My Story

We continued to train throughout 1953 and when possible trained in the open air. We would run and jump and perform gymnastic exercises We also filled small drums with sand and lifted them overhead. We did not train to any plan and at this stage none of us had any ambition or goal, we just enjoyed training. I was particularly interested in the old time strongmen. I became an avid reader of their Biographies.

I was inspired reading about the great feats of strength peformed by men such as Louis Cyr,George Hackenschmidt, Herman Goerner,The Saxon Brothers and many others.[I never lost that facination with great feats of strength]. In 1954 I had my first weightlifting competition. It was representing Clonmel against a team from Limerick City held in Limerick. I lifted in the Middle Weight Class, and my opponent was W. Kennedy. I won with a total of 425 pounds to 415 pounds.

We had a return contest in Clonmel later that year and I again came out the winner with a total of 445 pounds to 430 pounds for Kennedy. At the Munster Championships I entered the Mr Munster physique contest. I won the title Mr Munster Junior. At this stage I was still more interested in bodybuilding and old time strongmen than in Weightlifting as a sport. Our training conditions were primitive. We had no idea about training methods, although we did follow a routine of exercises including Pressing,Squating and Bench Pressing, but we enjoyed training. I was getting stronger and this was encouraging.

Move to England.

In January 1956 I moved to London to find employment. I joined the Gifford Weightlifting Club in North London. The British Champion Ben Helfgott trained at Gifford. I was inspired by his lifting prowess and became determined to reach this high standard. I gained good experience competing for the Gifford B team in the London League.

In March I entered the "London's Strongest Irishman" contest organized by the famous Kerry Strongman Butty Sugrue. There were about 22 entries and the contest was to lift the most weight overhead using any style. There was no warm up and we were in our street clothes. I won the contest with a lift of 230 pounds. In August I went to Clonmel on holiday. I competed for Clonmel in a match against Limerick City. I won my match with a total of 550 pounds.

MOVE TO HEBDEN BRIDGE

In 1957 my wife and I and our new born baby moved up to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. I joined the Sowerby Bridge Weightlifting Club. At that time there were many weightlifting clubs in Yorkshire with many talented lifters. Competition was very tough. I got a place on the 'B' team and after a year won my place on the 'A' team with Jeff Birkenshaw, Peter Whitehouse and Frank Maguire, these three men were Yorkshire Champions so I was in good company.

I became friends with the Halifax strongman Jeff Birkenshaw. Jeff had a good 'eye' for coaching and took an interest in the technical side of my lifting. He was the nearest I ever had to a Personal coach,and he advised me on the technical side of my lifting all through my weightlifting years. He had a set of weights in his celler and we used to train there once a week. He also became a lifelong friend

It was about this time that I met Kevin Thorp from Todmorden. Kevin was very keen. He had been training in Todmorden and heard there was a weightlifter in Hebden Bridge,so he made contact. He joined the Sowerby Bridge Club and from then until I retired from competition in 1972 we trained together. Kevin went on to win the British Mid Heavy Title.

1958_1959

During 1958 and 1959 I trained regularly. I competed in the Yorkshire and NE Weightlifting League. I entered the Yorkshire Championships each year making steady progress with my total. My interest in bodybuilding was still in evidence as I entered the NABBA Mr Yorkshire in 1958 which was won by Tony Emmot, later a Mr Universe winner. I also competed in 'Strength Set' competitions better known now as Power lifting with the Deadlift replacing the Curl. The Yorkshire Weightlifting League had a very full fixture list at that time. Most Clubs were able to enter an 'A' and a'B' team. Standards were very high with men like George Popplewell, Tony Flood, Gordon and Eddie Allen,Alan Broadhead, Peter Kilroy, Fred Williamson, Ken Saville, Maurice Megennis and others making it very difficult indeed to win anything.

1960-1965.

