SWINDON Barbell hosted the inaugural Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Powerlifting Championships at Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club.

Opened by mayor Michael and Coun Allison Bucknell, the event was backed by local businesses and equally support by DC Injury Clinic, who provided treatment for competitors.

Local favourites and Swindon Barbell members Kat Armstrong, Fenella Powell, Dawn Morrell, Daniel Coles and Alex Knox were all in action throughout the competition.

Both Armstrong and Coles were stepping onto the big stage for the first time since starting powerlifting within the last year.

Meanwhile Powell and Morrell, both experienced British powerlifting competitors, took to the platform with an eye for testing what they had been working on training.

Meanwhile Knox’s efforts in the gym paid off as he set his sights on national qualification, and achieved it.

Each Swindon Barbell competitor ended up with between one and four personal bests – with several of them managing to qualify for the nationals at the end of this year.

Elsewhere in the competition, regional records were broken – including Indiana Montaque’s -72kg category effort of 181kg.

Adam Ferret set the -83kgs men's deadlift record to 275kgs while Nicholas Mellor hit 302.5kg in the squat for the 120+kg men's category.

Joseph Guis-Bourne rounded off the competition with a new south west deadlift record of 300kg in the 120+kg men's category.

Richard Parker, chairman of British Powerlifting, praised the Royal Wootton Bassett venue – adding he hopes the competition returns in coming years.

He said: “Swindon Barbell have done a great job in organising this event.

“A large amount of lifters and a huge team of volunteers made the competition a great success.”

Alan Lowe, of Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club, added: “It has been a pleasure to be able support Swindon Barbell with their inaugural Wilts & Gloucester Championship event.

“To see another high level sporting activity taking place at Ballards Ash was fantastic and we hope to continue to support and work with Swindon Barbell Club in the future.”

The regional championships marks the start of a busy period for Swindon Barbell with the start of the new academic year marking the club’s continued involvement with local schools.

Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, New College Swindon, Swindon College’s freshers fair and Hardenhuish College in Chippenham will host various sessions throughout September.