A STRONGMAN from the Wee County is “fired up” after qualifying for two world championships last month.

Tullibody’s Chris Beetham has achieved one of his big dreams with podium finishes at two British events held just a week apart.

The 30-year-old, who bounced back from a broken back injury a few years ago, bagged silver at the Britain’s Strongest Natural Man event in Worcester over the weekend of July 21 and 22.

Some extremely heavy events saw him pull a tractor over 15m, take on the deadlift ladder with a number of reps at 220kg and 290kg, press a 130kg log, carry a 135kg sandbag where he won with a distance of 95m and carry 150kg frames per hand.

Chris, who was disappointed when he narrowly missed out on qualification to the world championships in 2016, said: “The first two events were on the Saturday and I knew were going to be my worst two of the five, so to be in second place after day one was a big shock.

“Thankfully I managed to continue the good form on Sunday and hold on for second place only 2.5 points off first.”

Then, Chris went on to shed 5kg of his body weight in just a week to enter the British Powerlifting Championships in Weston-super-Mare on July 29 – coming third in his category with some personal best performances despite all the muscle loss.

He managed to lift 240kg in squat, bench pressed 162kg and deadlifted 265kg for a total of 667kg.

The results follow months of “gruelling” training, with the Tullibody man also having to deal with a knee infection.

The father-of-one said: “I had to find ways to train around the lack of mobility in the knee but luckily it subsided in time to compete.

“The toughest part for me has been switching to training alone. I train by myself now in my garage so you have to find a deep desire to keep pushing yourself especially after a tough day at work or a sleepless night with the toddler!"

He said it all came down to him wanting the podium finishes the most.

Next up for Chris will be the Scotland’s Strongest Man event early this October in Glasgow.

A week later he will be flying to Hameenlinna in Finland for the WHEA World’s Strongest Natural Man championship, which he had eyes on for years.

Early November will once again see him in Glasgow, this time for the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships.

Chris added: “I'm very fired up for both world championships, at the very outset I had always said it is the ultimate goal to get there.

“Now I have the opportunity and at first I thought I wouldn't be able to go financially but a number of companies got behind me making the trip possible.”

Chris has passed on his thanks to sponsors The Birds and Bees in Stirling, HPS Fitness, Dixie Doodles, Hector & Co, Wallace & Co, Black and Comrie Photography as well as Roy & McIntyre Funeral Services.