Weightlifter John Battey was tired of hearing members of a rival organisation boasting of their triumphs, so he entered one of their competitions to show them who was best - and he took the title, writes Craig Stoddart.

John, 32, of Darlington, is a member of the British Weightlifting Organisation and last year won the Word Bench Press Championships in New Zealand.

The British Power-Lifting Organisation is a separate body and John says the weights they lift are not as heavy as those achieved in his organisation.

To prove his body were better, John took part in the British Power-Lifting Organisation's National Championships in Aldershot, Hampshire last weekend where managed a new personal best when winning the title.

"I wanted to show them what a real weight-lifter was," said John.

"They didn't know how good I was. I think they knew that I'd been competing around the world and won various things but it was only when they saw the scoreboard after my opening lift that they took notice."

John's opening lift was 240kilos which he became his new personal best, and he bettered that with his second lift with 250kilos - 15kilos more than the record he achieved in New Zealand last December.

John impressed the officials so much they have now asked him to represent their organisation around the world.

He explained: "It was intended as a one-off to show them what a real weight-lifter is, but when I was down there I was asked if I'd represented them in their European and World Championships."

John says he's yet to decide whether to enter these championships, which will be held in Germany and Belgium respectively, later this year, but for the time being is recovering after the weekend's excursion.

"I'm absolutely shattered now," he said. "I'm just laid on the coach and I won't be able to train for a few days because the body goes into shock after lifting so much weight."