Basildon's Dave Venables has returned from Australia celebrating a new Commonwealth and British record.

The 40-year-old weightlifter heaved a superb 297.5 kilos at the World Masters Games in Melbourne.

The lift saw him snatch second place in the super-heavyweight 105-kilos-plus category -- just two-and-a-half kilos behind the eventual championship winner Ali Choukeir from Lebanon.

Dave admitted he had been delighted with the result as he had been carrying an injury. He said: "I was only expecting to come around fifth or sixth, so second place was something of a bonus.

"It was a good competition and I wasn't that far off winning."

Dave had been suffering from a rotator cuff injury in his shoulder and the Australians kindly cured the problem for him after the event.

Dave, who has been training at Stanford-le-Hope's Hassenbrook Youth Centre, added: "They're very sports-orientated over there and the physio I had been getting in Britain hadn't cured the problem.

"I decided to go for it. It was only a minor operation but I'm very grateful."

The big weighlifter, who paid tribute to Basildon Sports Council for their help, will now take time off before starting the build up to the British Championships next March in Scotland. From there it's on to the European Championships.

Published Thursday October 24, 2002