Strong Man event a huge success at Carew Castle

It was a huge day in more ways than one.

The ‘Pembrokeshire’s Strongest Man’ competition at Carew Castle proved to be an event to remember yesterday, with a big crowd packing in to watch 25 competitors push themselves to the absolute limit over five rounds of dead lifts, log presses, loading medleys, front holds and atlas stone lifts.

Entrants were split into four categories with the heaviest weights reserved for the Open category, while there were also immense efforts in the Intermediate, Novice, and Female classes – with 2018 winner Rory Brown organising proceedings and doing the announcing and commentary on the microphone.

Spectators also played a big part as they cheered and encouraged those involved and help create a lively atmosphere even when rain fell early in the competition.

And there was a celebrity guest among the judges; renowned UK Strongman entrant Gavin ‘The Bull’ Bilton on hand to help, and also taking time to pose for photographs with youngsters.

It was Will Mellish who fended off Wayne Rogers to be crowned champion in the Open class, while Dean Innes (Intermediate), Sam Parkes (Novice) and Sam Feneck (Female) were also winners.

Making his debut in the novice class was Chris Shousha, who is the dynamic captain of Fishguard & Goodwick RFC and was delighted with his second place – whilst Adam James, a fast bowler and big hitter with Haverfordwest Cricket Club, came third in the intermediate class as reward for all his efforts.

But regardless of results, the day was a hailed a huge success by competitors and spectators alike and afterwards a delighted Brown said: “I’m over the moon with the numbers we pulled in and this has been a big day for ‘Strongman’ in Pembrokeshire.

“It was good last year but this has been so much bigger. It’s been awesome and I couldn’t have asked for more from everyone involved."

Sam Feneck shoulder presses