FOR the second year in a row, a Basingstoke personal trainer has claimed the title of England’s Strongest Woman.

Farah Fonseca returned to the competition, which she won in her debut year last year, and defended her crown on Friday, 11 August.

After a successful first year competing in strong women competitions, the 24-year-old said there was more pressure on her this time round.

She said “I just had to try and channel the pressure I had put on myself as best as I could to ensure I got the result I needed “Things were a bit crazy leading up to the event, I was moving house and work was a bit manic, but thankfully I had all my programmes planned out for me at Elite Body Works.”

The event, held at the Bloodstock music festival in Derbyshire, saw the personal trainer – who runs her bootcamp session in Basingstoke – eclipse her competition and qualify for the World Strongest Woman competition in the USA in December.

In the contest, Farah endured a series of challenges including max deadlift, conan's wheel and a van pull.

She added: “I felt confident after the first three events, in which I placed first in all three. So I knew I just needed to not make any mistakes and I would come out on top.

“There was a bit of a gap between me and the girl who placed second, so I knew in the final two events if I placed higher than her I would win.”

Farah added she has learnt from competing last year and is prepared for this year’s contests, starting with Britain’s Strongest Woman in six weeks’ time.

The 24-year-old said: “It is a growing sport and you are seeing more women get involved. For me it is just a case of knowing what I have to do for each event, and making sure I execute it."