LEE Nightingill, from Wellington, has qualified to enter a national competition in his first official powerlifting event.

At the South West British Powerlifting Association Junior qualifier in Bournemouth on Sunday, Nightingill came first in his <120kg weight class and second overall, so he will now appear in Nationals in Scotland in November.

His three lifts were 205kg squat, 125kg bench and 270kg dead lift, narrowly missing out on a successful 280kg dead lift which would have made him first overall.

Nightingill, aged 19, has only recently taken up the sport after taking a break from rugby, where he played for Gloucestershire Under-20s county team.

His training has been at Wivey Gym, Wiveliscombe, in his holiday break from Hartpury University.