Gold medallist looks to lift world titles
Powerlifter James Brincat-Smith has the world championships in his sights after picking up two British gold medals at the weekend.
The 42-year-old from Newark was crowned British Powerlifting full power equipped champion and British Powerlifting equipped bench press champion at Stanhope Hall in Horncastle
Impressive performances have earned him an invitation to compete for Britain in the World Bench Press Championship in South Africa in April.
The first day of the British competition saw him win the gold in the 120kg+ M1 category with a 270kg squat, 200kg bench press and a 250kg dead lift.
He faced tough competition from former European and Commonwealth medallist Dylan Davies, who broke the Welsh record at the event.
Victory in the bench press competition was secured on the second day with his second lift of 195kg.
He attempted a new personal best after sealing the victory, but the exertions of the previous two days took hold and he could not complete the final lift.
Brincat-Smith, who trains at Horncastle Powerlifting Club, was proud of his double victory, which should mark the start of a big year in competition.
“I am absolutely exhausted now,” he said. “It has been a great weekend and I am very happy to have won the two championships.
“I was up against a strong guy on the first day, which made for a very good competition. He was wearing a squat suit which gives you a little bit of assistance when you are lifting.
“I decided to lift the squats raw, so I knew I was giving up a little bit of an advantage.
“I managed to stay ahead and build up a lead going into the final dead lift on that first day. I did what I had to do to get the victory.”
'It should be a good couple of months'
After finishing the first competition at 9pm on Saturday, Brincat-Smith did not have much time to recover before the second event.
“I regained some sort of energy to lift on the Sunday and it went well,” he said.
“Knowing I had won after the second lift was a good feeling.
“After the win we put a silly number on the bar to try for a personal best. I didn’t quite manage it, but it’s waiting for me next time out.
“If I hadn’t been lifting so much over the past couple of days I would have got it.”
Brincat-Smith, who took up the sport in 2015 as a way to help battle depression after leaving the army, said he was excited for the year ahead.
“It should be a good couple of months. I will have the next week off to recover and then be back on it,” he said.
“There are a couple of big and exciting events coming up and I will do my best to make sure I am ready for them.
He was supported by Newark businesses Kitchen 52 and GH Porter in preparation for the fight and is now looking for sponsors to allow him to keep taking part on the biggest stages.
As well as the World Bench Press Championships, to be held at Potchefstroom, South Africa, Brincat-Smith could also make an impression on the European stage.
He will compete in the European Masters Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic, and could also feature at the European Masters Equipped Bench Press in Luxembourg in August.
