Eighty-three-year-old Ernest is Tuff by name and tough by nature, deadlifting almost 500lbs

Aged 83, he holds numerous masters records in powerlifting and throwing events, and holds the Northern Ireland masters deadlift record with a lift of 220kg (484lbs) as well as a 100kg (220lbs) lift in the bench press.

He also holds the World Drug Free Powerlifting Association record in the deadlift, with a 210kg lift in the over 75 category.And surprisingly, he only took up the sport six years ago.”A training partner put a video of one of my recent lifts of 200kg on Facebook and someone added a comment below, saying, ‘I hope I can walk when I am 83, never mind lift 200kg’,” he told the News Letter.Ernest normally hits the gym three times a week but may cut that back slightly in the run up to track and field season, when he will get outside to practise his throwing much more.”

He won the Northern Ireland Masters records for the shot, discus, hammer and throwing weight in 2019.  

But during the current lockdown of course he cannot access the gym.

“Instead I have a range of large elastic training bands, from light to heavy, which I used at home instead, and I also get outside to practise my throwing more.”

He is “very choosy” about his diet and eats mainly white meat and fish with red meat once or twice a week. 

Throw in lots of broccoli, brussel sprouts and potatoes and the occasional bit of rice and that accounts for most of his food.He steers clear of bread, pasta, alcohol and milk, but does eat butter and cheese.A keen sportsman in his youth, he competed at sprinting and throwing the discuss in his teens, and carried out compartively light weight training on and off through much of his life.

However it was only six years ago that he took up the uncompromising sport of powerlifting, with only a few weeks training before entering his first competition in 2014.

Although it required much heavier lifting than he was used to, he has never looked back.

“It has helped my quality of life tremendously.”

He is staunchly against drugs and says he has outlifted much younger men who take them.”They are very detrimental to your body but people take them because they want quick results. However I believe in training consistently for life.”And he encourages anyone at any age to take up exercise for their health.

“Even if you have retired and never did much more than walk the dog you can still do it. The key is to start light with bodyweight exercises.”He is happy for anyone to contact him via Facebook if they would like a few tips.

Starting his missionary life with the Presbyterian Church as a young man, he moved onto the Belfast City Mission before moving on to Burkina Faso in 1969 for 15 years.

After that he became pastor of an independent Christina church in Cootehill, Co Cavan for six years. And today he is still in demand as an itinerint preacher, that is, until the pandemic cut down the opportunities.”But still, my faith is way more important to my than the gym. It is Christ who gives me the strength and health to do what I do. And despite all that is going on in the world, he keeps my mind in perfect peace.”

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