A team of seven powerlifters travelled over from the Isle of Man to compete at the North West Powerlifting Christmas Spectacular in Manchester recently.

Powerlifting is a strength sport where competitors attempt a maximum weight in three lifts: back squat, bench press and deadlift.

Competitors are categorised by bodyweight and gender, and the competition is sanctioned by British Powerlifting under strict rules.

The team consisted of Sam Murphy, Lisa Grant, Michael Cherry, Steph Leece, Liz Young, Jo Corr and Vanessa Porter, with Oska Corkhill supporting the team behind the scenes.

Between them all, they took away seven medals as well as one competitor breaking the current British deadlift record with an effort of 192.5kg.

For Cherry, Leece,Young, Corr and Porter, it was their first time competing. Murphy and Grant have competed previously, with the latter winning the Masters British Championship earlier last year and Murphy qualifying for the 2022 Men’s British Championship at this event after a break from competing.

Corkill, Grant and Murphy are currently in the process of setting up the Manx Powerlifting Association with an affiliation to British Powerlifting to actively promote it as a sport in the island and host sanctioned competitions in the Isle of Man.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the sport of powerlifting, email [email protected]

Results from the

competition:

Michael Cherry squat 227.5kg, bench 122.5kg, deadlift 230kg - total 580kg - third place;

Steph Leece squat 100kg, bench 45kg, deadlift 145kg - total 290kg - first place;

Liz Young squat 82.5kg, bench 45kg, deadlift 115kg - total 242.5kg - fifth place;

Jo Corr squat 80kg, bench 37.5kg, deadlift 115kg - total 232.5kg - first place;

Vanessa Porter squat 150kg, bench 70kg, deadlift 155kg

- total 375kg - third place;

Sam Murphy squat 245kg, bench 147.5kg, deadlift 255kg - total 647.5kg - first place and a championship qualifying total;

Lisa Grant squat 125kg, bench 67.5kg, deadlift - 192.5kg (breaking the British record) - total 385kg - third place.