Romance inspires Tash to record

STU PIDDINGTON/Timaru Herald

RECORD AND ROMANCE: Timaru powerlifter Tash Armstrong's efforts to ensure she lifted more than her boyfriend Peter Mackle at the national championships helped inspire her to break a long-standing New Zealand record in the squat.

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Timaru powerlifter Tash Armstrong wrote her name into the record books at the national championships.

Armstrong impressed by breaking the long-standing New Zealand squat record previously held by former world champion Janelle Woolridge at 162.5kg

Armstrong broke the record by a kilogram, then came out to bench press 75kg and finished the day off with a very strong 150kg deadlift.

Her total of 388.5kg gave her the the best sub-junior lifter trophy and more importantly made sure of her place in the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Championships later in the year.

The 18-year-old's effort in the squat means she should be in contention for the gold, as well as in the deadlift.

Those two lifts were Commonwealth records and an application has been made to have them ratified.

Armstrong's coach, her father Brian, said she did exactly what she had trained for.

"It was a great effort."

Also helping motivate her to the record was the fact she bet her boyfriend Peter Mackle she would lift more than him in the squat.

Armstrong, who has been lifting for four years, said it helped motivate her and the fact the pair trained together gave her even more motivation.

Last year Armstrong finished second at the world championships in the 67.5kg class.

Her passion for lifting could also be an advantage in her new career, with Armstrong hoping to shortly join the police in Timaru.

Mackle, who has been lifting for only nine months, also impressed on his debut.

He achieved personal bests in all three disciplines, with a 150kg squat, 95kg bench-press and 180kg in the deadlift.

Mackle's efforts placed him third in the 100kg junior men's division in his first national championships.

Armstrong senior said Mackle did extremely well under the pressure of competition.