A GYM in Keighley is proving that powerlifting is not just for big bulky men.

NRGym, based on Greengate Road, entered a ladies team at a competition in Colne on Sunday – and they won first place in the guest lifters category.

It is a sign of the growing interest in the sport which co-owner Rousel Chowdhury has helped to generate over the last year.

His gym has become affiliated to the Yorkshire North East Powerlifting Federation and been chosen to host the prestigious Roses Cup against Lancashire in August.

Chowdhury, who has won a British Powerlifting Federation bench-press title recently himself, said: “Off the back of competing at an event in November, we invited the organisers to come and look at our venue.

“They loved it and loved how we want to progress the sport with them.

“They want us to stage the Yorkshire v Lancashire match, which is really good for the gym, which has seen a massive upturn in members becoming interested in the sport, especially females – young and old – which is quite surprising.

“We’re breaking down barriers and the belief that powerlifting is just for big, burly men with big bellies, which it’s not at all.

“Powerlifting involves all-over body movements and provides all-over body conditioning.”

Sue Narey, Susan Aldred and Melanie Kaye made up the victorious team at Colne. Chowdhury said: “They were absolutely brilliant and did me proud.”

He also paid tribute to the men’s team, who also finished first in the guest lifters category. Like the ladies, they qualified for the British Classic Powerlifting Championships in Bournemouth this autumn.

Ian Spencer and Bryn Roberts were part of the men’s team, along with Chowdhury, who equalled a regional record of 182.5kg in the bench press lift on Sunday.

He hopes one day to beat the British record of 192.5kg.

Powerlifting involves three types of lifting – the squat, the benchpress and the deadlift.

It differs from Olympic weightlifting – in which Denholme’s Rebekah Tiler won Commonwealth bronze last summer – which involves two different lifts, those being the snatch, and the clean and jerk.