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RAF Powerlifting

@rafpowerlifting

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The OFFICIAL Instagram of the Royal Air Force Powerlifting Association (RAFPA)
Tag us using @rafpowerlifting, #RAFPowerlifting and #OPGrind

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Our final thanks go to the team behind the scenes who enabled our success in Canada: our Support Team! Their planning and passion across all three services kept the heat on the Canadians 🇨🇦

On the ground, they crunched numbers, talced legs, hyped up lifters and ensured everyone had the conditions to perform at their best ⚔️

OIC WO1(RSM) James ‘Hoppy’ Hopkins – RIFLES, ARMY ⚔️
The brains behind the operation. James’ planning began last year in Cyprus, where his Canadian Armed Forces connections secured our opportunity to attend. On the ground, he managed the tour and made key decisions to benefit the lifters.

Chairman CPOPT Andy Davey – Royal Navy ⚓️
Bringing years of Navy Powerlifting experience, Andy helped shape the team and plan our next moves. From chasing admin, finding food spots and providing much-needed laughs to dodging the occasional 🫎, he supported every athlete and staff member.

Head Official SSgt (Spec) Alex Hulme – Army Reserve ⚔️
Our last-minute substitute, Alex stepped in with just days’ notice whilst over the Atlantic, navigating release from his civilian employer. He covered the admin gap and used his Head Official experience to guide athletes through weigh-ins and resolve technical queries on the day.

Head Coach LCpl Tom Beall – Army ⚔️
Never seen without his cap and shades! Tom tackled the challenge of selecting the best athletes across all three services, analysing data, running SBD training sessions and assessing talent against criteria to bring together the best the Armed Forces had to offer.

Admin Support Cpl Jake ‘Frosty’ Frost – Army ⚔️
The man chasing passports, certifications and money! Frosty worked tirelessly, through many late nights, to ensure every athlete and staff member had a seat on the plane. Although unable to attend the OSV, his military experience and dedication were vital to making it happen.

United as One ⚓️⚔️ taken in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by @rafpowerlifting

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5 days ago

🇬🇧UKAFPA OSV 2026 - @canplwesterns , Saskatoon, Canada🇨🇦

The moment you have all been waiting for. The results. Our lifters took to the platform against 375 Canadian Lifters, every single lifter earnt their spot and kept the heat on the Canadians.

As a team we achieved the following;
🥇2 Gold
🥈4 Silver
🥉4 Bronze
⚔️1 x 100+ GL Points
🫎 0 moose related injuries

Swipe through the slides to see how each of our athletes has done! 👉🏻

#UKAFPowerlifting #ArmyPowerliftingUnion #RAFPowerlifting #NavyPowerlifting

@canplwesterns @britisharmysport @royalnavysport @rafsporthq
@army_powerlifting_union @rafpowerlifting @rn_powerlifting
@infantry_powerlifting @reme_powerlifting @agc_powerlifting @ukincanada taken in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by @rafpowerlifting

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7 days ago

Members of the RAF powerlifting club attended their 1st OSV to Belgium, their first in 5+ years.

Spending the first 2 days running workshops for the members of SHAPE and training. The week also allowed opportunit for sightseeing in Brussels, Tournai and a strategy meeting for next year’s fixtures. Before rounding up the week with a deadlift comp on saturday with all 3 RAFPA men taking away 1st to 3rd and Becca taking away 3rd in her 1st ever comp.

#rafpowerlifting #overseasvisit #rafpa taken in Belgium by @rafpowerlifting

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11 days ago

Day Three of @canplwesterns 🇨🇦 complete, which marks an end to the overseas powerlifting section. The team really upped the heat on the Canadian Lifters and showed them what good quality lifting the UK has available.

All the lifters put the pressure on, with support staff doing some surgical calculations to ensure every attempt pushed them further towards podium.

Our three -76kg Females taking a clean sweep on the podium, with a tight pack being fended off by @fit_with_lauren and @sara_b.89 , whilst @fimac_fitness kept pushing that top gap further.

Moving on to our second session, @beth_powerlifting pushed herself after competing recently at commonwealths. Coming second to only @djessicabuettner !
Our youngest member of the team @_elenafit_ fought for fourth and pushed her gap even further away from the Canadians. Meanwhile @katielouisewood2012 set herself a new deadlift PB at 162.5kg and secured herself 3rd place!

Now the boys, @billdunn.pl was in one of the most competitive classes where the top 3 all placed with over 800kg but accumulated a new PB Total. @jimmycain93 matched the UKAFPA record of 207.5kg on bench and secured third in the -120kg class.

Finally we had the showdown of Coach vs Lifter, @tb_strength_coach vs @xxtyquanxxaxa. These two provided some entertainment, both projected 2nd and 3rd, all coming down to the final pull. With some tactical changes being thrown in to push both lifters.
Unfortunately @danwhite_96 had to withdraw after an injury to his pec flared up, we wish him a speedy recovery!

