TWO members of Tiverton Weightlifting Club have successfully retained their British Masters titles.

This year’s IAWA (UK) British Grip Championships again took place again in Preston and Tiverton were represented by Mark Rattenberry and Gary Ell.

The competition attracted some of the best and most talented all-round weightlifters in the British Isles.

It consisted of three disciplines, all designed to really test the grip of each competitor in differing ways.

First up was the Two Hand Pinch Lift when Rattenberry, contesting the M50+ 65kg bodyweight class, set a new British and World Open and Masters standard of 42.5kg on his fourth attempt. Ell, in the M40+ 90kg section, finished his turns with a steady 60kg.

Next up, was the One Hand Two Inch Vertical Bar Lift, which both chose to lift with the right hand.

On his fourth and final attempt Rattenbury finished with a new Masters British and World best of 50kgs. Ell’s fourth effort resulted in a new Masters, Open, British and World record of 80kgs, overhauling his own previous best figure.

The final discipline was the Fulton Deadlift (Two Inch bar, with knuckles facing forward).

Rattenberry settled on a very respectable 95kgs, to end his day’s work.

With an extra half a kilogram, Ell bettered his own British Masters record with 125.5kgs, to finish off on a well-deserved high.

The club is now looking forward to Saturday, April 6 when they will be playing host to the IAWA (UK) British Powerlifting Championships at Sunningmead Community Centre, Tiverton.