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  • 2 February, 2025
  • 5 minutes

Highland Oak Takes First British Title!

Saturday, February 1st, Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Luke Stoltman clinched his first Britain’s Strongest Man title in front of a record crowd at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday night. Keeping the title in the family, after brother Tom’s victory last year, the Highland Oak swept to a 5.5-point win over England’s Shane Flowers to take the title that has eluded him for so long. On an evening that saw both Adam Bishop and Luke Richardson withdraw from the contest, Andrew Flynn grabbed the final podium place from Paddy Haynes, by just half a point.

Having made five World’s Strongest Man finals and won Europe’s Strongest Man twice, the elder Stoltman was well overdue a Britain’s Strongest Man victory. Showing even greater intensity and focus than usual, the 40-year-old Strongman told the crowd “I’m here to win!” Having positioned himself in joint first with Paddy Haynes after three events, he delivered the killer blow in the 160kg Log Press for Reps – producing a winning 5-reps, looking like he could have done five more!

With Haynes scuppering his title chances with a no lift in the Log, Luke needed to do no more than complete the Castle Stones to get over the line. Paired in the final heat with Shane Flowers, he was narrowly pipped by the Englishman but comfortably did enough to seal victory and become the 24th Britain’s Strongest Man champion. Receiving the Geoff Capes Memorial Trophy from Geoff’s wife and family, the 8,500-strong audience saluted the new champion and paid tribute to a true legend of the strength world.

For fans of Luke Richardson and Adam Bishop it was an evening of disappointment after both men were forced to step out of the fight. Scotland’s Andy Black succumbed to the night’s opening event – the Sandbag Steeplechase. With three 150kg sacks to load this year, the big Scot was unable to load the final implement and decided to call it a night with a tweaked hamstring and a case of extreme fatigue. In the final heat Luke Stoltman finished ahead of Bishop as Luke Richardson’s challenge seemed to fade. Falling with the final implement, he couldn’t finish and seemed totally exhausted. Receiving medical advice, he too decided to stop, much to the surprise and sadness of the many fans who had tipped him to win. Paddy Haynes’s 47.70 sec run was good enough for the win and a perfect start for the Englishman.

In the Deadlift Ladder there were no surprises to see Adam Bishop on top. He had the fastest time through all the heats at World’s Strongest Man last year and holds the Giants Live record with 28.09 sec. His winning run of 30.66 sec was pushed hard by Shane Flowers, whilst Paddy and Ireland’s Strongest Man, Sean Gillen, were the only other athletes to complete all five barbells.

It was England’s Andrew Flynn who finished ahead of everyone in the Duck Walk and Farmer’s Walk. The Flying Flynn was 2nd at England’s Strongest Man last season and made his Giants Live debut at the Strongman Classic last July. Having come only 9th in the Deadlift, he was now beginning to make his presence felt in the contest. Luke Stoltman, looking leaner than he has done in many years seemed quick footed and sure gripped as he placed 2nd to level his points total with Haynes. Adam Bishop came home 3rd and seemed delighted with his run, but then took the decision to halt his challenge for a third British title. The 2020 and 2023 champion has only just recovered from a ruptured Achilles and perhaps this contest was too soon him.

England’s Ben Glasscock surprised many with 4-reps in the 160kg Log and led the standings as Stoltman and Flynn emerged for the final heat. The Englishman matched Ben’s total, but there was no one in the arena surprised to see the Highland Oak complete 5-reps with ease. His lead looked unassailable as poor Paddy Haynes failed to complete a single rep and came close to serious injury after the log fell on his back after a failed press.

For the Capes Memorial trophy to find any other destination than its current residence, Invergordon, in Scotland, Luke Stoltman would had to have had a complete disaster. Making hard work of the final stone he completed the full set and as Flowers celebrated his heat win, Luke knew he had done easily enough to complete his triumph.

Victory will come as a great relief to a man who prior to this competition could have claimed to have been the best British strongman never to win the British title. Luke showed his class and seemed to be continuing the strong form he showed at the end of last season. If anyone had any ideas of him retiring, having officially become a veteran at 40, those thoughts were dispelled in his winner’s interview with Neil Pickup: “I’m not going anywhere!” he roared! “I am the future, the past and the present of British Strongman!”

