World beaters ... again (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

World beaters ... again

SALISBURY powerlifter Lee Steggles created history this week by winning an amazing third consecutive world title.

The 43-year-old believes she is still getting stronger and destroyed her rivals in the 67.5kgs division en route to recording the highest total in any weight category on the day.

Steggles, who now holds four world titles as well as 17 British titles, also controversially missed out on setting a new world record mark of 220kgs in the squat.

"I thought it was a good lift and so did the crowd," she said. "But the judges voted 2-1 against."

Strict officiating was a feature of the championships which were held in Leipzig, Germany.

Steggles also narrowly missed out on a European record in the deadlift which just failed at 190kgs.

As it was, her squat lift of 200kgs, her bench-press of 115kgs and her deadlift of 180kgs was enough for a clear victory.

After training all year for the event, Steggles says she is now looking forward to a well-earned rest before making plans for next season in consultation with coach and multi-world champion Bill West.

"I've been doing this for ten consecutive years and my body needs a rest right now," she said.

"I'm just going to wait until after Christmas before deciding what is next, although I'm thinking of moving down a weight division."

Steggles was joined in Germany by Salisbury team-mate Paul Newell, who also returned among the medal-winners.

Competing in the tough 90kg category, Newell lifted consistently well in difficult conditions to take an excellent bronze medal behind defending world champion Corey Evans, from Canada.

The 28-year-old NHS Analyst said: "I was pleased with the result of the competition to come third, although my weights were somewhat down on what I thought was possible.

"That was the case, though, with everyone. The judges were very strict and it created quite a difficult atmosphere. It possibly affected me and I felt quite flat and there is definitely more to come although I'm happy with a bronze."

Newell lifted 340kg in the squat, 170kg in the bench-press and 282.5kg in the dead-lift to narrowly miss out on second place.

The experience has only wetted Newell's appetite for more. "At my best I believe I could have been right up there with the winner. That is a good incentive for me as I know I can come back and stand a good chance in the future," he said.