WEYMOUTH powerlifter Nigel Orme has qualified for the ABPU British Championship after a resounding victory in the ABPU south west qualifier in Barnstaple.

Needing to lift a total of 237kg across the squat, bench press and deadlift, Orme smashed that target by picking up 305kg altogether in the men’s Masters Four -75kg classification for athletes aged between 55 and 60.

Orme’s achievements could have been worthy of a British record, but the powerlifter elected not to declare them, instead choosing to break all three records once more at the British Championships, held at the NEC, Birmingham, in May alongside the Bodypower Expo.

Orme, 57, whose performance is made all the more remarkable by his struggle with a knee injury this year, decided to delay a proposed retirement at the beginning of 2018 after learning of the AWPC’s announcement that the World Championship would be switched from Russia to Manchester in light of doping allegations.

Speaking to Echosport, a delighted Orme was happy with his display and revealed the freak nature of his injury.

He said: “It was a good day – I’ve done this a few years now. I’ve always gone there with the mentality to do better than the last comp.

“This year it’s all changed. I was looking to retire and they suddenly announced (the worlds) were coming from Russia to the UK.

“But I got a very small tear of a ligament in my knee, slipping on stones. I can be walking around doing nothing all day and suddenly my

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knee will swell up.”

Orme needs to win his group, and lift a specified weight, at the British Championships in order to qualify for the Manchester showpiece.

Orme said: “I have to win my group at the British and I’m looking to break at least three British records on the day, so if all goes well I should qualify.

“I think I will, because I’m not lifting to my capacity. My aim is to get back to full fitness before the worlds but if I can get up a bit better within the next few weeks it’s looking good.”