easily, before opting for a 70kg second lift, when he was red-lighted for insufficient depth. A third attempt at 80kg proved just too heavy on the day.

In the bench press, Wynn was successful with all three attempts, finishing with a lifetime best of 60kg and he also succeeded with all three deadlift attempts, achieving another lifetime best of 100kg. His impressive total of 220kg won him the north west title.

The club enjoyed more success in the 67.5kg class, as George Lamb bettered the British U18 raw bench press record with his opening lift of 110kg, before narrowly failing to set a new British equipped record with two attempts at 125.5kg.

Frodsham’s Paul Kopec enjoyed mixed fortunes in the 82.5 Kg class, with a personal best squat of 180 and a deadlift of 215.

However, due in part to a sprained wrist, he failed to register a valid bench press and so did not make a total, despite gaining some invaluable experience.

In the 90kg class, youngster Chris Graham, performed incredibly well in the squat and bench before having the crowd on its feet with an immense third deadlift of 255 kilos, which was only 2.5 kilos off the British Under 18 record.

Graham was neck and neck in deadlifts with current British international lifter Joe Bullock.

Finally, Ryan Bell, who had only been lifting for two months prior to the championships, hit personal bests in all three lifts with a 137.5 (300lb) squat, 120 (264lb) bench, and a 182.5 (400lb) deadlift.

Flett added: “All five lifters thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all are now in hard training for the 2010 calendar, which starts with the British Bench Press Championships in Colchester in January.”