Filey PT Gym powerlifters earn British Championship glory
Four lifters from Filey have just returned from the GPC & UKIPL combined British Powerlifting Championships held in the Hanger in Wolverhampton, (Global Powerlifting Committee and UK International Powerlifting League) gaining several medals and records.
On the first day of the competition the youngest member of the team Jack Douglas, 18, competed first in the British unequipped Bench Press Championships teenage 90kg class.
He opened on a lift of 80kg, which was followed by a successful lift of 87.5kg. He finished with a successful PB of 90kg setting a new British record in his class.
Jack was followed by the team’s only lady lifter Deb Dixon who competed in the masters 60+ under 67.5kg class.
She opened on a bench press of 40kg, which was successful unfortunately her following two lifts of 45kg locked out unevenly so on this occasion she did not achieve her PB.
Jack was then back on the platform to deadlift, opening with a lift of 180kg, followed by 190kg and finishing with a new PB and British record of 202.5 kg.
Deb was back on the platform after Jack with her deadlifts and she opened on 90kg which was followed with a deadlift of 105kg which was a British, European and World record.
This was followed by a successful third attempt of 107.5kg, and even a fourth attempt of 110kg which incredibly she lifted but unfortunately to slowly to be passed as a record.
Both Deb and Jack came away with two gold medals and British titles.
On the second day of the competition it was the turn of Dave Stead lifting in the Men’s 125kg Open Unequipped Powerlifting Championships.
He opened on a easy Squat of 150kg to get him started, then hit a PB of 165kg followed by another big PB of 180kg.
He then Bench Pressed a easy PB of 100kg, followed by another further PB of 105kg, his last lift of 110kg was lifted but unfortunately it was judged to have locked out unevenly.
He started on the deadlift with 205kg then a PB of 215kg, finishing with a PB of 220kg.
This gave him a total of 505kg, an improvement of 37.5kg on his previous best, finishing fourth in a major competition was a great achievement.
The last lifter, and the oldest was newcomer Joseph Rodgers, a 69-year-old who lifted in the 82,5kg Unequipped Bench and Deadlift classes.
He opened on a bench of 50kg followed by 57.5kg he narrowly missed a third lift and PB of 62.5kg.
On the deadlift he opened on 90kg which he failed when his foot lifted however he tried the lift again, this time he was successful and went on to lift a new PB and British record of 100k to finish as British Champion of Bench Press and Deadlift with British records in both categories.
Their coach Phil Beniston, of Filey PT Gym, where they all train, said: “I am immensely proud of each and every one of them, they are all making steady progress at every competition they enter, due to their dedication and hard work, and I fully expect all of them to hit International success in 2026.”