Matt makes it 11 in a row

A CHIEF technician at RAF Wyton has claimed a world power lifting title for the 11th time, breaking a host of records along the way.

Matt Saunders, 37, is the first Englishman ever to win the World Power Championship 11 times in a row, and also set a new world record by lifting a total of 880 kilograms in three separate events.

More than 200 muscle-bound competitors competed in the finals in Grangemouth, Scotland earlier this month.

Mr Saunders said: "I knew that my major competitors all had very high standards but I was very focussed. I worked on my tactics, put 110 per cent into my training and my lifting, and it worked."

In the event, each lifter has three attempts at each of three disciplines - the squat, bench press and dead lift. Mr Saunders held off competition from fellow Englishman Phil Nosko to win the 100kg class once again.

Mr Saunders beat his own British and European record in the squat with a winning lift of 317.5kg and set a world record bench press of 230kgs.

A dead lift of 332.5kgs - the equivalent of four average-sized men - was just below his personal best but was enough to clinch the world record of 880kgs.

"I am delighted to have taken the record from James Morton, who held it for 15 years," Mr Saunders, who is married to Claire and has two boys, Oliver, 7, and three-year-old Joshua.

"Claire has always been very supportive of my sport and was over the moon that I've retained my title and added new world records," said Mr Saunders, who trains in Gorleston.

"My trainer Scott Graysmark and physiotherapist Ken Brickell are a big part of my success and provide great support at all the competitions.

"At the moment I feel I could win another one, even though people are continually improving and pushing me towards my limit - I still think I have more to give.