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Nicola Ann Bennett

@nabstrong_sc

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✝️ Ephesians 6:10-17 / Romans 5:3-5
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 2 x Scotland's Strongest Woman
🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Former European, British, Arnold UK & 4 x Scottish Champion

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23 days ago

Had a really lovely time at Scotland’s Strongest Man 2026 yesterday. It was a truly blessed occasion, affording the chance to catch up with lots of friends and enjoy very much being there to watch everyone compete and Beef win his second Scotland’s Strongest Man title.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to offer commentary on the excellent Stone Gauntlet event (another exemplary offering from the mind of Steven Simpson), for which I hope a ladies set is produced as I'd love to give that a go.

Seeing the Stoltman brothers present Matthew with the inaugural St Andrew Award was so warming. He works so hard and exemplifies the values of the Award. Placing 8th in a strong lineup of 26 seasoned Open athletes with a composed and measured performance, he is such a fine role model to upcoming junior strongmen.

And it was something of a surprise, and a very pleasant one at that, to receive an award in recognition of my achievements in the sport for our fair nation.
The road since my very difficult decision to step back from competitive strongman has been bumpy and may be far from over, but it has been necessary for longer than I care to admit. I am learning a lot about myself and my body and I look forward to the continued journey.
Thanks to Scotland’s Strongest Man, Suzi, Keldo and Stuart for this honour and lovely memory.

Thank you everyone who took the time to speak with me and express kindness and support 🙏🏽

Congratulations to all who competed and thanks to all those who worked at the show, making it so special! - looking forward to next year's show already! See you all in Florida at OSG! 🇺🇸 taken in SEC Centre by @nabstrong_sc

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a month ago

What a day @scotlandsstrongestman

What a show, absolute field of savages.

@victorystrong_coaching and @andrewgoodlad97 proving how much they’ve come on since last year and couldn’t be happier for them both. Time for the next phase lads.

Special shoutout to @the___beef for taking the win. We shared a tear, I coached him for a long while and even though not a client, always have a special place in my heart for this bloke.

Also a photo dump from the rest of the day.

Great to catch up with some really good friends as always.

Always

LSF taken in SECC Glasgow by @nabstrong_sc

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1

a month ago

I caught up with this year's first ever St Andrew Award recipient, Matthew "The Mammoth" Mabon, to document his training in the run up to The Official Scotland's Strongest Man Final 2026.

Earlier this year Matthew took the title of The Official Scotland's Strongest Man U23s which won him his bypass through the qualifier and straight to the final 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💪

This will be Matthew's second time at the final, but his first time receiving the St Andrew Award where he'll have his name engraved on the St Andrew Trophy upon completing the final.

The award has been introduced to recognise not only strength, but the character, humility and sportsmanship it takes to obtain sustainability and integrity of long-term champions within strongman.

A well deserved award for Matthew! Training is looking excellent, and with the support of those involved with mentoring throughout the journey we'll look forward to seeing great things from Matthew and the juniors of Scotland's Strongest Man.

TWO WEEKS TO GO 🔥🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

TICKETS AT EVENTBRITE 🎟️

@scotlandsstrongestman @matthewthemammoth @standrewaward.ssm @westcoast.sc @nabstrong_sc @stuartmurray29 @bazooka09_ @the___beef @suzzimac @dave_mac19 @ron_young_thestag @secglasgow by @nabstrong_sc

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a month ago

@nabstrong_sc smashes the Deadlift at the European Championships!

🏆European Championships
🗓️October 3rd & 4th
📍Great Yorkshire Showground
🎟️https://strengthtech.app/competitions/2026-osg-european-championships-48
📺Officialstrongman.com by @nabstrong_sc

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2 months ago

On 13th February 2018, I was introduced to the gym which was owned and operated by my very first strongman coach.

In that, my very first week in a gym, I bench pressed 40kg, squatted 40kg and deadlifted 100kg, in the region of 80kg BW.

I didn't know strongman for women existed. Didn't know it was a sport for "civilians" as much as just entertainment. Didn't know about Scotland's Strongest Woman, let alone what OSG or the Arnold were.

When I did come to know of Scotland's Strongest Woman, I was giddy at the idea of being good enough to compete at it one day. At that time, a Giants Live show for women never even crossed our minds. We habitually competed in car parks. Stadia were for the likes of Eddie Hall and Terry Hollands...

Fast forward to this weekend just past, and I can speak of my 3 appearances at Giants Live, 6 x Scotland's Strongest Woman titles, British title, Arnold UK title, European title, 3 x international podiums (2nd at Worlds Strongest Woman, 3rd at Arnold Ohio and 3rd at Irish Strength Cup)... and more competition attendances than I can shake a stick at.

I have now pressed over 100kg, benched over 100kg, squatted 195kg, deadlifted 250kg... still in the region of 80kg, albeit in a very different body.

I was the first Scottish woman to:
- win (or podium at) Europe's Strongest Woman
- win 6 Scottish titles
- win 3 different national weight class titles (u73, u82 & Open)
- podium at the Arnold
- podium at Worlds

With all that, and a great deal more considered, I can finally say, with great pride and with no short measure of relief, that though to say one is retiring from a hobby borders on the absurd, it is time to end my competitive Strongman career.

I'll have plenty conversations to come, with plenty of people to thank, for I could not have achieved this without the support and backing of an army of people.

But for now, I thank you all for coming with me on this journey.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
… a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away..." taken in Scotland by @nabstrong_sc

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3 months ago

GIANTS LIVE BRITAIN'S STRONGEST WOMAN 2026

Back for a 3rd year at this incredible competition, where the atmosphere was just electric.

