Tommy on top of the world

DROGHEDA’S Thomas McCague continues to set the world alight in powerlifting and he’s just returned home from major success at the AWPC Championships in Manchester.

The Rathmullen Park native finished second in the Male 82.5kg division and won the Male Para Powerlifting category with a new world record of 140kg - and he believes there’s even more to come!

‘I narrowly missed 150kg but it’ll be there soon, I feel!’ McCague responded.

‘I’m thrilled with the outcome considering I only competed in France six weeks previously, had one week’s rest and then went into the Worlds having just under five weeks to train.

‘That wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of my coach Eamonn Harford of Laoch Barbell in Scholes Lane.’

Speaking of Laoch Barbell, three other members of that gym also competed in Manchester, with Gerard Buckley finishing third in the Male Under 110kg class, Will Newton second in the 110kg class and Finny O’Riordan winning the Under 90kg division.

McCague is now looking forward to some time off, but not for long!

He explained: ‘I will be getting the body ready for either a charity competition in November in aid of Crumlin Hospital or in February of next year which is a qualifier for the Europeans in 2019, which are being held in Ireland.

‘I definitely want to qualify and represent Ireland on home turf, so I’ll be training hard for that goal.

‘I just want to thank everyone as always for the well wishes - it means a lot - and family and friends for sticking by me.’