For anyone who missed the show, the contest will still be available to stream through www.officialstrongman.com

 

Event Results

Event 1: Mirafit Sandbag Steeplechase

3x 150kg Implements

Event 1: Mirafit Sandbag Steeplechase
Place Name Result Points
1 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 6 in 47.70 sec 12
2 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 6 in 55.29 sec 11
3 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 6 in 57.23 sec 10
4 Shane Flowers (ENG) 6 in 59.90 sec 9
5 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 6 in 66.59 sec 8
6 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 6 in 72.57 sec 7
7 Luke Richardson (ENG) 5 in 43.60 sec 6
8 Sean Gillen (IRE) 5 in 48.53 sec 5
9 Adam Bishop (ENG) 5 in 51.05 sec 4
10 Chris Beetham (SCO) 5 in 63.23 sec 3
11 Matt Dimond (WAL) 5 in 69.42 sec 2
12 Andy Black (SCO) 5 in 70.92 sec 1

 

 Event 2: Beast Pharm Deadlift Ladder

5x Barbells: 300kg, 320kg, 340kg, 360kg, 380kg

Event 2: Beast PharmDeadlift Ladder
Place Name Result Points Total

Points

1 Adam Bishop (ENG) 5 in 30.66 sec 12 16
2 Shane Flowers (ENG) 5 in 39.59 sec 11 20
3 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 5 in 41.27 sec 10 22
4 Sean Gillen (IRE) 5 in 49.13 sec 9 14
5 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 4 in 29.10 sec 8 19
6 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 4 in 38.04 sec 7 15
7 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 4 in 40.59 sec 6 16
8 Matt Dimond (WAL) 4 in 50.14 sec 5 7
9 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 3 in 17.26 sec 4 11
10 Chris Beetham (SCO) 2 in 38.35 sec 3 6
11 Luke Richardson (ENG) Withdrew 0 6
12 Andy Black (SCO) Withdrew 0 1

 

Event 3: boohooMAN Duck Walk into Farmer’s Walk

200kg Duck Walk, 150kg Farmer’s Walk Implements in each hand

Event 3: boohooMAN Duck Walk into Farmer’s Walk
Place Name Result Points Total

Points

1 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 22.81 sec 12 23
2 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 24.38 sec 11 30
3 Adam Bishop (ENG) 24.58 sec 10 26
4 Shane Flowers (ENG) 26.58 sec 9 29
5 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 29.42 sec 8 30
=6 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 31.78 sec 6.5 22.5
=6 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 31.78 sec 6.5 21.5
8 Matt Dimond (WAL) 59.13 sec 5 12
9 Sean Gillen (IRE) 33.40m 4 18
10 Chris Beetham (SCO) 25.00m 3 9
11 Luke Richardson (ENG) Withdrew 0 6
12 Andy Black (SCO) Withdrew 0 1

  

Event 4: SBD Log Press for Reps

160kg Log

Event 4: SBD Log Press for Reps
Place Name Result Points Total

Points

1 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 5-reps 12 42
=2 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 4-reps 10.5 33
=2 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 4-reps 10.5 33.5
=4 Sean Gillen (IRE) 3-reps 8.5 26.5
=4 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 3-reps 8.5 30
=6 Matt Dimond (WAL) 2-reps 6.5 18.5
=6 Shane Flowers (ENG) 2-reps 6.5 35.5
8 Chris Beetham (SCO) 1-rep 5 14
9 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 0-reps 0 30
10 Adam Bishop (ENG) Withdrew 0 26
11 Luke Richardson (ENG) Withdrew 0 6
12 Andy Black (SCO) Withdrew 0 1

 

Event 5: Castle Water Stones

Implements weights: 120kg, 140kg, 160kg, 180kg, 200kg.

Event 5: Castle Water Stones

 

Place Name Result Points Total

Points

1 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 5 in 25.33 sec 12 42
2 Shane Flowers (ENG) 5 in 25.98 sec 11 46.5
3 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 5 in 26.59 sec 10 52
4 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 5 in 28.92 sec 9 42.5
5 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 5 in 30.41 sec 8 38
6 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 5 in 59.22 sec 7 40
7 Sean Gillen (IRE) 4 in 22.57 sec 6 32.5
8 Chris Beetham (SCO) 3 in 31.40 sec 5 19
9 Matt Dimond (WAL) 1 in 6.25 sec 4 22.5
10 Adam Bishop (ENG) Withdrew 0 26
11 Luke Richardson (ENG) Withdrew 0 6
12 Andy Black (SCO) Withdrew 0 1

 

Overall Standings

Overall Standings
Place Name Overall Points
1 Luke Stoltman (SCO) 52
2 Shane Flowers (ENG) 46.5
3 Andrew Flynn (ENG) 42.5
4 Paddy Haynes (ENG) 42
5 Ben Glasscock (ENG) 40
6 Gavin Bilton (WAL) 38
7 Sean Gillen (IRE) 32.5
8 Adam Bishop (ENG) 26
9 Matt Dimond (WAL) 22.5
10 Chris Beetham (SCO) 19
11 Luke Richardson (ENG) 6
12 Andy Black (SCO) 1