A district nurse at East Cheshire NHS Trust has been displaying her formidable strength in becoming a champion weightlifter, outside of her role caring for patients.
Beverley Pattison, who is based at Knutsford Community Hospital, began the activity back in 2008 after she attended a CrossFit Gym and where her coach suggested she should compete in the British Masters Weightlifting Championships.
Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, winning title after title at domestic and international level and holding various British weightlifting records.
Her list of honours is extremely impressive and includes being British Masters Champion from 2008-14, 2016-17 and 2019-22; Northern Masters Champion from 2009-16; Northern Seniors Champion from 2008-10 and Scottish Open Champion in 2008.
On the international stage, Beverley has triumphed at the World Masters in Copenhagen in 2014 and at Heinsheim in Germany in 2015 as well as the European Masters, also held at the German venue, in 2016.
She is also a qualified top level international weightlifting referee and was asked to officiate as a Category One referee at the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham at the end of July.
“As a district nurse, I work in the community caring for patients and supporting their families across the Knutsford area.
“I started weightlifting after my coach persuaded a few of us older ladies to compete in 2008 in the British Masters Weightlifting competition” she said.
“At this time, very few women were involved in Women’s Masters (over 35-years-old) weightlifting; at the first comp there was less than ten over all age groups, now it is very different with more than 80 competing in this year’s British Masters competition alone with qualification totals required to compete.
“Masters weightlifting is split into age and weight groups; I am currently in women’s 60 age group and 55kg weight category.
“I also regularly referee all age groups and levels of weightlifting competitions across the UK and abroad in my spare time as well as competing and travelling to countries such as Canada, Germany, Finland and Denmark.”
Apart from her victories, Beverley has also recorded a number of second place finishes and currently holds the British Masters Records in W60 55kg in snatch (41kg), clean and jerk (54kg) and total (95kg).
“Strength and conditioning exercise is an excellent way to stay healthy as I get older, and enjoy the challenge and moving out of my comfort zone.
“Training has a great health benefit too – being able to deload a 60kg load with force is surprisingly enjoyable and satisfying!” she added.
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