Tony Cliffe is one of the most successful powerlifters we have and he has dominated the heavier weight classes in British Powerlifting, both raw and equipped, for years. Second generation powerlifter, he grew up in the sport. He has been competing for twenty years or more but, incredibly, STILL isn't a master. Not quite anyway - he will break a few hearts the day he moves up to the M1s.
Tony has given us some great moments over the years: we won't forget him winning the classic open world title in Helsingborg in 2019. His bronze medal from the World Games 2022. His unparalleled performance in Dubai, 2019. And not least, taking the best lifter award at the British Classic every single time, even if he has to bust out a lifetime deadlift PB to do it by a fraction of a point.
This year however, he faced his biggest challenge yet. Just 24 hours before, Jurins Kengamu had given the performance of his life, putting up 820.5kg in the 83kg class. At 113.79 GL points, this put Jurins at the very top of the BP all time rankings, moving ahead of Mo Sulayman for the top spot. Tony would need to total 977.5kg to beat him - over 30kg more than he had ever done before.
Before Tony could turn his eyes on the big prize though, there were some formidable challengers in class to face. Tony opened his squat with a fast 310kg. Current European Champion, Kieran Gray, responded with the same and made it move almost as quick. Inderraj Singh was next out for an easy looking 320kg. Last to take his opener was Baruch Sekenofski for a massive 330kg. It wasn't super quick but it WAS super strong. Tony's British squat record was starting to look in danger.
Kieran slowed down a little with 327.5kg but showed promise of more to come. Tony next for a smooth 340kg to match his own British record. Matching it wasn't enough for Indy though and he chipped it and claimed it with 340.5kg. It was going to be difficult to hang onto though as Bo was out next for an incredible 350.5kg to take the record for himself. He looked strong under the bar but it seemed like he collapsed a little at the bottom of the squat and he ran out of power not far out of the hole. It looked like a technical miss rather than a strength fail so every chance of getting it next time.
Third round of squats and Gray for 335. It was strong and moved him up to third. Indy next to extend his fresh British record. 347.5kg on the bar and it was slow but his positioning was incredible and he just kept driving. Absolutely beautiful squat. Tony called for crowd support as he approached 350 on the rack but he really didn't need to - the roof came off Nottingham Strong as he took back what was his.
One more squat! Bo Sekenofski for another attempt at 350.5kg. He braced hard and kept tight at the bottom. It came up smooth and he grabbed the hot potato that was the 120kg British squat record and kept it for himself.
No surprise that Tony shot into the lead with his opening bench - 230kg. Tony has the British record for bench in the 120s and the 120+. He also holds the European record at 242.5kg. Kieran made up ground too with a super fast 210kg. No dramas during the second round of bench. Tony did chip the record with 245.5kg but that's just Tony Cliffe doing Tony Cliffe things.
Bo got 202.5kg for his second but missed 210 for his last - did he leave too many kilos behind here? Kieran matched his own best at 230kg for the notional bench silver. Tony put in a great effort with 250kg - it was close but he couldn't quite grind through it.
This put Tony 30kg clear of Kieran at sub-total but Kieran was under pressure from Bo, only 12kg back. Indy was another 23kg behind Bo, but deadlifters lie in wait at sub-total, like a bear trap in long grass, waiting to ruin the lives of passing sub-totallers. He maxed out his bench with a PB at 182.5kg and got ready to deploy his deadlift superpower.
Bo's opener looked great at 310kg. Tony took an easy 330kg and Kieran matched him straight after. Last man out to pull was Inderraj Singh and 340kg just flew, moving him up to third ahead of Bo.
With the deadlifters taking big jumps to their second attempts, it was hard to be sure where this would land. Bo first for 332.5kg - it was slow at the top but never stopped moving and jumped ahead of Indy. Gray matched his comp best with 350kg and at this point seemed sure of second place.
Tony looked a little off centre on 360kg but it didn't really challenge him too much and this gave him 955.5kg total, smashing the British total record. Indy followed him out for 372.5kg and he looked like he had plenty more to give. Final attempts started to slam into the scoresheet and the tension built by the second.
Bo attempted 350kg to move onto the podium but he couldn't quite lock it out. Kieran Gray, under pressure from Indy, had a good crack at 360kg but it was a little too much.
The noise levels rose as Tony Cliffe, already British Champion, charged out onto the platform for 382.0kg to take the British deadlift record and also to beat Jurins Kengamu to the best lifter trophy. He got it moving but it stalled out just below the knee and he had to concede the victory, and a hug, as he left the platform.
One lift remained. Inderraj Singh Dhillon loaded up 385.5kg to match Bryce Krawczyk's world record. The crowd went nuts as he came out to pull. He stretched to the sky, dropped and pulled a beautiful conventional deadlift, the biggest in British Powerlifting history, and shot into second place.
The lights shone white and the Bearded Warrior fell to his knees and roared his triumph. A knockout finish for what has been a brilliant British Championships.
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