72-year-old Highlander breaks Scottish bench press record with hefty 140kg lift
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Ash Sinclair set a new Scottish bench press record in an International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) competition hosted by Inverness’s Gym 300.
At 72 years old, he broke the record for the bench press, benching a hefty 140kg.
Ash started his journey of lifting weights when he was younger since the strength he gained would help him out in other sports but he started to get involved in the competitive side of it in his 30s.
He then stopped competing for a while but started again about 15 years ago.
Currently Ash has an impressive amount of records under his belt with 11 Scottish records, five British, three European and three world records. These span across the over-60, over-65 and over-70 age categories.
Now his lifting incentive is to maintain his strength and not lose his progression.
He said: “When you’re young your goal is to keep lifting more but my philosophy now is that I need to keep my strength and not lose it, which in itself is a great incentive.
“It’s easier to maintain a level of fitness, to keep going at that level than it is to stop training to then try and get it back.
“However, I am a believer that you should push yourself as hard as you can, for as long as your limits allow you to.”
Ash, who lives on the Black Isle, trains at Gym 300, so while he always competed in the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation, he decided this time he would compete in the IPF since it was happening at his local gym.
A change which he has no regrets about, stating: “The efficiency with the running of the event with the IPF officials was second to none – spot on from start to finish. I’m going to stay competing with IPF this year.”
He also felt confident going into the competition knowing that the current over-70s record stood at 65kg.
“My first lift was double that at 130kg so I wasn’t too stressed about the record,” he said. “I then got it up to 140kg which is rather respectable.”
The IPF later emailed Ash informing him that he was only half a kilogram away from beating their world record and encouraged him to keep competing. Since the competition in Gym 300 was in the Scottish division, the record Ash set could not count for a world or even British record.
He will be taking on the British record in March at Banchory.
He thanked management and members at Gym 300 for helping and encouraging him.
“Gym 300 has been the best place I have ever trained at and that doesn’t necessarily mean for the competitive training I do. For anyone looking to improve their fitness, weight loss or weight gain, the place is superb.
“Thomas Ashmole at Gym 300, who I train with, has been so supportive and encouraging, honestly world class. So from teenage to my age I encourage you all to come and give it a go.”
A spokesman for the gym said: “Thank you to everyone who supported the event. A big thank you to Scottish Powerlifting for organising the competition.
“Also to all the referees, loaders and spotters for keeping the day running smoothly. Without these people who give up their weekends these competitions would not take place.”
