Weight is all in the mind for Dave Hodson

The 31-year-old, from Hodnet, is now a world champion in the sport after lifting more than three times his own body weight at the World Deadlift Championships, held recently in Wrexham.

Hodson, who tips the scales at a modest 74kg, lifted 240kg to claim a surprise victory in the under-75kg seniors category at the championships.

They were organised by the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF). He explained: "This was my fourth world championship.

"In my previous three, I'd not really challenged for the victory. 'd managed to come third last year, but I wasn't expecting to do so well this year. I'd never managed to lift 240kg before."

Hodson, a former pupil at Grove school in Market Drayton, has been competing for the past four years after making the switch from bodybuilding.

He first took up weightlifting at the age of 16, while recovering from a serious car accident and it was through the sport he met his wife Georgie.

Both compete regularly and have a gym built into their home, training an average of four times a week with Hodson fitting it around his job in the chicken industry.

The secret to powerlifting success, he believes, is to be generally strong of mind – though he is happy to use far more blunt terms when describing it.

He said: "You have to be stubborn and a bit ignorant, if I'm honest. At every competition you are trying to do something you have never done before, in front of a load of people who are watching.

"There is a lot of pressure and it helps to put things out of your mind and try not to think about it.

"Powerlifting isn't the kind of thing you play at, you have to be dedicated. I guess it helps if you are a bit insane too!

"There is a famous quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger, of an intelligent man will look at a heavy weight and keep on walking.

"A stupid man will look at a heavy weight and have a crack at trying to lift it. That's maybe a bit simplistic, but it sums it up pretty well.

"It's a sport where it is often best not to think too hard about what you're trying to do!"

The next event on Hodson's horizon is this September's European Championships in Amsterdam where both he and Georgie.

He's currently recovering from an injury which ruled her out of the worlds, are planning to compete.

Hodson said: "It is a huge part of what we do. My work takes me all over the county, but I always make sure I have time for training.

"Don't get me wrong, it can be brutal at times. You are always looking to push your body that bit further.

"But the challenge is all part of the attraction. When you get moments like I did, becoming a world champion, it makes it all worth it."