A WEIGHTLIFTER who was brought up in Okehampton n has qualified for the British powerlifting competition.

Jodie Matthews, who was born in Okehampton and lived there until she was 26, took part in the Gren Elmore memorial qualifier at the MSC strength and conditioning facility in Birmingham last month.

This is powerlifting competition run by the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association (BDFPA) of which Jodie is a member.

She told the Times: ‘The target to do this was a full power total of 235 kilograms and I hit 252.5kg.

‘I will now be competing in the British championships next February with the hope of making the Europeans next year too.’