ROOKSDOWN’S Ben Ross is already lifting trophies, having been inspired to take up the sport of weightlifting after watching it on television at the London Olympics.

In his first year of competition in 2013, the 27-year-old won qualifying events for the English and British Championships.

He took part in the English Championships this February, lifting in the under-69 kilogram class, and finishing fourth overall, missing out on a bronze medal by 10kg.

Ross has just returned from the British Championships held in Coventry at the Ricoh Arena, and finished a very creditable seventh on his debut.

His final total was 210kg, with a 100kg snatch, which is where the bar is lifted in one continuous movement from the ground with a full extension of the arms above the head.

He then lifted 110kg on the clean and jerk, which is where the bar is pulled to the clavicles in one continuous movement and the second movement, known as the jerk, is where the arms fully extend overhead.

The Rooksdown lifter was very pleased with his performance as his snatch was just one kilogram short of his personal best for this discipline and his clean and jerk was just five away from his best.

He did have a couple of attempts at heavier weights, but just failed.

Ross said: “I am still fairly new to the sport, but I was pleased with seventh. Next year, my first aim is to make the top three in the English Championships.”

The weightlifter trains and works at Elite-Bodyworks – a new gym which has just opened at the Basepoint Business Centre on Stroudley Road.

Ross is a qualified coach in weightlifting and is looking to offer Olympic weightlifting classes.

He said: “I am keen to get some classes going as I enjoy the sport and I am sure others will as well.”

Hopefully, Ross will be the first of many weightlifters to come from the town.

For more information on the weightlifting class go to elite-bodyworks.com.