TWO of the most experienced local strength athletes took part in British Masters Championships in weightlifting and powerlifting and came away with medal-winning performances.

George Byng contested his 19th British Masters Olympic Championships in his 78th year and racked up a gold medal-winning display in the M75, 77kg class, giving him a 13 gold, five silver and one bronze medal haul since 1992.

These titles were won over a range of bodyweights from 70kg to 85kg, with the latest contest being in the 77kg class.

His opponent was Alex Hart, from the northeast of England, who is also a former British Masters champion and World Masters bronze medalist.

Alex, at 74.0kg bodyweight, easily lifted 32kg on his first attempt snatch. He missed 37 on his second attempt but made no mistake on his third lift with the same weight.

George started at 43 for a strong success, took 46 for his second and made a good 48 on his third to go into the lead.

His bodyweight was 77.0kg.

On the clean and jerk, Alex failed with 40 on his first attempt, made it successfully on his second and just missed 45 on his third lift for a solid 77 total.

George made the 45 on his first attempt and increased to 50 for a powerful second attempt, the best he has lifted for nearly two years.

A third attempt with 52 was easily cleaned but he jerked it forward and lost the lift.

His total of 98kg is 11kg above the qualifying total for the 77kg class of the World Masters Olympic Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September this year and equalled his gold medal performance in winning the 85kg class in the British Masters Championship in Bristol last year.

Scotland had three female master lifters and 10 male masters competing this year at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire and all the ladies won gold medals, with the men winning seven gold and three silver medals — an outstanding performance.

In the powerlifting arena, Stuart Crichton, 43, reigning Scottish 105kg Masters Champion, multi-record holder and current British Masters 105kg champ, had a tough battle at Lincoln against four of the top masters lifters in the UK.

Stuart, who has won five Scottish titles at 100kg and 105kg from 2008 to 2013, had come down from his training bodyweight of 107/108kg and weighed in at a light 103kg (16 stone 3lbs) about 5lbs under his usual contest bodyweight, which had an effect on his performance.

He made a good starting attempt on the squat (or deep knee bend) with 280kg and followed it with 295 on his second for a good lift, only 5kg below his PB (personal best).

His third attempt with a massive 305kg (272lbs) for a new PB was almost completed, but just failed to reach the upright finishing position.

On the bench press, his signature lift where he is the Scottish record holder, he drove up 200kg (440lb) easily on his first attempt, but just failed to lockout with 207.5kg (475lb) on his second and third attempts.

Going into the last of the three lifts, the two hands deadlift, where huge weights can be hauled up, Stuart made a supreme effort to win the competition.

He started at 265kg (584lb) for a powerful lift, increased to 275 (606lb) on a successful second lift and had to take 292.5kg (645lb) for a PB on his third attempt to win the class.

He made a strong pull off the floor with this massive weight but just failed to finish in the upright position.

His total of 770kg took the bronze medal in this closely fought contest but it could have been a gold.

Stuart has the capability to bring this British Masters title back to Inverclyde and he has still more PBs in him in the future.

Inverclyde Ironmasters wish to thank Sport Inverclyde for their continuing support.