ANDY Bonner, at his lightest for 17 years, dropped down a weight category at the Welsh Counties powerlifting championships and carried off a new British record.

The reigning world and British open and masters champion at over-90kg contested the over-82.5kg category. His latest success was achieved with no training since he achieved his world title double in Edinburgh two months ago.

Bonner was one of three Basingstoke lifters based at the Sports Centre who went to St Clears, near Swansea, to achieve qualifying lifts for the British championships next May at Letchworth.

As reigning British open and masters champion, Bonner was pre-qualified for Letchworth at over-90kg but he needed to lift a combined total of 510kg to go forward at the new lower weight.

He achieved a squat of 200kg, a bench press of 130kg and a deadlift of 250.5kg for a combined total of 580.

The deadlift is a new British and unofficial world record and his total was just 30 below another British best.

George Stoneman, who is the British and world masters champion at over-100kg, wanted to achieve the open qualifying total of 565kg and he did that with a squat of 200kg, a benchpress of 140kg and a deadlift of 225.

The third Basingstoke lifter seeking British qualification was Rob Mackenreth. The novice, in his first year of lifting, achieved a lifetime-best benchpress of 135kg, which is more than 10kg over his bodyweight.

Bonner said of the Basingstoke trio: "The successes give us a nice break before Christmas to repair our bodies and then begin the build-up to the national championships next year."