British title glory

1:13pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

BASINGSTOKE powerlifters enjoyed record-breaking success at the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association National Championships in Tamworth.

Andy Bonner collected his 20th British title in the under-82.5kg bodyweight category and, in the process, set new British, European and world records with a total of 657.5kg from his three lifts.

In the squat, he set a new world open record of 232kg, and then bettered that with 237.5kg.

He then benchpressed 145kg and completed the day with a deadlift of 275kg, a new British record and world record.

His performance won him the best lifter accolade on the first day of the competition as he won the open and over-50 age categories.

Bonner said: "I was hoping to do well, but my benchpress was down as I was feeling my way because of a shoulder injury.

"So it was a bonus to break all the records. I also went past 400 points for the fifth time in my career, which was also pleasing."

The points are calculated from a formula involving bodyweight and the weight lifted.

Another world champion, George Carter, just missed out on the junior crown as he failed to lock a deadlift of 290kg and, instead, had to settle for second spot in that category with his 125kg.

He returned a squat of 212.5kg, a benchpress of 142.5kg and a deadlift of 267.5kg for a total of 622.5kg to secure fifth place in the open category after a good day's lifting.

Pete Bedford, a third world champion at Basingstoke Powerlifting Club, was still suffering from injury as he competed for victory in the under-67.5kg category.

He managed a squat of 170kg, a benchpress of 120kg and a deadlift of 200kg for a total of 490kg.

That saw him finish third in the open class and first in his over-40 age category.

He is sure to be a lot stronger come the world championships in November, when he will join Bonner and Carter at Evansville, in Indiana.

Matt Adcock, lifting in his first British championships, achieved a 235kg lifetime-best deadlift in the under-100kg division.

He also achieved a squat of 185kg and a benchpress of 130kg for a total of 550kg, and a ninth-place finish in the open class.

Jean Maton won the over-40 under-82.5kg category after a squat of 170kg, a benchpress of 115kg, which equalled her personal best, and a deadlift of 180kg for a total of 465kg.

Before that, she won her class at the BAWLA British masters bench-press equipped championships in Birmingham with a lift of 112.5kg.

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