Cumbria is getting ready to host a world-class professional strongman show.
The competition – Cumbrian Invitational U105kg – is taking place this weekend on Lillyhall Industrial Estate, near Workington, and is the first of its kind in Cumbria.
A total of 15 top strongman athletes from across the world will attend the event which will see £10,000 in prize money go up for grabs.
Athletes will take part in classic strongman events like deadlifts, stone throws, log presses and more that test their physical strength and endurance.
Behind the scenes interviews and live expert commentary from world-renowned strongman and woman winners Graham Hicks and Rhianon Lovelace will also take place.
The show is being organised by Cumbrian Strongman Promotions who also run Cumbrian Strongman Academy in the town and put on novice shows multiple times a year.
Kaos Promotions are also supporting the event and will be livestreaming it across the globe.
Organiser Adam Rumney, said: “It’s our first proper international show and we’ve got athletes coming from all over including America, Czech Republic, Wales, England and Poland.
“As far as we’re aware, it’s definitely the first professional strongman event in Cumbria and it’s the first time that any sporting event has brought the absolute best in the world to Cumbria.
“We have three world champions, two European champions and six national champions competing. It’s also one of the heaviest Under 105 events ever done, with the largest prize money as well.
“To put it into perspective, the standard of weights are the same as they are in World’s Strongest Man. The yoke they are doing is actually heavier than the stuff you see on the TV at Christmas.
“It’s monstrous and it’s taken a lot of setting up, a lot of paper work, and the athletes have been training so hard and it’s been great watching them online.”
Hundreds of tickets have already been sold and spectators are set to travel from across the country to attend.
Adam added: “The plan is to make it more of a show, so every athlete will have their time in the spotlight and there will be athlete interviews and they’ll have their own walkout, so it’s a bit more of a show rather than a competition.
“There will also be a world record attempt deadlift, so we’ll have Chris Otero attempt to become the first man in history to break over 425kg deadlift as a 105kg athlete.
“We’ve also got a licenced bar, food van and cake stall, both of which are local businesses and all the money made from the bar being run by Workington Town Ladies will go back into the community.”
Adam said the inspiration to bring an international strongman competition to Cumbria came from a desire to bring something new and exciting to the area.
He said: “Everyone has a memory of world’s strongest man or strongman or they’re fascinated by it or they watch it at Christmas.
“So why not come and watch it here? We all say as an area there’s nothing to do, but we don’t always go and support things when they do go ahead and you never know, you might like it more than you think.
“But what we’ve found and as someone who has competed in strongman shows myself, there’s no atmosphere like a Cumbrian atmosphere.”
The show will start at 3pm on Saturday February 15 at CRL, Hallwood Road, on Lillyhall Industrial Estate.
Tickets can be bought online or on the door.
