Clyde based submariner breaks Royal Navy bench press record

A Royal Navy submariner has recently broken his own record during the recent Northern Region Powerlifting competition at HM Naval Base Clyde.

Able Seaman (AB) Hall of HMS Astute broke his own previous Royal Navy record in the under 110kg bench press event by 10kg, lifting 182.5kg.

The Powerlifting event took place in the HMS Neptune Sportsdrome, where AB Hall trains four times a week however he also uses a local Dumbarton gym where he can use a heavier range of dumbbells.

AB Hall from County Durham has now qualified for the Armed Forces championships in June and also hopes to qualify for the British Championships.

“I felt really good going into the competition and based on my training I knew I was going to break the record," said AB Hall

“I'm now looking forward to the Navy Powerlifting Championships in the summer and the Armed Forces Championships where I hope to break the record again and get near the 200kg mark."

AB Hall joined HMS Astute in 2013 and he keeps up his training while at sea, using weight equipment to bench press up to 120kg and he is currently on the lookout for new training partners as one of his two 'spotters' has left the boat.

Keeping fit is a vital part of a life in the Royal Navy however due to the cramped space on board a submarine, all forms of exercise can be challenging.

Submariners overcome these challenges by squeezing the exercise equipment such as weights, into every space available.