POWERLIFTER Tricia Forbes’ late entry into the sport continues to be an astonishing success story.
Already the British unequipped bench press record holder at the 67 1/2 kilo Masters 1 category, her latest efforts at Milton Keynes last week captured the British title.
And not only did her new personal best of 55 kilos gain her the masters (40-45 years) title and break her previous category mark by 2 1/2 kilos, it also set a new record for the Open age group.
Trained by Neil Lewis at his gym at First Tower, Scotland-born Forbes has lived in the Island since 1989, but incredibly only took up the sport in February last year.
Forbes, a compliance officer with Garfield Bennett, who allow her some time off for training, explains: ‘I had a competitive background with show jumping, but really only got involved with Neil at the gym to try and get a bit fitter.
But once I started making the qualifying marks we decided to enter competitions and it’s just gone on from there.
‘I do enjoy it, even though I’m a bit nervous on the day of competition.
But I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without Neil.
He really knows his stuff on the training and motivation side.’ Her next event is also in Milton Keynes, where the new Shenley Centre is proving an ideal venue, but is over a three-lift discipline, which Forbes has only tried once before.
‘Lack of competition is the problem, as it is with most people in the Island,’ said Forbes, who went on to say she might have to venture into the ‘equipped’ section of the sport to obtain more competition.
Equipped is basically the same event, except that competitors wear a specially designed suit which aids the muscles and joints.
‘It’s a bit like wearing a wet-suit, along those lines, although with different material,’ said Forbes.
‘I’ll probably have a go at it, as the competition should be tougher.’
Article posted on 4th July, 2006 - 12.00am
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