Cumbria’s Strongest Man and Woman competition is back – and this year it is set to be the biggest show yet.
The show will take place this weekend on Saturday May 31 from 11am until 5pm at Rivendell, in Great Clifton, Workington.
Nine women and 14 men will be battling it out and competing to take home a title belt and be crowned Cumbria’s strongest man and woman.
Athletes will take part in classic strongman events like deadlifts, stone throws, overhead presses and more including a mystery event in a test of their physical strength and endurance.
Competitors will also be aiming to set Cumbrian strongman and strongwoman records throughout the day.
The show is being organised by Cumbrian Strongman Promotions who also run Cumberland Strongman Academy in the town and put on shows multiple times a year.
Organiser and academy owner Adam Rumney, said: “To win the title, the athletes have to be from a Cumbrian postcode, so it’s a one of a kind show, there’s not many life it left in the country.
“It’s our favourite show we do as it means the most to us and it’s usually the one that gets the biggest crowd. Last year we had over 400 people come to watch.
“We hold it both indoors in a large marquee and outdoors and it’s due to be dry this weekend, so hopefully that will make for a great day.
“Our 2025 show will consist of three classes. So we have Cumbria’s strongest woman class for the second year running, the Cumbria men’s U105 weight class and the Cumbria open men’s weight class category also.
“It’s our biggest show yet by a mile, it’s also the biggest women’s show we’ve ever done, which is incredible.”
It is the fourth year the show has gone ahead after it started out as Cumbria’s Strongest Man in 2022 and last year opened to include a strongest woman class due to popular demand.
Adam said: “Anyone who loves to sit at home and watch World’s Strongest Man on the telly, this show is for them. We have tens of thousands of people who will sit and watch it at home, so why not come and watch our local competitors?
“The standard of athlete in our area is insane. We’ve got an England’s Strongest Man competitor, a Giant’s Live competitor Daniel McNicholas, we have a two time European Arnold’s strongwoman champion competing, and five national level athletes competing too.
“We’ve also got 16-year-old Keenan Pearson competing in the open men’s category, which will make him the youngest man to ever compete in Cumbria’s Strongest Man.
“The standard genuinely is as good as you would see at a top level show and the stuff they do is not a million miles away from what you would watch on the telly.”
The show will also feature Mark Tonner – a top disabled strongman athlete – attending as a guest lifter.
Adam said: “I work alongside GB Disabled Strongman, and we have Mark Tonner, who has one arm, coming to our show to compete as a guest lifter against able bodied men.
“The things that Mark can do are insane, he’s an incredible man. He’s a veteran who was injured in battle and now competes in strongman and he’s coming to compete in our U105 category in all the same events as the other men, so we’re very excited to have him.”
Alongside the show, a fully licenced bar, multiple local food vendors and two clothing stores including merchandise will be there for spectators to enjoy. Kendal’s Lake District Strongwoman Club will also be attending the event.
Adam said: “Something we are big on is working together as a strongman community, all of our sponsors are local and we help them and they help us.
“We are also a very family catered event too, the whole point of the show is that it is inclusive of everyone.”
The show will start at 11am on Saturday May 31 at Rivendell, Great Clifton, Workington and will end around 5pm.
Tickets are limited, so while they can be purchased on the door, people are encouraged to pre-book online to avoid disappointment.
