GIRL POWER: Lindsay Morris crowned Northern England's Strongest Woman

Lindsay Morris has been crowned Northern England’s Strongest Woman inher first competition.

The 33-year-old conquered all before her in the under 63kg category of the contest held at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, in Lancaster.

She will now compete in the national event in June.

Lindsay is no stranger to looking after herself, though, because she is an experienced fitness instructor and coach.

But she began serious training for these events, which test all sorts of extraordinary feats of strength, less than 12 months ago after she was inspired by a member of the gym she owns, Crossfit Chorley.

She said: “I have always been quite strong and trained.

“I set up A1 Fitness five years ago and 12 months ago we added crossfit to form Crossfit Chorley.

“A strong man competitor trains at our gym and he got me to train with him and do some lifting. He encouraged me to enter the Northern England Strongest Woman competition and I got accepted.

“I never thought I would get through, let alone win. I am in total shock.”

The competition has three categories - under 63kg; under 82kg, and open weight, with competitors taking part in five challenges.

To prove her strength, the former lifeguard and mother-of-two lifted a log weighing 65kg over her head; carried a heavy frame over 36m; lifted a frame with either vehicle or big tyre (deadlift), at 120kg; pulled a large quad with a strongman contestant sitting on it; and moved a heavy object 20m timed against other competitors.

Lindsay, who lives in Charnock Richard, said: “Doing a deadlift is the heaviest thing - the heaviest I can lift is 155kg.

“I am looking forward to competing in the national Strongest Woman championships in June.”

The venue is yet to be confirmed.

While women have been taking part in bodybuilding competitions for many a year the contests which test strength are still a relatively new phenomenon.

A World’s Strongest Woman tournament - whose name has changed several times since - was first held in 1997, stalled for several years but has then resumed in 2001. Current British champ is former hairdresser Katherine Bartlett.