In 1960 I made a decision to double my training load. To achieve this I made a set of weights from some gear wheels and started training in my kitchen. Training under these conditions was very difficult, not only because I could not risk dropping any weights, but the weights had to be stored after each training session and taken out and assembled before each new session. A typical day would be; I would arrive home from my engineering job at 7.PM,have a high protein drink, and get the weights out and assemble them. I would train until 9.30 or 9.45. I concentrated on Pressing, Power Snatch, Power Clean, heavy Pulls and Front and Back Squats. I would then store the weights away and have my dinner at about 10.PM. I DID THIS FOR TWELVE YEARS!. This training paid dividends and I made good progress. I broke the 700 pounds total mark at 160 pounds bodyweight.

1961-1962

During 1961 I continued to train hard and I was happy to see the rewards. I won my first Yorkshire Title. Competing in the Middleweight Class I lifted a total of 715 pounds. The Sowerby Bridge Club closed so a group of us decided to start our own club in Hebden Bridge. It closed after one year due to lack of support. At that time the Yorkshire WL Association ran Even Stone Championships. I won the 12 stone Title. In 1962 Kevin Thorp Jeff Birkenshaw and I joined the Huddersfield Criterion Weightlifting Club. This club was one of the top clubs in the north of England. This move was to prove to be of great benifit to me, and later to the Huddersfield Club. I retained the Yorkshire Middle Weight Title that year.

1963

By 1963 I believed I was ready to compete in the All Ireland Championships being held that year in my home town of Clonmel. I entered in the Middleweight Class. At the weigh in I was one pound overweight, so I competed in the Light Heavy Class. I won my first National Title lifting a Total of 720 pounds. Winning this Title was a turning point for me, not only did it bring me to the attention of the public, but it qualified me for inclusion in the National Team for International competition. This was very encouraging and inspired me to train even harder.

1964

1964 was a year of building on what I had achieved so far. My Total improved to 750 pounds. I successfully defended the Yorkshire Middle Weight Title. Representing Ireland against Wales at Port Talbot, I had a good win over the Commonwealth Bronze Medallist Horrie Johnson. In November I went to my home town Clonmel to compete in the All Ireland Championships. I won the Middle Weight Class, breaking the Irish Records in the process. These championships were televised and shown on the main National News. My wife and I were interviewed for TV after my win. It was not usual for our sport to receive that kind of coverage. In December I was chosen as Tipperary Sports Star for 1964.

1965- THE HUDDERSFIELD CLUB.

It was at about this time that the Huddersfield Club began it's dominance of Yorkshire and North East League and Bergson Trophy Competition which would continue into the mid 1970's. The reason for this was, in my opinion, because there was a depth of talent in the Club. Peter Kilroy was pound for pound one of the strongest lifters in Yorkshire. We also had Gordon Eddington, Mick Butterworth,[who held the Yorkshire Snatch record] Alan Grey, Bert Norman, John Sykes. Kevin Thorp[who's record speaks for itself] and myself. It was easy to field a 3 man team from that group. Kevin Thorp and I trained at the Club every Saturday for between 3 and 4 hours each session.

1965 was a mixed year for me. It started well enough as I was selected to represent Ireland in a contest on ITV World of Sport in Cardiff. I competed on the Snatch against Horrie Johnson of Wales. I won the match 230 pounds to 220. In April I lost my Yorkshire Middle Weight Title lifting a Total of 743 Pounds. Later that year I was runner-up in the Middleweight Class at the All Ireland Championships. My total was 750 Pounds to 760.I was successful with my starting poundages only, in a bid to reach an 800 pounds total. I had always been driven by the desire to improve my total rather than the winning of titles. At the year end I was awarded the Tipperary Sports Star Award for 1965

BERLIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

In January 1966 I went to Ireland to compete in the Munster Championships held in Clonmel. I won the Middle Weight Class with a Total of 745 Pounds, breaking the Irish Snatch Record in the process with a lift of 230 Pounds. In April I regained the Yorkshire Middle Weight Title with a Total of 743 Pounds. This was my last appearance as a Middle Weight as I decided to move up to the Light Heavy Class. In June I went to Dublin to compete in the All Ireland Championships. I had a tough battle with the defending Champion, Pat Redmond of Dublin; I won with a Total of 780 Pounds. My bodyweight was 170 Pounds, 11 Pounds below the Light Heavy limit, so I was pleased with the result.

