The strongest men and women from all over East Anglia converged on Colchester in Essex to do battle in the Anglian Powerlifting Championship.

Thirty competitors battled it out for the title at Hamiltons Fitness Centre, Colchester.

A handicapping system is used in these competitions that takes into account bodyweight and also gender.

It was a close-fought match between Jenny Hunter from Cambridge, who's combined total of her three lifts came to 390kg with a bodyweight of 57.7kg against Andy Hawkins from Corringham, Essex, who managed a total of 800kg at a bodyweight of 121.6kg.

Hawkin's last successful deadlift of 287.5kg just edged him enough points ahead to take the title for the first time.

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003

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