With that, we would like to thank @canadapowerlifting , @saskpowerlifting and @bridgecitybarbellyxe for their hospitality. Thank you to @pspdundurn for hosting us and supporting us during this OSV.

LCpl Lauren Ashbourne ARMY - 387.5kg 🥉
Cpl Sara Braham ARMY - 390kg 🥈
Cpl Fiona MacGregor RAF - 437.5kg 🥇

PO Jimmy Cain NAVY - 757.5kg 🥉
FS Bill Dunn RAF - 725kg (5th)
MA Elena Shehi NAVY - 315kg (4th)
Cpl Beth Thomas ARMY - 445kg 🥈
Cpl Katie Wood ARMY - 350kg 🥉

LCpl Tom Beall ARMY - 682.5kg🥈
LCpl Tyquan Dore ARMY - 675kg 🥉

@britisharmysport @army_powerlifting_union @rn_powerlifting @royalnavysport
@rafpowerlifting @ukincanada taken in Prairieland Park by @rafpowerlifting

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14 days ago

Day 2 of @canplwesterns 🇨🇦🇬🇧

Overall 1st and 2nd Place against @canadapowerlifting , we were pleased to see that they did a separate announcement to honour our teams performance today in the -93kg Category!

🥇LCpl Godfred Amoo - 765kg - 101GLP - ARMY
🥈Cpl Alexander Ayres - 735kg - 97.49GLP - RAF
🥉LCpl Oliver Robson - 700kg - ARMY
⚔️Cpl Jonny Payne - 630kg - ARMY

Today’s result also puts LCpl Amoo as the third highest GL across the triservice after @beardedwarrior1 & @sam.dew.74kg !

OIC WO1 (RSM) James Hopkins RIFLES gifted @bridgecitybarbellyxe with a UKAFPA Singlet as a thank you for their hospitality across the entire OSV.
The team were joined today by @tmac.pwrlifts from the Canadian Naval Reserve’s Western Regional.

Tomorrow we have 11 lifters across three sessions ⚔️ by @rafpowerlifting

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17 days ago

UKAFPA Awards Ceremony 🏆

Congratulations to everyone who received an award at this years awards ceremony

This year has given us some incredible lifters. You have all shown incredible efforts to advancing your powerlifting careers

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 by @rafpowerlifting

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24 days ago

🇬🇧UKAFPA VS CANADA PL🇨🇦

Canadian Western Championships

This trip marks the second officially sanctioned and only authorised international representative fixture for the United Kingdom Armed Powerlifting Association.

The team has been selected from the highest-performing lifters across the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.

Our athletes will represent the UK against the very best athletes from Canadian Armed Forces and Powerlifting Canada 🇨🇦

Congratulations team on being selected 🇬🇧 by @rafpowerlifting

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24 days ago

📣2026 Interservices Team📣

With Interservices just around the corner we’d like to take a moment to congratulate everyone who’s made the team

We look forwards to seeing you on the platform soon 💪🏻

#rafpowerlifting #powerlifting #interservices #ukafpowerlifting

@rn_powerlifting @army_powerlifting_union @ukafpowerlifting by @rafpowerlifting

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a month ago

Have you got a competition coming up?

Here’s a few things to remember to set you up for success

#rafpowerlifting #powerlifting #competition by @rafpowerlifting

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a month ago

Champs ‘26 💪🏻

We recently held our 2026 RAF Champs at RAF Cosford which saw brilliant turn out and amazing lifts once again

Congratulations to everyone who competed and all the PBs that were hit by @rafpowerlifting

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4 months ago

Amazing show at RAF Champs yesterday with countless PBs hit, it’s always great to see everyone’s hard work pay off on the platform.

Congratulations to everyone

Females:

1st - Megan Davenport
2nd - Lisa Shaw
3rd - Rachel Larson

Males:

1st - Byron Skipsey
2nd - Kevin Briggs
3rd - Luke Cooke by @rafpowerlifting

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5 months ago

All Englands 2026 120kg+ class🥉 place!
Squat 255, 270, 282.5 (2.5kg PB)
Bench 165, 174, 182.5 (2.5kg PB)
Deadlift 267.5, 287.5, 302.5 (7.5kg PB)

Total 767.5kg (+22.5kg PB)

Big shoutout to @lou.paveling as ever for affording me the time to train and commit to powerlifting and coming to support me on the day with the Kids! to @charliemarillier for stepping in last minute to handle me for the comp, her calming words and realignment of focus was fantastic and really helped me enjoy the day. To coach @billdunn.pl for the evident progress I have made with my top end weights and helping me again break the RAF total and squat record! A class day, feel like I got some enjoyment out of powerlifting before I dip my hand into strongman for a comp in 3 weeks! by @rafpowerlifting

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5 months ago