Huge weights were lifted and a world record was broken at Cumbria’s first ever international strongman show.
It saw a total of 11 top athletes compete from six different countries across the world, and one athlete even set a new world record.
Chris Otero, an American athlete, who has previously competed in World’s Strongest Man, managed to deadlift 421.5kg, the same weight as a small car.
His deadlift saw him beat the previous record of 420kg in the 105kg athlete weight class category.
The show was organised by Cumberland Strongman Promotions who also run Cumberland Strongman Academy in Workington and put on novice shows multiple times a year.
Kaos Promotions also supported the event and livestreamed it across the globe.
Organiser Adam Rumney said: “It was just fantastic. I’d been saying I was sure he would do it and that I was positive he would and that he’d been telling me he would, but in reality, you don’t really know, so it was that 50/50 chance.
“But when he pulled his last warmup and deadlifted 400kg, it was like wow, this is actually real now.
“Then when he did it, the full place just went absolutely wild. The full video of it was posted afterwards and within 10 minutes it had over 20,000 views.
“Chris had also never been out of America, it was his first time ever doing so and it was his first time getting a passport.
“Because of the prize money we were offering, he knew if he came in the top five, which he did, he would be able to pay for his travel.
“To be able to give that money was really special.”
Adam said the show, which drew in over 400 in-person spectators, had proved a huge success overall.
Athletes took part in classic strongman events like deadlifts, stone throws, log presses and more that tested their physical strength and endurance.
A total of £10,000 in prize money was also dished out to the winners of the show, who were decided based on points gained from events entered.
Behind the scenes interviews and live expert commentary from world-renowned strongman and woman winners Graham Hicks and Rhianon Lovelace also took place and the show was also live streamed to several countries across the world.
Māris Krievelis, of Latvia, won the overall show, followed by Josh Lancaster, of England, who came second and Chris Otero who came third.
Cumbria’s very own Karl Gorman, who has won Cumbria’s Strongest Man twice, also managed to come fifth in the show.
Adam added: “It was a very very special day and was the culmination of about 10 months of planning and hard work.
“Some of the numbers were crazy, we had 11 athletes from six different countries and over 400 spectators in person, which is just massive for a strongman show done locally.
“But it was a very heavy comp and Māris needs all the praise in the world. He’s genuinely got an argument to be classed as the strongest man in the world in the 105kg category.
“Some of the feats he achieved over the weekend were incredible, his performance was absolutely insane.
“To put it into perspective, he went for the 150kg log lift, the heavier weight, and second place got one rep of the 150kg while Maris got five. He only needed two reps to win as he went out last and he chose to put on a show and did five.
“But Karl coming fifth was a real cherry on top for us Cumbrians for our own lad to be able to say he’s one of best in the world.
“But the biggest highlight for me is the feedback from the athletes saying they want to come back next year and that it was one of the best shows they’d come to.
“We want to make strongman sustainable in our area and we do that by bringing big crowds which we have done time and time again and we’ve already got pro shows in the pipeline that we want to do again.”
Cumberland Strongman Promotions are set to host several shows this year including the Cumberland Strongman Bash in March and Cumbria’s Strongest Man and Woman on May 31st.
