Commonwealth call-up for Moray powerlifter
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TEACHER Graeme Reid hopes to give his Commonwealth rivals a lesson in powerlifting when he heads to Canada for his biggest event yet.
Helped by sponsorship from his Forres gym, Reid (40) heads for St John’s on the Newfoundland coast in September to compete in the Commonwealth Powerlifting and Benchpress Championships.
As the current Scottish record holder for his age and weight category, he hopes to produce his best performance yet in a competition held at North America’s most easterly point.
Powerlifting is a sporting diversion for the former rugby player who was born in Elgin and became a teacher at Forres Academy.
“Some years ago I played rugby league for Scottish Students and Kinloss, and also played union during the summer to keep training going,” he said.
“I then did strongman for a few years but through injuries it was easier to do powerlifting so two years ago started competing.
“I’ve done five competitions now and it’s all gone pretty good to be honest. I broke the Scottish record twice in my last one and it’s nice to get the chance to go to Canada and do the Commonwealth Championships.”
For the past year he has been sponsored by Life and Sole gym in Forres Enterprise Park, run by Dan Foster who is backing his bid for international glory.
Reid competes in the Masters 1 category bench press at 120kg, and twice broke the national record when he ended up lifting 185kg in a competition earlier this year.
“That was a good indication in January that I might get picked,” he said. “I am seeing it as a one-off but you never know. I have never been to Canada before.
He is aiming to break the 200kg barrier at St John’s to bring him closer to some of the top Commonwealth lifters in his age group.
“I’ve managed 200 in training – but training and competition are two different things. There’s a lot of other things, folk watching, referees and a bit of adrenalin flowing through you, so you’ve just got to produce it on the day.”
Reid takes part in equipped powerlifting, which involves wearing a compression shirt to protect the muscles from popping out under extreme strain with the weights involved.
Run by the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation (CPF), the championships have taken place every two years since beginning in England in 2005.
The most recent event in Potchefstoom, South Africa was the biggest yet, with over 400 lifters and five days of lifting. This year’s promises to be even bigger, held over a week between September 14 and 21.
Reid is currently on a year out from his regular teaching job at Forres Academy as he has been seconded by Moray Council to work with children with behavioural difficulties in the area.
