Lifting the trophy was far easier than the task in hand for winners of Bodyworks Gym powerlifting competition.

Owner Callum Vine rallied 22 competitors to take part in the Deal business' second event of the year on Sunday, December 1.

Men and women were challenged to squat, bench press and deadlift a variety of weights, with each competitor given three attempts at each lift.

The person with the highest combined total won in their class.

Laura Beresford took the trophy for the women with a total lift of 340kg. Jessica Langston claimed second place, with Susan Hales in third.

Taylor Reid steamed ahead lifting a combined total of 575kg to take first prize in the Under 80kg men's category. Tommy Croud was second and Gary Cameron, third.

The Under 100kg category was won by Stuart Martin lifting 530kg. Second was John Carnell with Nathan Williams, third.

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The Over 100kg winner was Robert Warner with 710kg. He also won the Pound for Pound best lifter award. Second place went to Simon Cooper and Paul Martin was third.

Mr Vine, a father-of-one, always pledged to offer powerlifting competitions to make his members more competitive when he took over the Mill Hill establishment in September 2016.

He said: "They've created competition between members which has made all of them progress massively over the last few years.

"The competitions give them a goal. For some of the members it’s a massive day for them where everyone is watching them to succeed and the hard training has paid off.

"It was a great event with an inspiring community atmosphere.

"We also had Danny Herriot on hand with massage therapy treatment raising £60 for Angels 4 Dogs charity."

Special recognition has gone to Heidi Chapman who has undergone a knee operation since the gym's first competition in June but still took part and managed to hit personal bests on all lifts.

Mr Vine, 25, said: "She’s a 19-year-old that has done gymnastics her whole life but now enjoys powerlifting and wants to go on and do county competitions."

The former Dover Grammar School for Boys pupil was once an Under 18s British Champion in Powerlifting.

He then moved towards bodybuilding where he was named Under 20s South Coast UK Champion at a British Natural Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) and Under 23s UKBFF South Coast Champion.

Due to injury he is taking some time away from competing and focussing on personal training at the gym.

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