Oxfordshire's Strongest Man & Woman 2026

Oxfordshire’s Strongest Man & Woman 2026 kicks off this Saturday at 10AM at Banbury Rugby Club.

🎟 Spectator tickets are available on the door or via the link:
https://strengthregister.com/ticket/start/oxfordshires-strongest-man-woman-2026

Athletes: Please arrive 9AM sharp, ready for a 9:30 athlete briefing.

Event Running Order (Subject to change)

🏋️ Max Overhead Press – Sponsored by BodyPower
⚔️ Spartan Deadlift Ladder – Sponsored by Spartan Atlas Stones
🚛 Truck Pull (of sorts) – Sponsored by Mark Jarrett Commercials
🦾 Yoke Race – Sponsored by Mirafit
⛓ Hercules Hold – Sponsored by Williamson Chiropractic Clinic
🛡 Max Distance Shield Carry – Sponsored by Jamie Briggs Removals

Important Information

🌤 This is an OUTDOOR event.
The forecast currently looks okay, but if you’d like to bring a gazebo, tent, or shelter, please feel free to set up on the grass. If the weather turns, we’ll be grateful for every bit of cover we can get!

📊 Live scores will be updated throughout the day:
https://strengthresults.com/competitionHome/b324c984-06a7-4635-9fe7-762b3d6236d9/1

🐶 NO DOGS allowed at the venue – unfortunately this is a strict Rugby Club rule and will be enforced.

🍔 Food, hot & cold drinks, and Haynes Strength merchandise will be available throughout the day.
The rugby club bar will also be open and showing the rugby — athletes, it might raise a few eyebrows if you’re spotted halfway through the show with a pint in hand 😉

Sponsors

🏆 Trophy & Medal Sponsor
Opus Strength

🎁 Podium Prizes
ESN
Haynes Strength

💰 Athlete Prize Money
The Bell Inn Adderbury
Slimming World Banbury

Prize Money

🥇 1st Place – £500
🥈 2nd Place – £200
🥉 3rd Place – £100

This represents a 60% increase in prize money from previous years, which I’m incredibly proud of for a regional show. Alongside the cash prizes, podium finishers will also receive ESN goodies and Haynes Strength prizes.

Best of luck to all the athletes competing.

May the strongest Man & Woman win. 💪

Hey guys n girls!

Could you please all fill out this questionnaire - it'll take 5 mins tops. Just a few questions to help our MC on the day. Please provide as much detail as possible so we can big you up and help you guys out!!!

PLEASE FILL IN ASAP - https://forms.gle/qqcmPgR2zfzuZFA99

I really need this done this week guys.

Thanks all - I hope training is going well!!

Right ya savages!

Slight change of plan on The Atlas Stone Deadlift Ladder - Jason only has 3 sets of the stone deads for each category, so the first bar will just be a standard bar and plates - classic 9 inch pull, on a DL platform.

I am going to DO MY BEST - to make sure all of the pulls are between and 9 and 11 inches. Obviously, as the weights get bigger, the stones are bigger, so the bars are higher. I have blocks to stand on, so we should be all gucci. However, especially the ladies, please be prepared that it COULD be a higher pull - I simply don't know until we test and set up in the morning. No bars will be lower than 9" and the bars will only get higher as you go, so you won't do a 10 inch pull and then back down to 9" for the next for example, if that makes sense!!

Weights are all still the same, its just the first bar is a normal deadlift on a power bar.

The four lifts will be: POWER BAR, POWER BAR, DEADLIFT BAR, KRATOS BAR. Suits & Straps still all good x

I really appreciate you all - any questions please get in touch with me directly!!

ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T YET PAID YOUR ENTRY - PLEASE DO THIS ASAP. IDEALLY OVER THE WEEKEND.

Hey athletes,

Oxfordshire’s Strongest Man & Woman is going to be seriously good this year. Thank you all for supporting this competition year after year and helping it grow into what it is today — it genuinely wouldn’t happen without you.

This letter is for athletes only. Please don’t share it publicly.

EVENT ORDER IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Event 1 – Max Overhead Lift (From Jerk Blocks)

• 3 lifts, powerlifting-style format
• We will start with the lightest opener, and everyone will take their 1st lift
• Repeat for 2nd lifts (lightest to heaviest)
• Repeat for 3rd lifts

Openers to be given at sign-in.

