Power to the people

Photo: Pictures by ANTHONY MILLER

MUSCLE MEN: Mark Judge (back, left), Franco Llenhardt, Jack Revans. Joe Callaghan (front, left) and Jack Barr. Not pictured Chris Bennett.

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WEIGHTLIFTING:

A MIXTURE of muscle and determination saw six local men book their places at next year’s British Powerlifting Championships.

The sextet, from Viking Fitness in Lees, qualified with flying colours at the North-West regional event in Colne.

Joe Callaghan broke three British records on his way to combined gold in the under-74 kilogram section for under-18s.

The teenager set new bests in the squatt (180kg) and deadlift (212.5kG). His total of 502.5kg was also a record. He also lifted 110kg in the bench press.

Jack Revans also struck gold in the under-96kg (under-20s), lifting 532.5kg for all three disciplines.

Chris Bennett beat off his rivals in the under-74kg (under-23s) category. His total for the three lifts was 475kg.

And over-50s competitor Mark Judge (Masters two) bagged gold in the under-83kg division with 475kg.

Also progressing to the national finals — date and venue to be announced — are Jack Barr and Franco Llenhardt.

Barr, competing in the under-105kg for under-18s, had a 515kg total for second place.

And Llenhardt was the runner-up in the under-83kg (under-23s) section with 447kg.

Wayne Carter, manager of Viking Fitness, said: “The club is only two years old, so it’s great to have half a dozen lads at the British Championships — hopefully we can double that number in future.

“They train four or five nights a week and it’s hard work. It’s fantastic that the younger ones show such dedication.”