After the Championships I was selected for the Irish Team to compete in the European and World Championships being held in East Berlin in October. The other Team members were Tommy Hayden and Pat Redmond of Dublin. In September I was involved in what must be the closest ever Bergson Trophy Final. It took place at Northallerton and was between the Middlesbrough team of Fred Williamson, Alex Hart and Ken Saville, and the Huddersfield team of Peter Kilroy, Alan Grey and I. Jim Mason was the referee. After the 6 lifters had completed 53 of a total of 54 lifts Middlesbrough were in the lead by 6.5 pounds. The result rested on my attempt with 310 pounds on the Clean and Jerk. I succeeded with the lift to give Huddersfield victory by 3.5 pounds. Final result Huddersfield 2240 pounds to 2236.5 pounds.3.5 pounds separated the two teams.

In October I went to East Berlin for the World Championships. It was a great experience. I broke the 800 pounds Total mark with lifts of 248 Press, 243 Snatch and 314 Clean and Jerk, for an 804 pounds Total. When I returned home I was so inspired by the experience that I intensified my training load, with the result that 1966 was the year I made my most dramatic improvement [without a big increase in bodyweight]. In December I lifted a Total of 843 Pounds, an improvement of 63 pounds in 6 months.

THE WILDERNESS YEARS.

I was full of expectations at the beginning of 1967, but it turned out to be the start of what I call my two years in the wilderness. In April I won the North East Championships with a total of 787 Pounds. In June I retained the All Ireland Title with 790 Pounds Total. In September I lifted 804 Total in a match against Wales at Ammonford. Of course I lifted in all the Yorks League fixtures and Bergson matches as well, but my totals were very disappointing. I finished off the year with a total of 837 Pounds. I won the Yorkshire Best Lifter Trophy and the Tipperary Sports Star Award for 1967, but I was only interested in improved totals so I was not happy.

1968 was the year I was determined to make the Irish Olympic Team for Mexico. I trained harder than ever and tried to increase my bodyweight. I won the Yorkshire Championships with a total of 821 Pounds and in June travelled to Dublin for the all important All Ireland Championships. I won with a Total of 820 Pounds 22 pounds short of what I needed for the trip to Mexico. It was at this point that I seriously considered giving it all up. With hindsight it should be no surprise that I was not making the kind of progress I desired in an energy sapping sport. During these years I worked a regular 60 hours a week including Sundays at a hard physical job in engineering. I continued to be successful at YNE and National level. In September I had a good win over Gerry Fairglough in the Yorkshire v Lancashire Match, lifting a total of 810 pounds to 776 pounds. By the end of the year I had decided to continue training until the Olympic year of 1972. I also planned to move up to the Mid Heavy class by 1971.

In early 1969 I arranged to have three training sessions with World Mid Heavy Champion Louis Martin in Derby. As a result of this I changed my training programme. I cut the number of repetitions and increased the intensity of my workload by lifting more in the 85%to 95% area of my limit poundage's. I also increased my intake of high protein food and slowly my bodyweight increased. In April I retained the Yorkshire Light Heavy Title with a total of 832 Pounds. Ken Price was second with a 765 pounds total. In June I lifted very badly at the All Ireland Championships in Dublin and lost to an inspired Pat Redmond. I had an excellent win in the Yorkshire v North Midlands match lifting a Total of 848 Pounds. I also won for Ireland v Wales with an 832 pounds total. In December I finished the year with an 854 total in a League match.

BIG TOTALS. . In 1970 I was selected to compete in a special BBC Television Contest held in Edinbrough in January. I competed on the Snatch and won with a lift of 248 Pounds. In April I lost the Yorkshire Light Heavy Title to Ken Price, Ken lifted a total of 898 pounds [an improvement of 133 pounds in a year.]My total was 832 pounds. In May the YNE Team of Peter Kilroy, Ken Price and I won the British Divisional Team Championship. At last my efforts to build my bodyweight and my changed training began to pay off; At the All Ireland Championships at Cork I won the Light Heavy Title with a total of 855 Pounds just missing 35 pounds more. I made a significant breakthrough in December when I lifted a total of 892 pounds at 183 bodyweight. I received the Tipperary Sport Star Award for the fourth time.

