Powerlifting: Soffe adds 45kg to bench press record

Rennie Soffe returned to his best form when he broke the New Zealand record at the national powerlifting bench press championships in Christchurch last weekend.

Soffe (50) completed three successful attempts to add an impressive 45kg to the old record with a final lift of 210kg.

Soffe was competing in the Masters 2 100kg class and was named the best lifter in his grade.

Soffe had done weight training for fitness for some years when he decided to become a competitive powerlifter in 2003.

A year later he won the New Zealand title in the Masters 90kg bench press and was also the Oceania champion.

His wife Marie, who also started competitive powerlifting six years ago, equalled her personal best with a lift of 90kg in the Masters 1 75kg class.

Marie started her competitive career in style when she won a gold medal in the bench press when she represented New Zealand at the Oceania championships in Whangarei in 2004 Marie Soffe (nee White), a credit analyst, was a versatile sportswoman in her youth and was the Canterbury road and time trial cycling champion for four years and represented New Zealand in the sport.

She was also the South Island body building champion.

Six Otago weightlifters won titles at the New Zealand powerlifting championships.

Charles Abraham, after a five year absence, finished within 2.5kg of his personal best with a bench press of 125kg in the Masters 2 90kg class.

Steve Varga benched 200kg in the Open Men's 110kg class.

Bruce Park increased his New Zealand record to 85kg in the masters 4 67.5kg class and was the best Masters 4 lifter.

Trevor Bills won the masters 1 100kg class with a personal best of 185kg.