SALISBURY powerlifter Paul Newell heads to Windsor this weekend for the South of Britain Championships, but with the crucial British Championships just ten weeks away, the 30-year-old can be forgiven for not planning to set the event alight.

Newell, who is already eyeing up this year's World Championships in Florida, has had his build-up to the regional event severely hampered by illness.

"I lost about a third of my build-up due to being affected by a virus," he explained. "This is the first competition of the year, but it's actually staged a lot later than usual.

"It's only ten weeks to the British, and it'd be very difficult for me to peak twice in ten weeks, so the plan is to do enough to qualify for the British, but not much else."

This year's World Championships take place in November in West Palm Beach and with Newell, who lifts in the highly competitive 100kg section, having proved a key member of the British team in recent years, he is keen to continue making a name for himself on the world stage.

However, another Salisbury powerlifting stalwart has plenty to prove at this weekend's event.

Former British and European champion Neil Arnold has come out of retirement and will also compete at Windsor.

Arnold, who has kept himself in excellent condition since retiring from the sport five years ago, will again compete in the 82.5kg category.

The 43-year-old said: "Training's gone very well and I'm hopeful of qualifying for the British.

"But it's going to be interesting.

"I don't just want to come back and make up the numbers.

"I'm still in the same weight class and as I was doing so well in training, it became a case of why aren't you competing?' "We'll see how it goes, but I want to come back and compete at the highest possible level. There's no point coming back otherwise."

5:27pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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