Four Eastbrook School students have been celebrating success after competing at the U18 British Powerlifting Championships.

Eniola Osikoya finished first in the 84kg class with a total of 290.5kg, setting a new U16 British squat record of 115.5kg in the process.

Leigha Nelson was sixth in the 69kg class with a total of 275kg and Gracie Otto was sixth in the 57kg class after lifting 225kg.

And Ralfs Vackars was 14th in the 93kg class with a total of 500kg, to the delight of head of PE Michael Goodwin.

"I am a national powerlifter myself. As head of department, I knew the benefits of strength training on physical and mental health and wanted to incorporate it into our wider curriculum at Eastbrook. I also had the ambition of my students experiencing elite sport," he said.

"After Covid had passed, I donated some of my personal equipment to the school and invested in additional powerlifting specific equipment. The first few members of the powerlifting team started through their GCSE PE lessons.

"Word quickly spread that there was a powerlifting club with Mr Goodwin. Once other students saw the improvements and progression of the powerlifters, many more wanted to join.

"Similarly, once the students saw their strength progress and muscle gained, all students were hooked. The next objective was to put their progress to the test and compete.

"There was a commitment expectation for all students who wanted to compete. They had to train four times a week, be on time, have good attainment in all subjects and ensure they were eating healthy and drinking plenty of water.

"The students who met this expectation were given the additional support and time after school to help them technically and programme their individual training needs.

"We now have a team of 12 (6 males and 6 females) who all train four times a week, with 10 having competed at regional level and four at national level.

"We are now waiting to hear if one of our students has been selected for the GB team to compete internationally."