Jerk blocks will not be adjusted for athlete height unless you are genuinely unable to unrack the bar safely — in that case, we’ll lower them.

• Any technique allowed: split jerk, push press, or push jerk
• Lift can be taken in front of or behind the neck
• Feet together, wait for a clear down signal, then return the bar to the blocks

For the ladies and the short kings:
If you prefer to walk the bar out and jerk from the front, that’s absolutely fine. I’ll put drop pads down for safety. If you can lift directly from the blocks, please do.

Event 2 – Spartan Deadlift Medley

4 bars to be lifted as fast as possible:

• Power Bar
• Power Bar
• Deadlift Bar
• Kratos Bar

Weights

• Men: 250kg – 270kg – 290kg – 310kg
• Women: 150kg – 170kg – 190kg – 210kg

These are atlas stones suspended from barbells (see Wrexham’s Strongest Man).

• Men will pull from blocks, bringing the height close to a standard ~9” pull
• Women will likely pull from the floor, meaning raised pulls

Once everything is built, Jason will measure exact pull heights and I’ll confirm them. Expect the pulls to gradually increase in height through the medley.

• Suits allowed
• All straps allowed
• Thumbs must be in contact with the bar for a down signal

Event 3 – Truck Pull

• Men: Lorry + trailer
• Women: Lorry cab only

Harness and rope setup. I’ll be testing this at the rugby club ASAP — but trust me, it’s going to look fucking sick.

This event will take place in the car park on tarmac.

Event 4 – Yoke Carry

Trump-style yoke… with a twist

Weights

• Men: 320kg / 400kg
• Women: 200kg / 260kg
• 15m course
• 30-second time cap
• Maximum of two drops

The twist:
If you choose the heavy yoke and do not finish, you will be beaten by any athlete who completes the light yoke, regardless of time.

Example:
If you carry the heavy yoke 14.99m but don’t finish, and someone completes the light yoke in 29.95s — they beat you.

Yes, it’s evil.
Yes, it’s also a great idea.
Choose wisely.

Yoke will also be run in the car park on tarmac.

Event 5 – Hercules Hold

Standard gym handles:
https://amzn.eu/d/219Rop9

Weights TBC — but I promise it’ll be heavy.

Event 6 – Shield Carry for Max Distance

Shield carry through a sheep-pen-style course around cones.

• Surface: thin gravel
• Distance measured to the nearest metre
• Men 150KG - Women 100KG

Event Running Order & Logistics

I’m aiming to run two events at a time where possible:

• Men: Truck Pull | Women: Yoke
• Men: Shield Carry | Women: Hercules Hold

Deadlift will be Men vs Women together.
Overhead will be one athlete at a time, unless I can source a second set of jerk blocks.

Timings & Arrival

• Competition start: 10:00 AM
• Athlete arrival: No later than 9:15 AM
• Athlete briefing: 9:30 AM

Yoke heights and overhead openers will be confirmed at sign-in.

Spectators, Charity & Extras

All spectator fees will be donated to charity, so please encourage friends and family to come along and support.

It will be cold — it always is — so bring layers, dry robes, etc.
You’re also welcome to pitch a tent or gazebo on the grass.

Because I’m a nice guy, I’ve built proper lifting platforms — so overhead and deadlifts will be done on plywood and mats, not gravel.

Scoring will be done via Strength Results - it's already set up, feel free to take a look! https://strengthresults.com/competitionHome/b324c984-06a7-4635-9fe7-762b3d6236d9/1 

In the case of a tie, we will be using countback - no tie breaker events for this one.

Prize Money (Guaranteed Minimum)

• 1st: £250
• 2nd: £150
• 3rd: £100

I’m waiting on two additional sponsors. If both come on board, prize money will double. That’s the lowest guaranteed payout regardless.

Trophies are also very cool — no spoilers.

Anything you can do to help promote the event would be massively appreciated. I’m pushing local media (BBC Oxford, local papers), but let’s make this a big one. Please also support and show love to the sponsors — they make this possible.

Thank you all — genuinely grateful to every single one of you.

Any questions, drop a comment and I’ll answer publicly, or feel free to DM me.

Paddy