Strongwoman Maddie is crowned Queen of the North

Maddie Upite competed over five events in the amateur category, starting with a 55kg axle overhead clean and press.

This was followed by a 135kg axle deadlift, then a sandbag throw – where bags weighing from 6kg to 9kg were thrown over a bat more than 12 feet high, a ‘farmer’s walk’ – carrying 75kg in each hand over a total distance of 30m, before culminating with another sandbag exercise, but this time lifting 7kg bags repeatedly over a 43-inch-high bar with running in between.

Miss Upite was one of five women from the island who had travelled to Lancashire to take part in the prestigious competition. All of them placed within the top 15. She said all five had been a little nervous about how they would fare in such a big UK-level competition.

‘I’m proud to say we all held our own,’ she said.

‘There were some amazing athletes taking part and every one of us brought our best and can be proud of how good we are.

'Seeing some of the pro class athletes who are some of the best in the world was an incredible experience. And seeing how friendly they are and how happy they were to share tips and encouragement just reinforces how wholesome the strongman community is.’

Winning the amateur class this year has qualified Miss Upite for pro class in next year’s competition.

‘It will be a huge step up for me and means a year of very hard work to get to that level,’ she said.

‘But I’m determined to put the work in and return next year and be side by side with athletes I’ve seen competing on world level.’

Fellow Guernsey strongwoman Gail Girard, who placed fifth, is one of the co-organisers of the Bailiwick’s own strength competition – Guernsey’s Strongest.

She said it was an incredible experience to be alongside so many strong, empowering women.

‘I personally loved the farmers walk event and even got over my hatred of the sandbag load event,’ she said.

And while the girls were competing in Preston, two of the island’s strongest men had travelled to Spain to compete at the Arnold amateur competition, with Raivis Bazjuks, winner of Guernsey’s Strongest in September, coming first and Jacques Colley placing ninth in their weight class.

‘It is exciting to see how many local competitors will be travelling off island in the next 12 months to represent Guernsey in strength competitions around the World,’ said Mrs Girard.

‘It shows the growth that strength competition has had within the island and it is exciting to see what the future holds.’