Powerlifting: British titles in Solihull for Frodsham bench press duo Martin Flett and Paul Kopec

MARTIN Flett’s GBPF British Bench Press Championships almost stalled due to a “nightmare 48 hours” of transport problems on the way to the Midlands.

But he got the show on the road to win a fourth successive title.

Fellow Frodsham man Paul Kopec, competing on the first day of two in Solihull, won the British under 23s title and came fifth overall in the 75kg class.

Kopec missed with his last lift of 122.5kg but had already set a new personal best of 120kg (264lbs).

His victory was straightforward compared with Flett’s the following day.

Flett said: “They say things happen in threes – well, on the Friday, my car died as I went over the Runcorn Bridge.

“On Saturday I bought a new car and that broke down the same night.

“I managed to arrange a lift from Northwich competitor Andy Gregory at 11pm on Saturday and thought nothing else could go wrong. It could!

“The M6 was closed between J14 and J13, we went on a 90-minute detour, and I arrived at the venue at 11.10am. The weigh-in had finished at 10.30am!

“I was allowed to weigh in late because I had phoned in advance when I realised there might be a problem.”

After a rushed warm-up, 53-year-old Flett secured the Over 50s British title with his second lift of 155kg (340lbs) but missed out on an overall podium place.

He was edged out for third when he gambled with a 162.5kg third lift instead of playing safe and saw the move backfire.

“I couldn’t have lived with myself settling for bronze when there was a chance of silver,” he added

“I have now won the British raw and equipped over 50s bench press titles for the last four years.

“It was good to maintain that run and to know that there is more to come, especially since everything had conspired to prevent me from defending the title.

“I’m nearly back to my best 10 months after sustaining a serious shoulder injury.”

In June, Flett begins a three-month build up to the WDFPF World Bench Press Championships.

Kopec’s goal, meanwhile, is a British U23s record next year – his last as a junior. The four-year-old record is an impressive 140kg but Kopec, 22, has hit 127.5kg in the gym and, with another year’s training, should get very close.