Competitive action

Ben first took to the competitive arena in March of 2010 having been training at Spartans for around 6 months.  He placed first in the Bench Press with a final lift of 72.5kg but immediately conceded the need to change bodyweight classes.  In May a similar story with a first place and another personal best of 75kg meant that Ben could go to the British Unequipped Bench Press in June with confidence and once again he placed first and an additional 2.5kg on his personal best so this was followed in October with the Anglian Open where Ben managed a final lift of 85kg but lost the top spot to a veteran of the sport with more than 30 years competitive experience.  With the bench press competitions well and truly under control Ben then turned his attention to 3 lift competitions and his first was in November and once again he had to compete against all ages, finishing a respectable second place and a total of 350kg (squat 112.5kg, bench 85kg, deadlift 152.5kg) this qualified Ben for the British Junior Finals. 

2011 started just as well and Ben went to the British Junior Finals with confidence in February.  Despite competing against others that were up to 18 months older and most equipped lifters Ben remained unequipped and managed to secure first place with ease in the end.  Working hard has pushed Ben’s lifts on and he finished with a total of 382.5kg (squat 137.5kg, bench 87.5kg, deadlift 157.5kg).  In July Ben attended the British Unequipped Bench Press Championships and took 1st place in the junior competition and 2nd place in the open category with a final lift of 92.5kg an increase of 15kg on this competition last year.  This performance was also enough to secure him the under 18 British Bench Press Record.  In August the trip was made up to Newcastle to compete in the British Unequipped Powerlifting Championships.  Ben ended the day with an impressive 400kg total (squat 142.5kg, bench 95kg, deadlift 162.5kg) a target he was keen to achieve but he also had his sights set on the british record which is 417.5kg and just proved to much at tis time.  In October Ben was in action at the All England Championships at Northampton.  With Ben now having to compete in the sub junior (under 18's) as there was no lower age class at this competition a stirling performance was needed and was delivered.  A squat of 145kg, bench of 95kg and deadlift of 170kg meant that Ben finished on a 410kg total.  This was good enough to secure him first place in his class, in addition he was the best sub junior in both equipped and unequipped competition.  Based on this performance Ben was asked to represent Great Britain at the Commonwealth Championships that will take place in December 2011 and will really finish his first year of 3 lift powerlifting off in style. 

In November Ben took a break from competition to be honoured amongst a large number of coaches, volunteers and other athletes at the Suffolk Coastal Sports Awards where he was named as the young sports personality of the year.