BRITAIN'S STRONGEST MAN -THE MAN OF STEEL IS HE REAL?

Sheffield's Paul Smith Hammers Britain's strongest in event.

So maybe it was expected that Eddie Hall, better known as the beast, was to defend and win his Britain’s strongest man title for a fifth time. May be the world level elite were favourites for podium finishes. And just maybe that is how it panned out as the Fly DSA Arena played host to a sport blossoming in popularity.

But there was a young 23 year old man from Sheffield who arguably stole the limelight, coming 5^th in a line-up of 13 strongmen. Proving Yorkshire is the real Northern powerhouse. The Man was Paul Smith, well known on the strongman circuit and aptly named ‘the baby faced assassin. Known for his domination on the regional and National scene he even claimed England’s strongest man 2016/17 – the youngest man to ever do so.

Paul works for Man Beast strongman events, a South Yorkshire based events organisation headed up by Andrew Picken and two times Guinness World Record holder Mark Anglesea. Andy Picken said ‘we first noticed Paul when he competed in Yorkshire’s strongest man at 19 years of age and more than stood his ground against seasoned strongmen. Not only that his log press was unbeatable that day”.

Paul won the title of World’s strongest junior out in Canada last year, but at 23 is now ineligible to compete again – so his sights are purely set on the World scene
.

So who is the man behind the athlete that won the hammer hold event on Saturday night beating even the World’s current strongest man Eddie Hall? Well he hates rice pudding and loves steak. Oh and he drinks a gallon of milk (8 pints) leading up to competition to add weight. When everyone’s counting calories in January strongmen are struggling to eat enough! It is one of the sports challenges.

In 2017 Paul was involved in lifting BBC’s Colin Murray above his head in a radio 5 interview, moving historic furniture in Sheffield Library to open a new reading room, lifting librarians up and running tugs of war in businesses in the Sheffield City region for Man Beast Strongman events.
He even did a special seminar for staff at B.Braun Medical Ltd based in the City presenting his journey through the sport - and lifting staff up of course!

Standing at a modest 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing in at 140 kg (a fraction over 22 stone), Pauls relatively ‘small’ in strongman terms.

Paul Smith above competing in Glenn Ross Ultimate strongman competition.

In comparison Eddie Hall stands at 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 30 stones! Tom Stoltman and Terry Hollands stand at 6 feet 6 inches tall and around 25 stone in weight.

However on Saturday Paul certainly made his mark on the World scene roared on by a partisan atmosphere at the Fly DSA Arena as the City backed their man.



Britain's strongest man, moved from the Doncaster Dome by Colin Bryce and Darren Sadler who run the competitions through Giants live have been true architects of the sport turning it into a mass audience spectacle.

Colin is the well-known voice of strongman, a bit like the Murray Walker of motorsport, and Darren, an ex-strongman himself, has been instrumental in adapting an outdoor sport into an event that can be run in indoor arenas. Hats goes off to this team.

Colin Bryce above centre.

Darren Sadler centre below

But for now the City of Steel is on the cusp of another era of strongman domination with Yorkshire’s strongest man Simon Knowles from the City, England’s current strongest man Phil Roberts and of course Paul Smith making waves in every competition he enters. Watch this space as Paul aims to forge the City of Steel into world strongman domination.

For more information on Paul or Man Beast Strongman events contact;

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

Main Contact: Andrew Picken

Details:

Superstrongman28@gmail.com

Tel: 07887400202

http://www.manbeast.co.uk

Sheffield. Founded in 2014

Twitter: @ManBeast28

Facebook: @ManBeast28






Phil Roberts (Left) England's strongest man
Simon Knowles (right) Yorkshire's strongest man