Get it, girl: Under-63kg junior women competitor Mae Luka, of Christchurch, completes a successful 55kg bench press during last year's South Island Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in Queenstown, watched over by Queenstown ref Veronica Manning

Sinews will strain and chalk dust fly at CrossFit Queenstown tomorrow.

The South Island Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships are returning to the venue for the second consecutive year, and with it more than 50 strongmen and women pitting themselves against gravity.

Southern Powerlifting secretary Anna Claire Thompson says contrary to the occasionally-intimidating appearance of lifters, both the sport and its southern showcase are friendly and welcoming to all.

“It’s a very inclusive sport practised by very regular, every day people from across all fields.

“They simply share a passion for lifting, and seeing how far they can push themselves.”

She says competitors tomorrow are joining from as far afield as Wellington, and include several world-class lifters.

“If anyone’s ever been curious about lifting, this is a great showcase for the sport in the south.

“We’ve got some top New Zealand lifters both locally and from further afield coming along, some of who will be heading to worlds in open, masters and junior classes in due course.”

Among a 12-strong contingent heading down from Dunedin is junior worlds prospect Charlotte Worley.

Worley won gold at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation Championships in Auckland last year, topping the podium in the women’s under-84kg class.

The 21-year-old Otago University physiotherapy student says she’s looking forward to challenging herself in what will be her final domestic event before heading to Romania to compete in the worlds in September.

“My target is a combined lift of 500kg-plus for Saturday, so we’ll see how we go.”

Thompson says Worley’s feats will be just one potential highlight to look forward to at the event.

‘‘People are always amazed at the determination and abilities of the competitors.

“It’s quite something to see small young women lifting twice their bodyweight, but we’ve got the men lifting the big weights in the afternoon too.”

Championship sessions run from 9am-12.30pm and 3pm-6pm; entry’s free for spectators.

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