WEYMOUTH’S Luke Tolman took gold at the European Classic Powerlifting Championships, while Elliot Stone claimed sixth competing for Team GB in Lithuania.

Tolman, 19, claimed gold in the bench press despite competing in the under-105kg weight class, above his usual class of under-93kg:

Tolman said: “I’m just happy, I’ve broken a new British record in the bench press as well. I hit a 272.5 squat a 210 bench, I almost hit 214 which would have been a new world record in that weight class.”

Tolman entered into the heavier class due to how the calendar works out, with two other lifters having earned their team GB spot for the under-93kg but in the class above Tolman was able to enter.

However, next year Tolman will compete in the under-93kg category which, with his victory at the British Championships six weeks ago, will see him qualify.

Tolman added: “ It went pretty well. It was my first international competition in the under-105kg weight class and probably the only for a little while.

“I got invited in the weight class above what I usually compete in. I just kind of took the opportunity and ran with it, I got gold, in the bench press and fourth overall. I was the lightest lifter on the platform and also the youngest.”

For Stone, the competition was his first international and saw him finish sixth.

He managed to squat 205kg, benched 135kg and deadlifted 225kg, he went for a British record with his last deadlift but did not manage it.

Stone said: “It was my first international as well, I came sixth in my category, it didn’t go exactly to plan but I still did well, I came away happy.”

The two both train at New Body Fitness and are pleased to have the support around them that they do.

Stone said: “We have got a great bunch of lads here, everyone is here, helping each other lift and support each other we have got a really good bunch of blokes here.

“It is awesome to represent your country in any sport so to go out there and especially two of us from the same gym.”

Tolman added: “Loads of them are top level as well. We have got so many national champions, we have got world record holders.”

Stone has the British squat record in the under 66kg weight class, managing 215kg.

Stone said: “I am very happy with it hopefully I’ll keep it for a long time.”

“I got that this year at the British championships, squat is my best lift. I did not do as well at the Europeans.”