Foulkes powers to Oceania title

Amanda Foulkes

Whanganui personal trainer Amanda Foulkes put a year's worth of hard training to good use by claiming her first Oceania powerlifting championship in Christchurch this week.

Foulkes, supported by partner Kyle Murray, won the Open 57kg class at the 2016 Asia/Oceania Raw Championships and the Oceania Equipped Championships, held inside the Celebration Centre Stadium.

Although only entered in the Oceania portion of the competition and not the separate Asian championship - Foulkes defeated the New Zealander, Singaporian and Australian in her grade across the three disciplines -squat, bench press and deadlift.

Foulkes said they approached the weight's used "very strategic" so if it came to a countback based on individual body weight, then she would have the advantage.

"It went a lot better than I expected.

"I ended up the same with the same scoreline as someone else [but] we knew that I would be lighter.

"I was kind of hoping at least squeeze a third [place], so I was stoked I managed to get a first.

"I believe I also broke the New Zealand deadlift record, which was a goal."

She had held the record briefly in competition during the Raw powerlifting nationals in August, where she finished runnerup in her grade.

Foulkes drew inspiration from the members of hers and Murray's Wanganui Bootcamp crew, who were watching the competition on the internet live feed and sent through lots of encouragement.

Winning the Oceania title concludes Foulkes first full year of specific training and competing in powerlifting.

"It's been a full-on year, that's for sure, time for a break," she said.