ANDY Bonner broke a world senior record for the first time as he earned the chance to defend his world powerlifting title at the weekend.

The 45-year-old Basingstoke Powerlifting Club member successfully defended his under-90kg senior and masters titles at the British championships at Letchworth while clubmate George Stoneman became masters champion and senior runner-up in the under-100kg body-weight class.

Bonner achieved a squat of 235kg, a bench-press of 160kg and a dead-lift of 290.5kg for a total of 685kg.

His squat, dead-lift and total were all both British and European senior and masters records, and his dead-lift was a world senior record.

The performance, which brought his total of British titles to eight, earned him the accolade of best overall lifter at the championships, again another first for the Basingstoke optician.

His successes mean he will be able to defend the world title he won last year, in Scotland in October.

He said: "There's no invitation back. You have to qualify again through your national championships."

Stoneman, who was British champion in 1992, returned to top-class competition at the age of 42 after a 10-year absence.

He achieved a squat of 220kg, a bench-press of 150kg and a dead-lift of 275kg for a total of 645kg.

Last Sunday's championships were all unassisted, where no knee supports or bandages are allowed.

The less difficult assisted championships take place in a fortnight and Basingstoke will have a further five lifters in that.

Bonner's 14-year-old son George will be making his competitive debut along with seniors Scott Harding, brothers Paul and Peter Bedford and Rob Mackenreth.