For a long time Ryan Rowsell carried this city's powerlifting aspirations alone, but it looks like he is starting to get some help.
Both Rowsell and training partner Scott Simmonds recently won medals at the 2007 Canadian Nationals Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in Dartmouth, N.S.
Rowsell, 18, claimed a silver in the Junior 100-kilogram powerlifting weight class with a combine total of 695 kg - a 260 kg squat, a 180 kg bench and a 255 kg deadlift - while Simmonds, 20, won gold in the Junior 100-kg bench press competition by pressing 162.5 kg.
Powerlifting consists of squat, bench press and deadlift elements.
"It did all right," Rowsell told The Western Star. "I had a bad shoulder injury going into it so my bench press was down about 70 pounds."
Rowsell has moved up an age group. He used to compete in the sub-junior division, but now he is in the junior group for ages 18-23.
In Dartmouth, Rowsell received a special, surprise distinction. He was named Athlete of the year for bench press.
"If felt really good, I wasn't expecting it," he said.
Meanwhile, Simmonds is relatively new to the sport. He has been training now for a year and a half and is glad to have finally found the right sport.
"I always wanted to compete at a sport nationally," Simmonds said. "I went through a lot of sports I figured I could get to the nationals in like hockey. I did judo too competitively, but I could never get to a national competition."
Simmonds likes powerlifting and bench press because of its simplicity.
"It is not and easy sport, but it seemed like I was meant to do it," Simmonds said.
"I have always had really big dense bones and I was always of pretty good average strength, but when you put a lot hard work into it you can get strong really fast."
Corner Brook wasn't the only community representing western Newfoundland at the meet.
In the powerlifting category, Stephen Downey of Stephenville Crossing won a gold in the sub-junior 67.5-kg class, while his father, Van Downey, also of Stephenville Crossing, won a silver in the Masters I 90-kg class.
Glen Cormier of Noel's Pond won silver in the Masters II, 82.5-kg class, while Don Cormier, also of Noel's Pond, won gold in the Masters II 90-kg class.
There were a number of competitors from the area who competed in the bench press category.
Dustin Warr of St. George's broke a Canadian record and won gold in the sub-junior 52-kg class. Neil White of Kippens in the Masters I 67.5-kg class broke a Newfoundland record and won gold, while Don Cormier of Noel's Pond won bronze in the Masters II 90-kg class.
Ron Cormier of Stephenville broke a Canadian record and won silver in the Masters II 90-kg class, while Eugene Barry of Stephenville won silver in the 110-kg Masters I class. Ralph Payne of Kippens won gold in the 100-kg Masters 1 class.
Ryan Colson of St. George's, in his very first competition in the 100-kg sub-junior class, missed his three lifts but fellow lifters from the area feel that he will prove to be a strong competitor in future competitions.
