Harrogate’s 'indomitable' Luke Richardson wins Europe’s Strongest Man

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Luke Richardson from Harrogate was crowned Europe’s Strongest Man last night in front of about 10,000 people at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

The former Starbeck Baths lifeguard will now head to next month’s World’s Strongest Man in Sacramento, California with hopes of making a serious impact.

Luke, 27, announced his arrival as a world-class strongman in 2020 when he won Europe’s Strongest Man at Allerton Castle, near Knaresborough.

He went on to finish ninth in his first ever World’s Strongest Man but then endured four years of injuries, which severely tested his resolved.

The Stray Ferret spoke to Luke, who was nicknamed The Future after he exploded on to the scene, in the run-up to last night’s event in Leeds, and he sounded confident of placing well.

Strong performances in all five events, including first place in the castle stones and joint first place in the carry and drag saw him finish three-and-a-half points clear of fellow Englishman Paddy Haynes. Poland’s Mateusz Kieliszkowski was third. Defending champion Luke Stoltman withdrew injured after three events.

The competition was part of the Giants Live series of international strength events run by Boroughbridge strongman-turned-promoter Darren Sadler.

Giants Live hailed Luke’s win as “testament to his indomitable spirit and steadfast refusal to allow injury to deter him from his pursuit of strongman success” on its website.

It added: 

Sadler said Richardson’s win was especially impressive coming off the back of his early withdrawal from Britain’s Strongest Man in February.