Lucy Underdown has retained the Britain’s Strongest Woman crown following a commanding performance at the Barbican in York. The England lifter finished on 46 points, comfortably ahead of Rebecca Roberts of Wales, who took second with 41.5 points, and Grace Hilbourne in third on 35.5.
How the contest unfolded
The evening featured five tests of strength, endurance and technique. Underdown placed inside the top three in every event, a consistency that proved decisive across the programme. Roberts, a multiple-time international medallist, started strongly by dominating the first two events but was unable to maintain that advantage through the full card.
Event two, the Farmer’s Carry, saw Roberts pull clear by a substantial margin over the field, but the deadlift phase swung momentum back towards Underdown. On the Trump Bar Deadlift for repetitions, Underdown — who holds the current women’s world record in the deadlift — produced the highest tally at the designated weight, taking her first event win of the night and narrowing the gap to her nearest rival.
Final standings and highlights
The contest concluded with the Stone to Shoulder, an event that proved difficult for many competitors and which ultimately failed to change the podium order. Underdown’s solid accumulation of placings delivered her a winning margin of 4.5 points over Roberts.
- Champion: Lucy Underdown (ENG) — 46 points
- Runner-up: Rebecca Roberts (WAL) — 41.5 points
- Third place: Grace Hilbourne (ENG) — 35.5 points
Other notable results included Naomi Hadley in fourth with 27 points and Claire Myler in fifth on 26. The field included representatives from England, Wales and Scotland, demonstrating the national breadth of the competition hosted in York.
| Place | Competitor | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucy Underdown (ENG) | 46 |
| 2 | Rebecca Roberts (WAL) | 41.5 |
| 3 | Grace Hilbourne (ENG) | 35.5 |
Context and local impact
Hosting the national final at the Barbican placed York at the centre of the British strongwoman scene for the evening, drawing spectators and competitors from across the nation. For local gyms and training groups, the event provided a showcase for strength sports and opportunities for community engagement and talent development. Underdown’s successful defence will be noted by coaches and athletes across the region, as her blend of technical skill and raw power continues to set the benchmark.
With the event now concluded, attention will turn to international fixtures where some of the podium finishers are expected to compete as they prepare for European and world-level contests later in the season.
