A CARETAKER has found fame by becoming the English bench press champion – breaking the national record at the same time.

Simon Newton, 31, from Embsay, who works for Craven District Council at Skipton Town Hall, is now hoping to represent Great Britain in the 2015 Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in Canada.

Simon happened upon his talent almost by accident. “I started going to the gym in my early 20s, not for any real achievement, just to keep fit,” he said.

“I started off doing bodybuilding training and somebody at my previous gym was into powerlifting. I enquired about that and I seemed to excel at bench pressing. I tried my first competition in May last year and won, so I thought I’d keep going."

He won the EPA English Bench Press Championships in Lincolnshire on July 12 this year, breaking the English record in the 74kg weight class – a record that has stood since 2011 – with a winning bench press of 143kg.

Simon, who trains at the Skipton Weightlifting and Powerlifting Club in Sandylands Business Centre, puts his success down to his size, the right diet and the support of his partner.

“It helps if you have short arms,” he said. “I’m only 5ft 6.5in so that helps. It does involve dieting to get into the weight class. I eat a high protein diet – a lot of chicken and stuff like that. If I’m overweight a week before a competition I’ll diet, drink water and cut back on carbs."

He added: “My girlfriend is very supportive – she helps prepare all my meals and comes to competitions with me.”

He has been shortlisted for the British team for the Commonwealth championships and is hopeful of being selected next month for the contest, due to take place in November.

Bench pressing involves lying on the back and pushing a barbell weight upwards until the arms are extended, but not locked.

It is one of three lifts in powerlifting, also including the squat and the deadlift. Athletes compete in weight categories, similar to boxers.