A PERSONAL trainer who offers outdoor sessions in the Lakes is England's Natural Strongest Woman in the under 82 kg after winning a competition in Nuneaton. 

35-year-old Emma Grunnill, who is based in Kirkby Lonsdale and Ings, has only been training for competitions since November 2022 but has quickly risen the ranks. 

The competition, which was run by UK Natural Strongman (UKNS), took place on February 4 at Nuneaton Academy in Warwickshire. UKNS drug tests its athletes and its competitors have to sign a form pledging that they have not taken anything beforehand. Even though Emma is a clean weightlifter, she also competes in competitions open to all. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Emma with her mum, dad and nieceEmma with her mum, dad and niece (Image: Emma Grunnill)

There were 14 people in her category and six events, Emma said.

The top six from each category will be invited to compete at the UKNS competition in June. Emma competed in the under 82kg, which is the category below open weights. 

The events for Emma's category were as follows: 

  • Axle bar floor to overhead for reps in 60 seconds (60kg)
  • Muscle squad deadlift medley (two reps each bar, axle, standard, power bar from 13 inches - 150/160/170kg)
  • Sandbag steeplechase (75-second limit, take lighter bag 10m and put over a yoke, then go back for second heavier bag and put over a yoke, then start process again - 70/80kg)
  • 12m zercher yoke into 12m sled drag (60-second time limit and fastest time wins - 150/150kg)
  • Sandbag to shoulder for reps in 60 (two weight options with higher weight trumping lower - 60/80kg)
  • Frame hold for max time (165kg)

In imperial, 165kg equates to 25 stones and 13.76 pounds. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Emma brought her prize to Kirkby Lonsdale-based Dales Butchers, which supplies her with enough meat to fulfil the diet she needs to maintain to compete Emma brought her prize to Kirkby Lonsdale-based Dales Butchers, which supplies her with enough meat to fulfil the diet she needs to maintain to compete (Image: Emma Grunnill)

"I felt very confident," Emma said. However, she was thrown when she lost the second event to the woman she was paired with as deadlifts are usually one of the stronger events for her. 

READ MORE: Emma Grunnill comes third in natural strong woman championships

Despite being far ahead for much of the zercher yoke to sled drag event, she nearly lost it in the final metres when her legs seized up. Her competitor closed the gap to a second by the time she crossed the line. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Emma had to compete in six events throughout the dayEmma had to compete in six events throughout the day (Image: Emma Grunnill)

In the final frame hold, Emma knew that she had a podium place but had to hold the frame for 31 seconds to get first place. In training, she had done 29 seconds. She knew that it was going to be 'soul-destroying' to hold the frame for that long. 

However, with encouragement from her trainer, she managed 59 seconds, by far her longest-ever time doing the frame hold. 

The Westmorland Gazette: Emma with her coach Mollie Wagstaff, who also competed in the u63kg category and came secondEmma with her coach Mollie Wagstaff, who also competed in the u63kg category and came second (Image: Emma Grunnill)

She said: "I'm absolutely buzzing. When I did that comp it was 11 months after my first competition. I never expected to get this far."

Her success in competitions has boosted the profile of her business, and she gives talks to local schools. Emma said she is proud to be an example to young girls of how women can be strong and fit. 

Emma also still uses local sponsors: TNT Fitness, Rinaldo's Coffee, Brownbag Protein, Dales Butchers and Curt Woodburn Fitness.