On 23rd October, Sheffield Arena will host a competition to see who is Britain’s Strongest Man, with current holder Adam Bishop looking to extend his 18-month spell with this title. This is the longest spell that the title has been held by a single contestant since Jimmy Marku took the crown in 2008, as the competition was not held again until 2012.
Tom Stoltman comes into the Britain’s Strongest Man competition as the favourite according to the bookies, having managed to claim the World’s Strongest Man title this year, having narrowly missed out last year in second place.
The 27-year-old’s personal records include a World Record Atlas Stone lift of 286kg, as well as a 7.5m Keg Toss in the World’s Strongest Man competition this year. The Scotsman also managed to do a Deadlift at 430kg on his way to winning the World Strongest Man title and he will take some stopping if he is to be denied of this year’s Britain’s Strongest Man title having finished third and second in each of the last two years.
Luke Stoltman, older brother of Tom, comes into this year’s competition as the second bookies favourite to claim the title of Britain’s Strongest Man having finished first in Europe’s Strongest Man this calendar year as well as winning the Giants Live Finals in Glasgow.
The 36-year-old who is nicknamed ‘The Highland Oak’ has a British record for the heaviest Log Lift, lifting at 221kg, as well as an unofficial World Record Log Lift of 228.5kg which weighs in at the equivalent of 503.8IB.
Luke is also the five-time winner of Scotland’s Strongest Man and his other records in competition read at 420kg on Deadlifts, as well as lifting 422kg in a Hummer Tire Deadlift and an Axle Press of 170kg.
Current holder Adam Bishop is priced at 6/1 to retain his title coming into this year’s competition due to the stern competition in his way.
The 32-year-old notably beat Tom to the crown last year, but, finished eighth in the World’s Strongest Man competition this year, casting some doubt over his capabilities to go head-to-head with either of the Stoltman brothers.
‘Bish’ as he is nicknamed has personal records of 170kg for an Overhead Press, 190kg in the Log Lift, as well as a 453.5kg Deadlift and can even lift a Hummer Tire Deadlift weight of 490kg.
24-year-old English Powerlifter Luke Richardson of Harrogate is next on this list of contenders.
‘Yorkshire’s Finest’ was named as Europe’s Strongest Man in 2020 and finished four in Britain’s edition last time out and has some impressive records, as in powerlifting competitions he has managed 222.5kg Bench Press, as well as a 385kg Deadlift and a 403kg squat, which in total is an incredible 1,010.5kg. Richardson’s best ever Deadlift overall though is 425kg, as well as a 185kg Log press.
Morecambe-born Powerlifter Graham Hicks is the last contestant on this list of those in contention to win Britain’s Strongest Man.
Hicks is 35-years-old and finished third in Europe’s Strongest Man this year and was even the winner of Britain’s edition in 2019. Hicks’ personal records include a Strongman Deadlift of 410kg, a 220lg Log Lift, as well as a 440kg squat and a Bench press of 270kg.
In the last three Britain’s Strongest Man competitions he has entered in 2014, 2018 and 2019, Hicks hasn’t finished below second place.