Royal Marine powerlifters from across the country have been flexing their muscles in a bid to find the strongest among them as part of the annual Strongman event.
The competition was organised by the RN Powerlifting Association (RNPA) at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone (CTCRM) and consisted of three lifting disciplines. There were two RNPA officials present to run and referee the event.
The first was bench press which is a classic powerlifting discipline, which was then followed by the overhead lift. This could be a simple push/press for those with little technique, or for those with some form, it could be an Olympic style lift, either a clean-and-jerk movement or a snatch.
The final event was the dead-lift, another of the three powerlifting disciplines (the other being the squat).where the competitors had to lift the weight from the floor to an upright position.
A total of 24 lifters represented each Commando unit with CTCRM contesting all three individual disciplines. Trophies were also available for the overall best lifter, taking body weight into account, and finally an overall best total regardless of body weight.
“Some of the guys here are pure powerlifters and some focus on cross-fit which also includes the Olympic lifts,” says Major Steve Congreve. “This event is designed to cater for a wider range of lifters to get more marines involved in the sport of weight lifting.”
“We’re all in the open age category today, but we take body weight into account by applying a specific formula against each lift which gives you an overall points total. So it’s power to weight ratio that counts.”
The competitors applied the principle of ‘less talk more chalk’ and when the dust had settled, the CTCRM team were victorious with 42 Cdo as the the runners up. Alongside the mutual support amongst lifters was a huge competitive spirit and many personal bests were set with brute strength and determination overcoming any lack of skill.
The individual awards were in many cases extremely close fought with the lighter lifters often gaining the advantage. The individual results were as follows:
Best Bench: Corporal Aston Yelland, 40 Cdo, 152.5kg
R/U Bench: Marine Darren Biggs, 45 Cdo, 140kg
Best Overhead: Cpl Aston Yelland, 40 Cdo, 125kg
R/U Overhead: Cpl Ash Palmer, CTCRM, 112.5kg
Best Deadlift: Cpl Adam Baird CTCRM, 252.5kg
R/U Deadlift: Mne Joseph McGarry, 30 Cdo 215kg
Best total (adjusted for body weight): Cpl Aston Yelland, 40 Cdo, total lifted 507.5kg
Best total (unadjusted): Maj Steve Congreve, CTCRM, total lifted 510kg
