Kirkby star Beniston signs off in style with three more world titles

It brought down the curtain on a glittering powerlifting career after almost 28 years of competing, during which time he has won 24 world titles in three different weight classes, and broken almost 250 British, European and world records, including 59 world records,

In Vegas he won three world titles,the 90kg class Equipped Bench Press title, the Unequipped Bench Press, where he broke a British record,with a personal best lift and narrowly missed a world record attempt, as well as the Unequipped Deadlift title, where he broke three world records, just missing an all-time personal best fourth attempt.

Beniston also won a silver medal in the Open Deadlift class, just losing to a lifter who was 30 years younger than him.

Beniston is the first lifter to win a world title or break a world record in the IPL Worlds and, despite his retirement, he has no intention of disappearing from the scene.

He qualified as a international referee, and is the WPU treasurer and records chairman, as well as the BPF vice president, and will still be involved in coaching and refereeing, though has decided to end his competitive career while still at the top.