SWINDON Barbell made up a quarter of the English equipped team at the recent Home Nations Powerlifting championships.

The competition was split in to Classic Powerlifting, in which contenders can wear only minimalist supportive equipment, such as a belt and squat shoes, in the morning, with Equipped, consisting of full supportive equipment like squat suits and knee wraps, in the afternoon.

Swindon Barbell’s Helen Toms, Christie Civetta and Matt Watson stepped up to represent England, Toms missing her opening two attempts before performing a perfect squat of 145kg.

Civetta, who had just returned from the World Open Powerlifting Championships, dropped a weight category to lift four kilogrammes lower than before, managing her opening squat of 180kg and just missing her second of 190kg.

Going for a personal best of 200kg, she was unable to complete the squat.

Watson, who also decided to drop a weight category to 83kg, opened with a successful 230kg, followed by 245kg and finally 257.5kg.

In the bench press section, Toms, competing as a Master 2 (50-59 years old) against an almost entire senior (24-39) group, managed 85kg on the second attempt, but missed 92.5 kg, while Civetta managed 107.5 kg on the third attempt.

Watson achieved 167kgs on his second attempt.

In the deadlift, Toms reeled off 145kg, followed by personal bests of 152.5 and 157.5kg, while Civetta equalled her best with 180kg, having earlier lifted 165 and 172.5 and going on to be named best female lifter.

Watson achieved successful lifts of 220, 235 and 240kg.

For those who would like to try powerlifting or improve their strength training, Swindon Barbell run novice classes on Tuesdays. See swindonbarbell.com for information.