The events were gruelling and the pace relentless, but we just about got through it unscathed!

Far though my performance may have been from its most optimal, it never stood a chance of taking away that one in a million feeling of having the opportunity to compete at this level and on this stage.

I said to a friend of the challenge of the Giants Live competition, that having the opportunity to be here is for me, a very great reward for the work I put in over the years. So I'm always sure to soak up every moment.

Thanks as always to the incredible Giants Live team and crew, the amazing audience who are deafeningly loud in every event, those who came in support for me, some over considerable distance.

Thanks to @mstsystems and @harrysquatter_ for the unenviable task of trying to keep me going, alongside sports therapist @lucyygeddie

And thanks to @deanmcviestrength for another fun weekend away around the comp, and for having my back

Huge congratulations to my very good friend @greenerrachel on an outstanding debut performance at Giants Live. Where she soaked up the atmosphere and put on a terrific show, just as I knew she would ❤️🧡 taken in York Barbican by @nabstrong_sc

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3 months ago

Journey To The Giants

This week I went behind the scenes with two of Scotland's Strongest Women to document their training in the run up to The Giant's Live.

The official Scotland's Strongest Woman was held at Fullsterkur, Goliath, in May where we saw the battle between the athletes to secure not only the title, but the only chance to earn their spot at The Giant's Live.

Nicola, who placed first, became The Official Scotland's Strongest Woman of 2026, and Rachel placed second. This will be Nicola's third time representing Scotland at Britain's Strongest Woman, and Rachel's first time.

The only pathway to the next level in the sport is through The Official Scotland's Strongest Man and Woman, and we're very proud to see Nicola and Rachel continuing upwards with what they fought hard for.

Wishing them all the strength and every success in their journey.

See it all unfold first hand at The Giants Live, Britain's Strongest Woman 25/07/26 at The York Barbican.

@scotlandsstrongestman @giantslivestrongman @nabstrong_sc @greenerrachel @stuartmurray29 @fullsterkurfife @goliathgymmma @bazooka09_ @apex.strengthconditioning @dodge_city_strength @cerberus_strength @strengthshop @jordantear @burns_gym @officialstrongman_ by @nabstrong_sc

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3 months ago

The Irish Strength Cup 2026 Women's podium 🔥

🥇@angestrongwoman 🇫🇷
🥈@__sabrina.re 🇩🇪
🥉@nabstrong_sc 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 taken in Claregalway Castle by @nabstrong_sc

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4 months ago

🇮🇪🥉IRISH STRENGTH CUP 2026🥉🇮🇪

How the events played out on the way to a third place podium finish...

Log - Axle Ladder
60 - 70 - 80 - 90kg
6th 2 in 15s
No comment.

Kratos Raw Deadlift for Reps
200kg
=🥉 7 reps
Not my best, not my worst. Good old reliable deadlift

Hercules Hold
70kg PH
🥈 28s
Loved this setup and kit. The release mechanism was really brilliant and far more professional than some bloke on either side, just letting the weights go at weird times.
Great event. No notes.

Keg Loading Race
70, 80, 90kg to 48"
🥉 all 3 in 43s
Fast but not fast enough. Do love moving and loading events.

Bag Toss
10, 11, 12, 13, 15kg to 4.1m
🥈 all 5 in 26s
Best performance I've ever had on a throwing event. Very happy indeed.

Power Stairs
140kg, 150, 160kg
🥉 all 9 steps in 58s
Last minute change from Yoke into 2 x weights to 3 x weight power stairs only.
Really enjoyed this event and head to head with @andreaseed_strongwoman . Hit a wall on the last weight but incredibly happy to have finished it with time to spare.

Enormous thank you again to @gsp_promotions for an incredible day and trip that I will not quickly forget

Thanks to Cleo for babysitting @deanmcviestrength while I am away

Thank you to all my clients who make these trips possible and for continuing to trust me with your own goals and journeys.

And thank you to everyone for you love, support, well wishes and congratulations 🙏🏽

Coached by @mstsystems
Nutrition, assistance and health coaching @harrysquatter_ taken in Claregalway Castle by @nabstrong_sc

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4 months ago

🇮🇪🥉IRISH STRENGTH CUP 2026🥉🇮🇪

Absolutely OUTSTANDING day and a truly fantastic competition.

An enormous thank you to Matty @gsp_promotions
for patiently inviting me three years in a row until I was able to come this year.

And I'm so glad I did, to share the experience with my dear friend @__sabrina.re

Adore Galway already and look forward very much to coming back with more time to explore and soak up the culture.

Congratulations to @angestrongwoman and @__sabrina.re for your 🥇 and 🥈 placing and setting such an incredible standard.

Thank you to Matty, Steven @gba_strongman, Martin @hostilestrength, Jack and Strom Ireland, Strongpass, Claregalway Castle, and all of the loaders, spotters, referees, helpers and volunteers that made this incredible event happen.

So fortunate to have these opportunities to participate in incredible events in incredible places I would otherwise not have had the pleasure of visiting.

Thank you very much to @mstsystems for my coaching in a very short prep for this, all the while with Giants Live on the horizon

And huge thanks to Harry @harrysquatter_ for helping me to make enormous strides in an incredibly short time with my wellbeing, pain management, health and digestion - I am genuinely incredibly excited for what more can be achieved after what has been the best I have felt not only on the weeks leading up yo comp, but in life generally, over the last (and only the first) 2 weeks of working together. taken in Claregalway Castle by @nabstrong_sc

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4 months ago

Solid keg run by @nabstrong_sc !! by @nabstrong_sc

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4 months ago