Donnelly breaks 3 records at weight lifting
This year saw a large turnout of both male and female lifters, indicating that the sport is certainly gaining popularity, especially amongst the younger generation.
Besides Donnelly (242 lbs category), the Force Bodybuilding and Powerlifting Club entered two other lifters in the Championships, Police Constable Wong Wai-kwan of Lei Muk Shue Division (181 lbs category) and Police Constable (Auxiliary) Luk Chi-ming of the same Division (148 lbs category).
All officers lifted very well. PC(A) Luk had achieved an overall total in his three lifts of 772 lbs to take third place in the 148 lbs category, while PC Wong had an overall total of 815 lbs in the 181 lbs category, also gaining third place. Unfortunately Donnelly had no competitors in the 242 lbs class (actual weight 232 lbs) so he decided to go for the records.
A back injury sustained only three weeks before the contest meant that Donnelly could only manage a 465 lbs squat, not enough for the record at 480 lbs. In the bench-press, the previous Hong Kong record which had stood for 14 years was 370 lbs and Donnelly raised this to 375 lbs. The dead-lift record had also stood for 14 years at 485 lbs and Donnelly obliterated this by lifting 601 lbs in his final lift. Donnelly also set a new overall total record of 1,441 lbs.
Donnelly said he was disappointed in not getting the squat record as he had been training with over 500 lbs in the squat until his injury. But there is always next year for him.
SIP Dave Donnelly with PC Wong Wai-kwan (left) and PC(A) Luk Chi-ming