Mark Westaby wins regional finals of the England’s Strongest Man contest

Farmer, Mark Westaby has recently emerged victorious in the regional finals of the England’s Strongest Man contest held in Barnard Castle, and is now looking forward to the next qualifier in London.

Mr Westaby, 44, of Healaugh, near Tadcaster, is now training hard and has even built his own equipment to simulate the gruelling events in the competition.

He said: “My aim this year is to win the UK title because I came third last year. I was only three-and-a-half points off.”

Despite his success earlier this month, the former Tadcaster Grammar School pupil said the contest at Barnard Castle was a hard event which had “knocked hell” out of him.

He said: “The first event was a log press and the second one was a dead lift.

“I started at 280 kilo and we had four lifts, but after that we had to lift as much as we could.

“I think I did 340 kilo in the end.

“I have to go down to London for another qualifier. There are a lot of people doing it, but only 24 go through to the UK contest held in Belfast.”

As well as running a smallholding, Mr Westaby owns a landscaping business which he said keeps him fit, though he admits he still spends a lot of time training for competitions.

He said: “It takes up a lot of time and takes it out of you physically.

“You are asking your body to do things it’s not meant to do.

“I would like to think if I won the UK final I would go on to the world competition. I am confident – if I am injury-free then I will be fine.”

Mark had previously made it through to the World’s Strongest Man final held in California in 2008, but did not make it to the winner’s podium.

He said: “I think I’m strong enough I just need to be a little bit faster.”