Local boys put in a strong performance at championships

Colin McCrellis -2010 reigning Northern Ireland Champion and Wallace Clark 3rd place in the Northern Irelands qualified for the British finals in May this year at an exciting event held in the Joey Dunlop centre.

The guys were part of the 10 man final to find the best of the best in Britain. The competition consisted of six of the most gruelling events imaginable - Super yoke (a massive frame weighing 290kg) had to carried 30 metres in the fastest time. Squat - two massive truck wheels and tyres had to be squatted as many times as possible weighing in at 200kg - dead lift a huge axle to be lifted for a single rep by each competitor the weight increases for those successfully making a good lift - loading medley 5 massive objects including an anvil, a 100kg barrel and a sand filled sack. Over head press medley - a railway sleeper, massive barrel, circus dumbell, steel log and a massive axle had to be pressed over head in the fastest time.

The final event was the atlas stones - the competition was a major success and attended by some of the biggest names in British strongman.

The standard was incredible and the weights lifted world class with several records broken!

Both guys returned to a heroes welcome in their respective gyms!

Ballymoney man Colin McCrellis fought his way through these events regardless of it being only his second strongman competition. Colin pulled a massive 420kg on the axle dead lift and literally ran with the massive yoke. He had a small but very loud fan club from Ballymoney including his proud son Jason, Colin finished in third place narrowly missing out on second place after suffering a bicep injury in the last event.

Wallace Clark from Maghera put in a really solid and consistent performance and lifted a number of personal bests Wallace too excelled in the dead lift pulling a huge 400kg on the axle well over four times his body weight!

Wallace was pushed on in every event by his wife Heather who screamed herself hoarse during the day. Wallace took a very credible fifth place in this battle of champions.

Both have vowed to go back next year and give it their all to improve on this!

The winner of the event James Ward was a real force to be reckoned with and has been invited as a guest to the Northern Ireland Under 90kg qualifier in May 2011.

For more information visit www.nistrongman.co.uk or email [email protected]