Eastern Cape powerlifters proved they are as tough as nails as they brought home 10 medals and three new national records from the South African Equipped Powerlifting Championships last month.
Keeping the provincial flag flying high, the lifters put on impressive displays.
Competing in categories from juniors and sub-juniors, to masters and open, the lifters proved hard work does pay off as they picked up a string of medals and records across the various weight classes.
Andre Ludik, Devean Frost and Steve Harding were among the men to claim gold medals in their respective categories.
Frost, competing in the under 66kg sub-junior category, picked up gold in his competition debut.
To claim the gold, Frost put up scores of 127.5kg squat, 85kg bench and 170kg deadlift, bringing his final total to 382.5kg.
In the same category, Awongile Nojaholo claimed silver after posting a 115kg squat, 80kg bench and 160kg deadlift to take his total to 355kg.
Both Frost and Nojaholo are development lifters and were competing at their first national championships.
In the open class, Wonga Jola posted a 225kg squat, 155kg bench press and 220kg deadlift to total 600kg and claim the silver medal.
His bench press and total were also provincial senior records.
Harding claimed gold in the U93kg Masters 1 category after he lifted a massive 170kg squat and 117.5kg bench press before posting a 190kg deadlift, taking his total to 477.5kg.
In the U120kg Masters 3 category, Ludik claimed gold for his 155kg squat, 120kg bench press and 180kg deadlift, taking his total to 455kg.
These numbers also ensured that Ludik walked away with the best lifter trophy in the Masters 3 category.
Other medallists included Eben Booysens in the open U93kg category, where he posted lifts of 250kg squat, a new provincial and national senior record 216kg bench press, and a 235kg deadlift, totalling 701kg to secure silver.
Francois Vercuil, also competing in the senior U93kg category, posted a 195kg squat, 150kg bench press and 255kg deadlift, totalling 600kg, to secure the bronze medal.
On the women’s side, the biggest winner was Patricia Harding, who achieved a gold medal and was also crowned overall sub-junior champion.
Competing in the U52kg sub-junior category, she smashed an 85kg squat, 40kg bench press and 105kg deadlift, all of which were new provincial sub-junior and junior records.
Her total, a mammoth 230kg, was also recorded as a national sub-junior record and provincial sub-junior and junior record.
She was also crowned best sub-junior female lifter at the competition.
Elisabeth Barry, competing in the U52kg Masters 1 and senior categories, claimed gold after posting lifts of 127.5kg squat – a national and provincial senior and Masters 1 record – a 52.5kg bench press, and a 132.5kg deadlift, totalling 312.5kg, both of which were new records in the Masters 1 and senior categories.
Samantha Harding, competing in the U63kg junior category, posted a 110kg squat, a 55kg bench press and a new provincial junior record of 137.5kg deadlift to take her total to 302.5kg.
In addition to the host of accolades achieved by the various lifters, a group of sub-junior and junior lifters were also nominated to compete at the world sub-junior and junior championships. They are Cayla Colling, Patricia Harding, Samantha Harding, Lutho Tom and Thabang Modukanele.
The championships will be held in Potchefstroom from September 2-8.