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British Bench Press Championships
British Barbell were represented at the competition by Paul Doherty and Ben Banks, going head to head in 125kg class. For both lifters, this was new territory, both lifters were competing for the first time in the 125kg class, and this was Ben's first competition as a Senior lifter.
Ben was second to last onto the platform with a 220kg opening attempt. Despite looking comfortable with the weight, Ben was a little unsteady, causing the bar to dip half way up, before locking out. Ben received three red lights, and a no lift. Following straight after, Paul Doherty opened with 245kg, struggling to get his foot placement, he lost his line, bringing the bar down very low on his chest, and was unable to recover during the press. Again, Paul received three red lights; this was the worst possible start!
In the second round, both lifter stuck with their opening attempts, still the highest in the class. Ben was still a little unsteady on the bench, but lowered the bar smoothly before easing the bar back up to lockout. Fortunately this time Ben received three white lights and moved into the front spot in the 125kg class. Meanwhile Paul prepared to take on 245kg once again, to take the top spot away from Ben. Paul held a better line, but still drifted a little; this time he fired the weight off of his chest, only to let the weight stutter just before lockout, leaving him unable to the finish the lift.
In the last
round, there were three lifters in the running for the top spot, after a
successful attempt at 215kg, fellow Greater London lifter Sam Harrison,
from Crystal Palace stepped up to take 222.5kg to move ahead of Ben.
Despite a strong drive off of his chest Sam ground to halt just before
lockout, and leaving Ben in the lead, with only Paul left to challenge
him. With Sam's challenge unsuccessful, Ben increase
On paper, Paul secured a comfortable 25kg win, with Ben coming in second with 220kg. Congratulations to Paul to for this first British Senior title!
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Paul
and Ben, got off to a shaky start, after struggling to find the venue
they made the weigh-in with only a few minutes to spare, and then only
had a short amount of time to rest before entering the warm up room.
With a congested warm up room, both lifters were forced to cut their
usual warm up routine and take big jumps going out onto the platform.
With the top two opening lifts, Ben and Paul were last out onto the
platform. 
d
his initial selection of 225kg for his last attempt, to 240kg, to match
his competition best. Unfortunately, Ben struggled to get underneath the
weight, and allowed the bar to drift backwards, unable to press the bar
to lockout. Last out was Paul, still with his opening attempt of 245kg,
the pressure was on, if he secured this lift he would comfortably win
the competition, miss it and he would be out of the competition
altogether. Paul lowered the bar under control, this time hitting a
better line, before getting a strong drive off his chest, but the bar
slowed right down just before lockout. Already with some sympathetic
murmurs from the audience, Paul stayed with the bar as it edged, very
slowly, to lockout. With the the rules permitting a slight uneven
lockout, it was left to the judges to decide. Two white lights, gave
Paul the lift, and the title.