Local man Colin Wright will be hoping to continue what has been a hugely successful last year when he competes at the IPF Classic World Powerlifting Championships in Minsk, Belarus next month.

Wright has tasted success on a number of occasions over the last 12 months and he says that with the championships in Minsk just around the corner he is excited about what lies ahead and is looking forward to a good rest when it is all over.

“I find myself once again drawn into the usual mixed emotions ranging from fear of failure to excitement and impatience to get there to get the job done. The problems of juggling family life, work and a sporting hobby that verges on obsession are still the same as when I began competing in this sport seven years ago. Throw in the added hassle of injury and maintaining a positive focus when your 50th birthdays just around the corner I can’t help but reason that it might soon be time for a good well earned rest,” he said.

This past year competing on National and International stages brought a number of successes both at home and further afield for Wright.

Last June he travelled to Killeen, Texas to represent Great Britain at the IPF World Championships and returned home with a gold medal in squat, silver medal in deadlift and silver medal in overall total giving him second place overall, a British and Commonwealth deadlift record (322.5kg) and a further British total record (802.5kg).

Then in December Wright was chosen to represent the Northern Ireland Powerlifting Federation in the annual Celtic Challenge against the Irish Powerlifting Federation held in Glasnevin Dublin. The competition was an ‘open’ event which meant competing without age divisions.

“I was happy and relieved to finish first in my weight group and to also win the Best overall lifter award of the competition.

I also finished the year ranked fourth in the island of Ireland overall placings,” he added.

March this year saw the British Masters Championships held for the first time in the Valley Leisure Centre, Belfast.

The competition brought together male and female competitors from all corners of Great Britain and served as part of the selection process to qualify for a place on the British squad.

Colin finished first in the 120kg weight class setting three new masters, two British records in squat (287.5kg), deadlift (320kg) and total (777.5kg) and also won the Best lifter award of the competition securing a place to represent British Powerlifting at the IPF World Championships this coming June.

Along with all the effort and commitment required to take part at this level, Wright also has to find the resources to travel to competitions like this one in Belarus and he is grateful to all his sponsors.

“Finding the resources to travel to Belarus once again fell to sponsorship and none of it would have been possible without the generosity from local businesses. I would like to thank my employers Balcas, Brian McCaffrey Auto Repairs and RW Engineering for sponsorship, British Powerlifting for the opportunity, Anne Gunn at Bodyworks for the continued free run of the gym and most of all to my family for the support and encouragement that keeps me going.”