CHARD’S Emily Greenway continued her amazing progress in the sport of powerlifting, with a bronze medal at the All England Championships in Northampton at the end of last month.

Having coming sixth in the British Junior Classic Championships in Glasgow last November and then fourth at the British Women’s Classic Championships in Manchester in February, Greenway performed superbly to make the podium in her most recent event.

She also set new South West records in the deadlift (177.5 kg) and total (407.5 kg).

Her bench press equalled her competition best (72.5 kg) and she only just missed out on a massive 167.5 kg squat after the judges ruled that she hadn’t quite made the depth required.

Her second round mark of 157.5 kg stood, and meant she was only 5 kg from placing second.

Chard & Ilminster News:

PODIUM: Emily Greenway (right) secured third spot.

Greenway, a 23-year-old teaching assistant and Phoenix Fitness member, will now take a short break before getting back to training again with her coach Pierre Shillingford.

Her aim is to further increase her marks in all lifts for future competitions.

She said: “It was only one year ago that I competed in my first powerlifting competition for the South West.

“After only training for it for four-five months, I achieved a qualifying total; I had plans to compete at English and British level, but had no idea I would achieve a podium place.

“I compete in the u72 weight class, which is so competitive, so it’s an honour to be third in England and fourth in Britain.

“I would not have achieved it without my friends, family, amazing coach and my boyfriend Luke, who is my rock.”