AFTER just six months of training, a 22-year-old teaching assistant from Chard has broken the South West junior deadlift record.

Emily Greenway, a former Holyrood pupil, took part in the South West Open Powerlifting Championships last month, her first ever powerlifting competition.

Emily finished 2nd in the 72kg weight category and set a regional junior deadlift record of 155kg.

Her other marks were a 127.5kg squat and a 67.5kg bench press, giving her a total of 350kg.

She started powerlifting after being encouraged by her training partner, Gabrielle Collison.

Emily said: “Going to the gym was just a hobby for me, never did I think that I would be competing, let alone come second in the South West.

“Having qualified for the British Championships, I’m going to enter the Women’s Championships in July and hopefully the Junior Championships in November. My goal is to achieve nine out of nine lifts and anything more would be a bonus.”