So how did the A/BPU Manchester Central SILA Qualifier go?

SILA!

Massive weekend of A/BPU powerlifting saw some utter pandemonium at Manchester’s premium training facility, Strength Therapy, also known as SILA.

This venue has hosted almost two dozen meets for the federation. Even though their outward Polish stoicism sometimes doesn’t betray it, the enthusiasm of the facility owner’s towards the world of strength and fitness is unparalelled. Andrzej’s dream facility, no nonsense house of strength, has gathered some of the best athletes in the world at one time or another, including multiple World’s strongest man winners, arm wrestling champions, and powerlifting greats like Ed Coan.

The past weekend’s qualifier was of welcoming back lifters (and staff members!) who had stayed away from powerlifting for far too long, of hopeful lifters fulfilling their dreams and pulling their last, grinding deadlifts to qualify for Powerlifting games, British Championships or Europeans. Of ABPU lifter walking out 350kg SLEEVED squat attempt, first timers getting their lifts in on last attempts, seasoned competitors lifting four time bodyweight deadlifts, and teenage lifters shattering all time world records!

Crammed space, perfect equipment, seasoned judges, rowdy loaders, rude announcer, lots of love for the beginners and world champions alike, dodgy livestream, smell of ammonia, music as loud as possible, and every lifter in pursuit for personal excellence. The last rounds of deadlift peaked in such a crescendo of cheers, rhythmic clapping and hard house music that such frenzy is rarely seen.

This, ladies and gentlemen is, as Alan Wilson put it, peak UK powerlifting.

For past and future legends, the dates for next Manchester qualifier go up soon.

PS. Separate post will be done on getting your competition photographs, but in short:

DAY 1 lifters: contact Marco ‘Sumo’ Tambis at shotslikesumo.com

DAY 2: Contact Emma ‘ wildling’ Wilding at pursuitimages.uk