I got off to a great start in 1971 when I lifted a training total of 925 pounds at the Huddersfield Club at 184 pounds bodyweight. In February I was selected for the British Olympic Training Squad to prepare for the 1972 Games to be held in Munich. This meant I would train at Bisham Abbey on regular weekends with the best British Weightlifters; just what I needed to bring me on. In April I won the Yorkshire Light Heavy Title with an 876 pound Total. I continued to build my bodyweight up and in September I lifted a total of 931 pounds in the Yorkshire v Lancashire Match my opponent was that fine lifter Alan Fairclough who lifted 876 pounds total. I broke the Yorkshire Snatch Record with a lift of 292 pounds. In November I gave an Exhibition at Old Town Hebden Bridge and lifted a 950 pounds total. The same month Kevin Thorp and I attended a training Course at Newcastle University run by Jim Mason and John Lear. I lifted 325 press, 297 Snatch and 380 Clean for an unofficial total of 1002 pounds. I then lifted the 297 Snatch again officially with Jim Mason as Referee.

1972 OLYMPIC YEAR.

In January 1972 Kevin and I travelled to Tony Ford's Gym for a training session, [Tony was the Commonwealth Gold Medallist]. John Lear also attended. I lifted 330 pounds Press,303 pounds Snatch and 374 Clean and Jerk for a 1007 pounds training total. I came very near with 309 Snatch and 385 Jerk. In February I lifted a 964 pounds total with my starting poundages in a League match,[my target was 1010 total.

In April I won the Mid Heavy Class in the Celtic Championships held at Cardiff with a 964 pounds total [again trying for 1010 total].All my lifts were new Irish records including a 135 kg Snatch which was also a new Celtic record. I was selected to compete for Ireland in the European Championships in Romania in May. I went to Romania but injured my groin while snatching just before I was due to lift. By June I was 85% fit and competed in the British Championships in London. Peter Arthur of Wales won. I lifted 970 pounds total with 4 lifts.

In July I went to Dublin for the All Ireland Championships and Olympic Trials. I lifted 325 Press, 300 Snatch and 365 Clean and Jerk for a 990 pounds total. On an extra attempt I lifted 375 pounds Clean and Jerk. Pat Redmond of Dublin was second with a 930 total. I was on great form and all my lifts were very easy especially the 300 pounds Snatch. I was too cautious that day but I had to win, this was my last chance to compete in the Olympic Games.

A week later I was selected for the Ireland Olympic Team, the only weightlifter. In July my family and I travelled to my hometown of Clonmel where we were given a Mayoral Reception in the Town Hall. Some days later I gave an Exhibition in the Collins Hall and lifted a total of 1000 pounds. I travelled with the Irish Olympic Team to Munich in September. Being part of the Olympic Games was a wonderful experience which stays with one for a lifetime. On the day I competed in the Mid Heavy Class in Munich I was in excellent form. My target was 1040 pounds total and I had every reason to believe I would lift this. It would have placed me in the top ten. I have always pushed myself to the limit in competition and I did the same at Munich. My belief was, and still is, that you have to go for the big lifts if you are to reach your full potential. I was ruled out three times on the Press lift although I lifted the weight overhead each time. Words cannot describe my disapointment!!.This was the fate of many lifters at Munich, the refereeing was not consistent and it caused such controversy that the Press lift was eliminated from weightlifting competition after the Munich Olympics.

EPILOGUE 2004.

I am writing this in August 2004 and hindsight is a wonderful thing. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 we now know of the State sponsored drug programmes carried out by the Communist countries and of the extensive use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs being used in most sports including weightlifting. I am glad I missed all that and retired from competition in 1972 with my idealism intact.

My only regret is that the Press lift was not eliminated in 1962 instead of 1972. Had I been competing on two lifts as is the case now my rankings and success's would have been much higher. (I can think of other lifters that this also applied to) To support that statement I would point out that the Bulgarian Gold and Silver medal winners in my class at Munich lifted a two lift total of 345 kg and 337kg, my best two lift total was 315kg. Both lifters were State sponsored professionals with full medical back up, while I worked all week in an engineering factory and trained in the kitchen each evening.

Frank Rothwell