POWERLIFTING: Newcomer Lisa proves an instant hit (From Oxford Mail)

POWERLIFTING: Newcomer Lisa proves an instant hit

10:00am Thursday 1st November 2012 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

A personal trainer is celebrating after making a record-breaking powerlifting debut just three months after taking up the sport.

Oxford’s Lisa Cuerden lifted 172.5 kilos in her final attempt at the British Deadlifting Championship in Woking.

It broke the national record for female competitors weighing 73-84kg, which had stood at 170.5kg.

The 30-year-old, who works at a variety of sports facilities in the city, including Oxford Brookes, travelled to Surrey with the specific aim of setting a new standard and was thrilled to achieve it in her first competition. 

Lisa, daughter of former Oxford Mail sports reporter Mike Cuerden, said: “I knew what the record was, but I was absolutely petrified because it was my first competition.

“It was an unbelievable feeling to break the record.”

Cuerden has worked in fitness for a decade, but only began training for the sport this summer after meeting a powerlifter, who introduced her to the Oxford Powersports Club in Botley.

Despite the spectacular performance, she believes there is more to come.

She said: “You only get three lifts and I had used two up on lower weights, so I didn’t want to go too high on the final one because I hadn’t done that before.

“If I had failed that third attempt it would have been all over, but when I did it I felt really good and strong.”

The deadlift is one of three disciplines in powerlifting, which also consists of the bench press and squat.