A 71-year-old powerlifter broke a regional record three times on his competitive debut.

Brent Gebbie, who lives near Sevenoaks, entered the South East Powerlifting Spring Divisional where he set bench-press records of 81kg, 85kg and 90kg.

The previous record in his age and weight category was 90kg, set in 2019.

Gebbie, a retired IT manager, hadn’t considered entering the competition before linking up with Body Mentors personal trainers in 2021.

But coaches Will Gorringe and Jon Murphy supported him - and the rest is history.

“Initially I was unsure about the competition when it was first suggested as it wasn’t something that I had considered or attempted before,” said Gebbie.

“However, with Will and Jon’s encouragement, I decided to go for it.

“Once I had started my 12-week training programme and could see my progress, I became more focused and committed.

“Throughout my training sessions we discussed what the judges would be looking for and what to expect on the day.

“On competition day I was quite nervous, Will and Jon were both there to encourage and support me and that certainly helped put me at ease.

“The day exceeded my expectations, the atmosphere, encouragement from the other competitors, judges and spectators helped my overall performance which I was very happy with.

“My thanks go to Body Mentors for their training, professionalism, and support. I’m continuing my training programme with a future competition in mind, even at my age. It looks like I’m hooked!”

Personal trainer Gorringe said: “In the three years I’ve had the pleasure to coach Brent he’s seen remarkable progress.

“Through his dedication to his training, he’s not only seen incredible increases in physical strength but has found himself in a position where he can be competitive in his age and weight category which is a testament to how much work and consistency Brent has put in over the last few years.

“As well as being one of the strongest guys in the gym for his age, he is a pillar of the community and one of the most popular people in the gym and brightens everyone’s day.”