There was some serious strong-arm lifting at Singleton Court on Saturday, as the Ludus Gym hosted a competition to find the strongest man and woman in Monmouth.

Two categories gave everyone a chance to test their strength, whatever their experience with events for first-timers and heavyweights alike.

Taking a second place in the first-timers category was a 35-year-old mum of two known to many as the smiling face sitting behind the desk of a local travel agency.

Sarah Jones is well known in Monmouth and Chepstow as an employee of Miles Morgan Travel - she is currently manager of the Chepstow branch - and took part in the first event of its kind in town for "a bit of fun".

The farmer’s daughter and farmer’s wife soon found that her height and dedicated training at the Ludus Gym gave her an advantage, and was able to take second place out of the 10 competitors with Ross entrant Sonia Sosna winning the first-timers competition.

Sarah said that it was an incredible day with the most friendly and supportive bunch of people. "It was very well organised by Tom Burns and all at Ludus. I loved the atlas stones but my hardest event was definitely the deadlift," she added.

Next on Sarah’s bucket list is a half marathon.

The men first-timer winner was Frazer Montague.

The afternoon saw heavyweight entrants competing in three categories, men and women under 90kg and over 90kg men.

Trials included lifting a car axle overhead, deadlifts from floor to hips and flipping a giant tyre 15 metres and ending with the atlas stones; a massive concrete sphere that has to be lifted over a bar 1.5m high.

Heavyweight winners were: Women’s Novice, 3rd Zoe Stodart, 2nd Kelly Bluett, 1st Georgia Mizen (Ludus coach). Men’s U90kg; 3rd Jimmy Frizzel, 2nd David Slarke. 1st Liam Hale. Men’s Over 90kg; 3rd Tom Burns, 2nd Tom Ball, 1st Dean Andrews (pictured right). 

Tom Burns owner of Ludus was thrilled when Welsh Guardsman Gavin Bilton, Wales’ second Strongest Man agreed to adjudicate the event.

Tom said: "A special thank you to the gym members who helped during the day: Jane Powell for all her help and the much needed marquee and her husband Sam who did an amazing job on the PA system, Ed Pitt and James Durose who had the task of ensuring that all the weights were in the right place, my parents, girlfriend Eve and Steve Richardson, who completed all the timing and scoring.