SWINDON Barbell hosts the inaugural Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Powerlifting championships at Royal Wootton Bassett RFC on Saturday (10am).

The competition will see some of the South West's finest strength athletes compete for the title of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire's Strongest Man and Woman.

Powerlifting consists of testing strength using the squat, bench press and deadlift exercise, giving each competitor three attempts on each lift.

The best lift of each category is added together to give a total, which is then put through a calculator to compare different body weights and earning a Wilks Points number.

Royal Wootton Bassett mayor Coun Michael Farrow and Coun Allison Bucknell will open the competition, while there will also be support from Royal Wotton Bassett Academy students, who have been participating in this year's school's Powerlifting club.

Swindon Barbell, based near Lyneham, is heavily involved in local community health and wellness, providing schools and college lessons to the likes of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy and New College as well as Hardenhuish and Lackham.

Theclub is also involved in Disability Swindon, providing strength training to those with learning disabilities and mental health issues as well as joining forces with the Bassett rugby club to develop strength training in their youth side.

Ten-time British Powerlifting champion and Barbell head coach Charlie Shotton-Gale, who is also coach of the Invictus Games Powerlifting team, said: "We aim to teach people not only strength training but positive body image, attitude to food and health, goals to aim for that improve your wellbeing as well as an atmosphere that promotes laughter, progress and achievement"

National referee and Swindon Barbell's treasurer Helen Toms added: "The aim of this competition is to not only showcase Powerlifting to Wiltshire and Gloucestershire but also to enhance community engagement with strength training to improve the health and wellness of all ages.

"I took up Powerlifting when I was 48 and managed to achieve becoming European champion and World Silver medalist all because I tried something new and found I loved it.

"Having the group we do at Swindon Barbell and the training that our head coach provides is one of the main reasons I have achieved such success and why we all work hard with each other."

The competition will start at 10am on Saturday and run until approximately 4pm with refreshments being provided by the rugby club. Tickets are £2 and can be purchased on the door.

For more information see swindonbarbell.com/events.