Melksham powerlifter achieves second place in British championships

A powerlifter from Melksham has achieved second place in the British Open Classic Bench Press Championships.

Annabel Moloney competed in the championships in Maidstone on 1st March, where she lifted a personal best of 100 kg, competing against six other powerlifters from the British Isles.

The result means Annabel may now be selected to compete for Great Britain in the World Bench Press Championships in Warsaw in May; the team is yet to be announced.

She is also preparing for the English Bench Press Championships in early April, which could put her in contention to compete for the Commonwealth title.

“I am just over the moon,” said Annabel. “Last year was so difficult and I have worked really hard and to be able to see the hard work paying off has just made me really happy and proud that I have stuck with it.

“I am really hopeful to be selected to compete for Great Britain. I know you have to podium to be considered, so I have everything crossed.”

The achievement is a milestone for Annabel who suffered a back injury last year and had to strip her training back to help her recovery.  She said, “I had a really challenging year last year due to injury and other various reasons. There have been a few points where it has been so difficult to train but I have always kept that end goal in my mind and I am really proud I pushed through the tougher times, and I am hopefully coming out the other side of it.”

Annabel, who is the youth coordinator at Melksham Church, has only been competing in the sport for the last three years. She took up powerlifting in 2023 to help with back issues, although she said she has been strength training since she was 17 years old.

“It has always been a dream of mine to achieve this. I knew I could work for it,” Annabel added.