FIREFIGHTER Ben Kelsey is now officially the strongest 161/2 stone man on Earth.

The 28-year-old has won his first world title in Kiev, Ukraine, in the 105kg category last month and on Thursday next week is hoping to win the UK’s all-comers title.

Last night Mr Kelsey, who is based at Oxford’s The Slade fire station, was optimistic his win over 13 contenders from 10 countries in the Ukraine had set him up for the UK title.

He previously won Britain’s Strongest Man in 2010.

Mr Kelsey, of Over Mead, said: “I was in incredible pain after the weekend in Ukraine.

“It took me almost a week to be able to walk again.”

On the day he had to complete car squats, a 370kg yoke and 85kg dumbbell reps. He added: “My favourite was the yoke, where I had to carry a weight as fast as I could over 20 metres. “I also liked the car squats which involved pushing it up as many times as I could.”

After his win in Kiev, the former discus thrower then entered a competition in Poland to qualify for the World’s Strongest Man event that is not restricted on weight.

The former Wheatley Park School pupil said: “I only had a few days to recover and on Saturday I competed in the qualifier for the World’s Strongest Man.”

He came eighth and didn’t qualify but was pleased because he was the smallest man there. All the others were at least 50kgs bigger than him, he said.

Mr Kelsey added: “I reckon I am in with a chance for UK’s strongest man. I have every intention of coming back as champion.”

The three-day event starts on Thursday, August 22 in Belfast.

  • You can read his blog at oxfordpt.co.uk

TOUGH GUY

Ben competes in the 105kg weight category and took part in six events:

  • The 370kg yoke: carrying the weight as fast as he can over 20 metres – completed in 10.69 seconds.
  • 85kg dumbbell reps: how many he can complete within 60 seconds – completed five.
  • Conan’s Wheel: competitors must pick up a heavy weight that pivots around a fixed point and complete as many rotations as possible – completed 2.75 revolutions.
  • Arm over arm sled pull: pulling a heavy sled as far as possible – completed five metres.
  • Car squats: doing as many reps of a 310kg car in 60 seconds – completed 16.
  • Frame carry: carried the frame for 15 metres.