Gym 300 members set three new powerlifting records
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There was success for an Inverness gym when members broke three records at a recent powerlifting competition.
Tom Ashmole, who runs Gym 300 in Carsegate Road North, and members Ash Sinclair, from the Black Isle, and Gary Dick, from Rosemarkie, were competing in the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association (BDFPA) Scottish Masters competition for those aged over 40.
Mr Ashmole – who was competing in the M3 class for 50 to 55-year-olds – lifted 155kg to break the Scottish record and Mr Dick – who is 40 years old and in the M1 class – broke the Scottish squat lift record when he managed 218kg.
Mr Sinclair (72) bettered his own world record – in the M7 class for 70 to 75- year-olds – by half a kilogramme when he lifted 143.5kg – although it only stands as a Scottish and British record and not a new world record.
He said he had played sport all his life and was still competing. He added: “Everybody needs goals in life.”
Mr Sinclair said he had a feeling that he might break the record on the day and he was performing at his “absolute limit”.
He said: “Because Gary and Tom were both in for Scottish records, I didn’t want to be the support act and that pushed me on a wee bit.”
And he said he was impressed with Gym 300 and said: “Of all the gyms I’ve trained in, Gym 300 stands out for quality.”
Mr Ashmole said that Mr Sinclair was an inspiration to others and added: “He’s tremendous, he came here when DW closed and he had trained there for 10 years, and he had heard of this place and ventured down.”
He said that he had progressed since starting at Gym 300.
“The progression he’s made, particularly at 72, is phenomenal and he is an inspiration to guys a third of his age. It has kept him in that younger frame of mind,” he said.
Mr Ashmole said it was a “remarkable achievement” for three people from the same gym to have set records at the same event. “It is a good advert for the gym,” he added.
He took over running Gym 300 eight-and-a-half years ago in April 2014 and it has been a gym since 1995 when it was known as Gym Division.
“At one time this was the only gym in Inverness,” he said.
Mr Ashmole said they needed new members following the pandemic.
