Tudor powers to world record

FAKENHAM power lifter Ian Tudor made a dramatic come-back into the sport after three years out of a competition with a shoulder injury that for a long time refused to heal.

FAKENHAM power lifter Ian Tudor made a dramatic come-back into the sport after three years out of competitions with a shoulder injury. He won the specialist one-lift bench press British title at Bradford at the weekend and also broke a 17-year-old world record.

Tudor was determined that when he reached his 60th birthday he would once again return to the top of his sport as a Master Five veteran competing in the class for those aged 60-65 years. In the single lift bench press event at the British championships at Bradford he had a comfortable opening effort of 145kg (319lb).

However, his second lift at 155kg (341lb) was judged invalid and attempting the same weight again with his final lift he took the British title and the 1992 world record of American J Yanovitch.

"I came home a very happy man," he said. "It means I've now held the world record in the bench press in every Masters division since I reached the age of 40."

Winning qualifies Tudor for the world championships in September where his form suggests he could add yet another world title to the eight he already holds.