A huge crowd flocked to the headquarters of the Pembrokeshire Powerlifting Club’s headquarters at Water Street, Pembroke Dock to appreciate the efforts of top lifters from all over England and Wales in the inaugural Welsh qualifier for the European Championships, which will be held in Helsinki later in the year.
 

Aaron is delighted by the response

Small wonder then that Aaron Hosking, who was one of the organisers, told us,
“It was hugely successful and visitors from our association’s headquarters in London were hugely impressed – so much so that we are now planning another major event before the end of the year.
“Visitors were impressed by the quality of the two-day event, the facilities and the welcome given by Pembroke Dock.
 
“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing in the intervening time from powerlifters from as far afield as Glastonbury, Manchester, Gloucester, London, Cardiff, Mid and North Wales, The Rhondda Valleys, Cornwall and Sunderland.
 
“We had prepared food for all our lifters and trainers, plus refreshments on sale for the packed audiences but by mid-morning on Sunday we were off to local supermarkets to replenish our food supplies!”
 

Terrific local successes

There were a large number of categories to cater for an age range from 15 to 62 and the different weights, with Narberth’s veteran lifter Haydo Phillips (53) catching the eye as he broke no fewer than four British records.
 
Andrew Murphy and Billy Young, both from Carew, were other category winners, with 17 year old Young putting in a dead lift of 190kgs in his 60kg category, over three times his body weight!
 
Equally impressive was Callum Lowe (22) who smashed the all-time record in his 60kg class for any national affiliation in the bench press, pushing 140kgs to raise the roof in terms of support from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience.
 

Aaron shows his power - and says thanks!

It was hoped that organiser Aaron Hosking might succeed in completing a squat of 400 kgs (905lbs) but fell just short as he was clearly having to focus on  a host of other things – but he did show what a terrific powerlifter he is with a magnificent bench press 272kgs (or 600lbs!)
 
“We would like to thank all the powerlifters for travelling so far,” said Aaron, including everyone who helped as volunteers; Pembroke & Pembroke Dock ABC for sharing their facilities to cater for such a large crowd, Neil Finlay Cars for their support and everyone else who helped make this a competition to remember in our area.”

PHOTO: 
Some of the successful local powerlifters at the Pembrokeshire Powerlifting Club's top event