'Dad's death inspired my strongwoman victory'

Derbyshire's reigning strongwoman champion said she was inspired to take on physical challenges like last year's event, after her dad died competing in the Isle of Mann TT motorcycle road race.

Chelsea Shoesmith, 34, from Macclesfield in Cheshire, said since then she had always had this mindset of thinking "how hard can it be?" and "I give anything a go".

The first-time entrant gained such an "excitement for lifting" tractor tyres, kegs and barrels to competition glory, that she has now opened her own gym.

The co-owner of CrossFit Lightning Bolt is disappointed not to be available to take part in the "absolutely electric atmosphere" of this year's event at the Barley Mow in Bonsall on Sunday.

The self-employed photographer said she entered the 2025 tournament with very little experience, and embraced the challenge of flipping 80kg tractor tyres, loading 52.5kg barrels and walking with two 50kg tractor weights.

"I thought, even though I've never done this competition before, I just want to give it my best shot and see what happens," she said.

Her dad Paul's death in 2016, one week after his 50th birthday, pushed her to "live for movement and self-improvement".

"I was going through life like a zombie without any ambitions. I thought 'I need to start living my life and ticking boxes'," she said.

"I found a lot of joy in being outside and challenging myself," she added, having made an online video about her response to her dad's death by embracing new challenges.

Shoesmith said competing alongside the "confident" 2024 strongwoman champion spurred her on, as did the "roaring" crowds outside the rural pub, which also hosts an annual hen-racing event on the first Saturday of August.

"Nobody even noticed it was raining because they were just so engrossed in what was happening," she said.

"I was really, really surprised. I never thought that I would win," she said, having received a trophy, £40 and a free pub meal as her prize.

"I remember the day afterwards, I was just aching so much," she said.

Shoesmith is unable to compete this year due to prior commitments, leaving the door open for a new female champion.

"Don't fall over, be really steady on your feet, and just be quick," she advised.

The victory has led to a new business venture in her hometown of Macclesfield.

"Winning that competition last year has given me an excitement for lifting, and that's part of the decision why I've ended up opening up a gym," she said.

CrossFit Lightning Bolt has a growing membership of 70 people, in what she described as a very community-driven, family-friendly atmosphere.

Landlady Colette Dewhurst said Shoesmith's performance at last year's competition was "amazing", and said she looked forward to welcoming other new challengers to the Barley Mow on Sunday for this year's event.

"You've got to be really pro-active and work hard to make it interesting for people to come to the pub," she said.

"You can't just stand behind the bar and wait for people to come, especially not in a village," she added, having previously highlighted the challenges of running a pub to the BBC.

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