ILMINSTER strongman Gary Clarke has kicked off his year of competition by competing in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

Clarke, the UK’s first disabled strongman, founded Britain’s Disabled Strongman competition and has since been invited to several international events.

The Ilminster resident, who has cerebral palsy, has played a vital role in building the disabled strongman scene in this country.

With a degree in sports coaching from Yeovil College, he has been helping to train up new competitors coming through.

In last month’s competition in Ohio, Clarke took part in four events over the course of one day.

In the sled pull he managed 200kg for 20m, followed by Thor’s hammer (15kg, arms outstretched), in which he achieved a personal best of 48 seconds.

The dumbell medley brought another personal best, of 35kg, and finally the atlast stones event saw him lift two stones (60kg and 70kg), just missing another personal best of 90kg.

Clarke praised the standard of competition and overall winner Mark Smith, adding: “I didn’t get to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger unfortunately but I did catch up with Brian Shaw [current world’s strongest man], plus Magnus Ver Magnusson and Bill Kazmaier, multiple world’s strongest man winners.”

Clarke is now organising the third annual Britain’s Disabled Strongman contest, to be held in Kent on May 14, as well as a masters competition locally.

The Britain’s Disabled Strongman event is a qualifier for the World’s Strongest Disabled Man, held in London in September.

He added: “I would like to thank Toby George, Magnus Ver Magnusson, Arnar Mar Jonnson – the pioneer of the disabled strongman movement  – and my family for their ongoing support.”