19
Jun
Strong men and women descend on Boroughbridge
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Some of the UK’s leading strong men and women have descended on Boroughbridge in the run-up to a major event.
Twelve women will compete in Britain’s Strongest Woman at York Barbican on July 19. The following day 12 men will compete for the title England’s Strongest Man at the same venue.
Some of those taking part visited Darren Sadler’s Absolute Fitness gym in Boroughbridge on Friday last week (June 13) to practice the five tests of strength they will face – the deadlift ladder, yoke, shield carry, sandbag medley and log for reps.
Besides running the gym, Mr Sadler is also co-founder of Giants Live, which is organising the strength weekend in York.
Giants Live stages most of the biggest strongman and strongwoman events on the planet, including the qualifiers for World’s Strongest Man.
Four-time World’s Strongest Man competitor Mr Sadler said:
North Yorkshire is our home so bringing our events to York is always special and this year we have an incredible line-up showcasing the country’s strongest women and men.
The battle for Britain’s Strongest Woman is another level in 2025 with tried and tested champions taking on up and coming challengers – it promises to be an epic contest and I promise, if you’ve never seen what these incredible athletes can do, you need to come along, take a look, cheer them on and be mesmerised by their achievements.
England’s Strongest Men contenders (from left) Jack Osborn, Ben Glasscock, Ryan Bennett, Dan McNicholas and Paddy Haynes in Boroughbridge.
The line-up includes reigning champion Lucy Underdown as well as three-times World’s Strongest Woman winners Rebecca Roberts and Donna Moore.
Also competing in her home city will be 31-year-old Annabelle Chapman, who has returned to action after giving birth to daughter Morgan just over a year ago, and Skipton’s reigning England’s Strongest Woman, Grace Hilbourne, who is trained by Harrogate’s Luke Richardson, the reigning Europe’s Strongest Man.
In England’s Strongest Man, Kane Francis faces a tough fight to defend his title against World’s Strongest Man 2025 competitors Andrew Flynn and Paddy Haynes.
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