Weightlifter’s record hopes

An award winning weightlifter is breaking British and European records – at the age of 52.
Andrew Rigby who won the Best Lifter award at the British Bench Press ChampionshipsAndrew Rigby who won the Best Lifter award at the British Bench Press Championships
Andrew Rigby who won the Best Lifter award at the British Bench Press Championships

Andrew Rigby, of North Houses Lane, St Annes, now has plans to break a world record this summer.

Andrew won his weight class at the British Bench Press Championships in Stafford this year with a winning bench press lift of 228kg.

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He set a new European record for all ages in the 100-110kg bodyweight class.

His lift at a bodyweight of 107.4Kg also saw him win the Best Lifter trophy, which is decided using a formula based upon the bodyweight and weight lifted of all the competitors at the championships.

Andrew said: “I am very pleased with the competition as I did not have good form 
going into it after struggling with a shoulder injury.”

The weightlifter now hopes to break the world record for his weight class and lift 233kg at the World Championships in June.

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Andrew has modified his training over the years but still manages to beat competitors younger than him.

He added: “I try to stick to a program but I do not train as much as hard as I used to, I have to be more careful as it takes longer for my body to recover.

“I have adapted my technique too and made slight adjustments.

“I don’t think much about my age, I don’t see it as a disadvantage but it’s still nice to beat many younger guys.”

Andrew trains at St Annes YMCA gym where he introduced highly successful young powerlifter Yiannis Verenakis to the sport three years ago and where he trains Miss Toned Teen UK Elly Robertson.

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