Lifters raise the bar

Some of the country’s strongest competitors, quite literally, raised the bar on the standard of powerlifting in Marlborough recently.

The Ascension Gym was the venue for the Great South Grand Slam on Saturday, April 6, a Global Powerlifting Committee event which featured world and national record holders.

It was the first GPC competition held in the South Island for five years, with organiser Richard de Reeper, Ascension owner and competitor, declaring, “personally I couldn’t be happier with the result”.

“We saw the return of the current under 125kg world record holder … the mighty Team Huntly came, showed out and set an unofficial all time teenage female world record deadlift. The South Island’s strongest women also turned up to compete.

“Along with four 300kg+ deadlifts and three 210kg+ bench presses, numerous national records were set – five by Ascension members.”

Leading the way onto a power-packed men’s podium was local lifter Cyril Heywood with a 220kg bench and a 360kg deadlift, a new u140kg deadlift national record.

Richard was second with a 212.5kg bench and a 345kg deadlift, a new u125kg national deadlift record, while third was Ben Creagh, the returning u125kg GPC world record holder, with a 217.5kg bench, a new national masters bench record, and a 335.5kg deadlift, a new masters deadlift national record. Matt Warrenson also featured, producing a 180kg bench and 300kg deadlift for fourth spot.

Another highlight was provided by fifth-placed 17-year-old Izayah Drayton with a 132.5kg bench and 250kg deadlift at just 82kg bodyweight.

In the tightly-contested women’s section, Huntly’s Marley Martin was first, local Angela Perkins second with a new national bench record and third was Sophie Booker, from Christchurch. Fourth was Ascension member Courtney Hunter.

Jay Heywood also bagged a couple of national records, the youngster braking both the bench press and deadlift record for his age and weight class.