McNamee enjoys battle for glory with training partner

JUST a week after retaining his under-95kg Ireland’s Strongest Man title, Gavin McNamee proved he’s more than a match for bigger opposition by finishing second to his friend and training partner, Shaun Diver at Ireland’s Strongest Man under-120kg.

The reigning under-90kg World’s Strongest Man, who felt a relaxed approach helped him succeed in Bangor a week earlier, brought the same mindset to the past weekend’s action, which he and Diver treated as something akin to a competitive training session.

“I was more laid back,” he admitted. “It was a good event for me, so I just went to have fun because it was my first time competing with Shaun in a long time so we pushed each other and got the best out of each other.

“We were just having fun and enjoying it.”

And that approach paid off yet again as he attacked every event from the off, sharing first place after event one, which he and Diver dominated with 10 reps of 280kg.

McNamee then surged in front with a stunning victory in 8.78 seconds for the 130kg Farmer’s and he repeated the trick in the 360kg Yoke, with a lightning quick time of 10.87 seconds.

The final two events of the day – the 140kg sandbag for distance and the 75kg MDB for reps – saw Gavin take two fourth placed finishes which relegated him to second overall behind Diver.

“I definitely held my own. I really enjoyed it,” he beamed.

“[It was] Another cracking performance if I do say so myself. I stepped it up a level this week for the first ever Ireland’s Strongest Man under-120kg.

“Anything to help grow the sport in Ireland or even a new category etc whether it’s mine or not I’m there! Then again no matter the weight category in Ireland I don’t be long showing that I belong every single time!”

Having produced two impressive performances in successive weekends has boosted McNamee’s confidence to the extent that he’s hoping to go for two more Irish titles on one day during Easter weekend when he is keen on going for both the under-90kg and under-105kg crowns simultaneously!

“I’m trying to persuade the promoter of Ireland’s Strongest Man to let me do the 90s and 105s on the same day to test myself a bit,” he explained.

“There’s a max deadlift and a max Atlas Stone over the bar, so I would say whatever weight I do for both of those should stand for both categories, which means I’d only have to do the other three events twice!

“I’d be doing eight events essentially and they are all good events for me. I like to set myself a challenge and it will be a tough day but it would be good to try it!”