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British Senior Powerlifting Championships
Ben Banks
was the Club's sole entry in this year's main event. While Ben entered
the competition with the highest qualifying total following some
personal best at the Greater London Powerlifting Championships back in
September, this was Ben's first Senior National Championships, and he
still needed to put in a
Ben had abandoned initial plans to move up to the 125kg class, and made weight in the 110kg class, to face three opponents. The line up included last year's Runner up, Sam Harrison, from Greater London, who was set on revenge after Ben had edged ahead of him at the Divisional Championships.
In the
Squat, Ben opened in third place with a 280kg squat, but after sinking
it deep, finished the lift strong, to receive three whites lights,
moving him ahead of Guy Djedje's opening 250kg squat. Ranbir Sahota, who
Ben had previously faced a Junior lifter, opened with a strong 300kg
squat to take the lead. Last up was Sam Harrison, opening on 310kg; but
despite nailing the squat, was failed for
Next in the Bench Press, Ben and Sam distanced themselves from the other two lifters opening with 230kg and 220kg respectively. Sam lost his line on his attempt at 220kg, and was unable to lock out the weight, but Ben responded with a smooth 230kg opener to take the lead. In the second round, Sam just managed to complete his lift, keeping him in the competition, retaking the lead. Meanwhile Ben jumped to 253.5kg, to take both the lead in the competition and the British Senior Record in the Bench Press. But unfortunately, it was not to be, as Ben failed to get sufficient drive off his chest, and got stuck midway up in the lift. In the final round, both Ben and Sam were unsuccessful with Sam attempting 225kg and Ben retaking his record attempt.
Although the records didn't fall today, Ben secured his first British Senior title with an 840kg total in his first appearance at the competition. But as a message of discouragement for moving up a weight class, Dean Bowring put in a comfortable 1000kg total to take the 125kg class.
Videos to follow
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strong
performance to secure the title.
insufficient
depth. In the second round, Guy came back with a convincing 270kg squat,
but Ben responded with another deep attempt at 300kg, which slowed a
little in the middle, but still seemed a confident lift. Sam Harrison,
retaking his opening attempt of 310kg, needed this lift to stay in the
competition, and again attacked the weight, but this time just dropped
deep enough to get the lift with two white lights, and taking the lead.
Ranbir then came back with a 312.5kg squat, to edge ahead. In the final
round, Ben attempted 310kg, aiming to close the gap, and leave himself
less work in the remaining lifts. But unfortunately he just lost his
balance as he hit depth and was helped back into the rack by by the
spotters, which included 2006 World 125kg Champion, Clive Henry. With
Ranbir unable to improve on his second attempt, Sam increased his lead
with a successful 325kg attempt.
Going
into the Deadlift, Sam held a lead of 15kg over Ben. With both lifters
tied on bodyweight, if their totals matched, the title would be awarded
to the lifter who achieved the total first. With this in mind, Sam moved
his opener to 275kg, against Ben's 290kg; which would leave them with
matching totals, but Sam with the lighter weight would achieve the total
first. With this to encourage him, Sam lifted his opener convincingly to
get three white lights. But Ben responded with an explosive attempt on
290kg. In the second round, Sam had elected to take 285kg, leaving Ben
needing 302.5kg to take the title, but after a strong opening attempt,
Ben requested 310kg, to put some distance between them. Currently in the
lead, Sam was unable to lock out his 285kg attempt. This left Ben
pulling to move into the title position. With some words of
encouragement from other members of the GB Senior Squad (mainly
reminding him how stupid he would look given that he only would have
needed 302.5kg to take the title), Ben fired 310kg straight to lock-out,
all but securing the Championship. In the last round, Sam attempted
297.5kg to take the title, but it was just too much on the day. For the
final lift of the class, Ben jumped to 330kg, a new Commonwealth Record,
but unfortunately the bar rolled away from his shins as he began to
drive, leaving him unable to budge the weight.