The United Kingdom Strength Council was founded by Glenn Ross, the famed strongman and also founder and promoter of the Irish Strength Association.[1] The UKSC, as it is commonly termed, was promoted by Bob Daglish's Elite Strongman Promotions until March 2010.

Beginnings

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Part of the reason for the foundation was that Glenn Ross is a champion of the idea that strongman is about lifting and moving heavy objects. He has been quoted as saying that strongmen should be more akin to strongman of old, "fighting for every step, not running."

Ross's philosophy is represented in the contests the UKSC organise. There is little running with weights or like events, but rather lifting heavier weights as the main test and then struggling forward with them. Ross has said that, in relation to competing with other recognised events, such as Britain's Strongest Man, "when there is competition, it is good for everyone: competition in strongman creates an opportunity for the athletes, the fans and the sponsors to end up with a better product, and the reality is a free-market situation anyway."[2]

"Big, strong men are like bears. As long as you keep feeding them honey, they will stay in their caves and stick with certain organizations, but when the honey pot runs out, they must go into the forest to look for more honey." - Glenn Ross[2]

Bob Daglish's Elite strongman promotions was inextricably associated with the UKSC until it was announced in March 2010 that "In view of recent events and also some personal differences, Elite Strongman Promotions are hereby separating all affiliations with Big G promotions, the UK Strength Council and the UK strongest man competition." Elite Strongman promotions continued to run a version of the England’s strongest man final, whilst a separate competition run by UKSC was also run in 2010.[3][4]

Competitions

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The UKSC is famed for its blue ribbon event, UK's Strongest Man. There are also a number of regional and national qualifiers.

They made history in 2024, becoming the first promoters to broadcast a live strongman event on British television when Channel 5 carried coverage of the UK's Strongest Man. Paul Smith successfully retained his title, winning three of the five events in the final.

UK's Strongest Man

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Year Champion Runner-Up 3rd Place Location Promoter
2024   Paul Smith (3)   Louis Jack   Andrew Flynn   Cardiff
2023   Paul Smith (2)   Matt Dimond   Callum Crozier   Doncaster
2022   Paul Smith   Louis Jack   Gavin Bilton   Milton Keynes
2021   Gavin Bilton   Paul Smith   Andy Black   Milton Keynes
2020   Gavin Bilton   Mark Felix   Mark Jeanes   Belfast
2019   Paul Benton   Graham Hicks   Pa O'Dwyer   St Albans
2018   Pa O'Dwyer   Phil Roberts   Laurence Shahlaei   St Albans
2017   Laurence Shahlaei   Tom Stoltman   Pa O'Dwyer   Belfast
2016   Eddie Hall   Belfast
2015   Eddie Hall   Belfast
2014[5]   Eddie Hall   Adam Bishop   Luke Stoltman   Belfast CNP
2013[6]   Eddie Hall   Ben Kelsey   Jonathan Kelly   Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)
2012[7]   Eddie Hall   Lloyd Renals   Chris Gearing   Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)
2011[7]   Eddie Hall   Ken Nowicki   Richard Smith   Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)
2010[8]   Glenn Ross   Gary Gardener   Rob Frampton   Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)
2009[8]   Jimmy Marku   Glenn Ross   Mark Westaby   Belfast UKSC
2008[8]   Glenn Ross   Dave Warner   Jimmy Marku   Belfast UKSC
2007[8]   Glenn Ross   Jimmy Marku   Simon Flint   Belfast UKSC
2006[8]   Glenn Ross   Terry Hollands   Jimmy Marku   Belfast UKSC
2005[8]   Terry Hollands   Mark Lawson   Simon Morton   Belfast UKSC
2004[8]   Glenn Ross   Brian Irwin   Carl Waitoa   Carrickfergus UKSC
2003 Not Held
2002 Not Held
2001   Steve Brooks   Richard Gosling   Mick Gosling   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
2000   Richard Gosling   Gary Meyern   Adam Townsend   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1999   Richard Gosling   Gary Meyern   Adrian Smith   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1998   Adrian Smith   Richard Gosling   Dave Miles   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1997   Adrian Smith   Graham Mullins   Bill Pittuck   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1996   Graham Mullins   Gary Meyern   John O'Neil   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1995   Dave Miles   David Waters /   Graham Mullins   TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1994   Tommy Smith   Bill Pittuck   Lee Bowers   Blackpool Geoff Capes/Daily Star
1993   Bill Pittuck   Luke Green   TBC   TBC
1992   Adrian Smith   Bill Pittuck   TBC   TBC

Championships by country

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Country Titles
  England 19
  Northern Ireland 5
  Wales 2
  Scotland 1
  Ireland 1

Repeat champions

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Champion Times
  Eddie Hall 6
  Glenn Ross 5
  Adrian Smith 3
  Richard Gosling 2
  Gavin Bilton 2

Regional and National qualifiers

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  • UKSC Midlands of England strongest man 2007
  • UKSC North of England strongest man 2007
  • UKSC South of England strongest man 2007
  • UKSC England's strongest man 2007

See also

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References

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  1. ^ www.uglyextras.com
  2. ^ a b Polish Strength Forum - Sportowe Forum Dyskusyjne
  3. ^ Elite strongman promotions statement released on ukstrongman.proboards.com
  4. ^ Elite strongman promotions statement released on muscletalk.co.uk
  5. ^ www.strongman.org - uks-strongest-man-2014
  6. ^ www.strongman.org - uks-strongest-man-2013
  7. ^ a b "David Horne's World of Grip".
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Irish Strongman Association - Hall of Fame - results