The exhibition of hand, wrist and finger strength has been prominent throughout the years in the public feats of the great British strongmen. Until 1991, nail breaking, coin bending and card and book tearing were the ultimate demonstration of this strength. These household objects presented an element of reality and its evident difficulty to the public, hence their enduring popularity. 1991, however, saw the birth of the British Grip Championships; the physical and incredibly real demonstration of all encompassing grip strength.
            Imagine a competition of grit, sweat and bleeding hands between Thomas Topham (18th century strongman) and Thomas Inch (early 20th century strongman), a desperate battle between two greats, two centuries apart. Such a test has never been possible, even without the intricacies of time, yet today we are able to pit our wills and our strength against the best our country can offer.
           Over the years, inspiration has bombarded me from numerous sources, from the likes of Aston, Caswell, Chappell, Cope, Dinnie, Dyson, Hunt, Jelley, Morris, Murray, Price, Shanks, Tait, Tolson and Vansittart. Since the grip contests started in Britain in 1991, we have had many fine athletes gracing the lifting platform, such as: Frank Allen, Barry Anderson, Michael Daly, David Elmer, Steve Gardener, Peter Horne, Robert Howe, Nick McKinless, Chris Moore, John Moore, Ben Read, Paul Shaw, Steve Sherwood, Elizabeth Talbot, Jim Wylie and myself. We've even had a few competitors from around the world competing, as the British is an 'open' contest, and these include Kalle Lane (8 times winner of the LGC comp in Sweden). We also have in Britain the Holle family and Chris James from Wales who wish to not compete, and competing strongman Laine Snook who recently broke the Rolling Thunder WR.

Full results of UK grip contests are here.

British Hand Strength Champs

(Formerly Goerner Grip Champs 1991-3, British Grip Champs 1994-98, British Iron Grip Champs 2001-6, and British Grip Champs 2007)

1991 - 1. Steve Sherwood – 2. Frank Allen – 3. Gerry Davidson
1992 – 1. Steve Sherwood – 2. Frank Allen – 3. David Horne
1993 – 1. Steve Sherwood – 2. David Horne – 3. John Moore
1994 – 1. David Horne – 2. David Elmer – 3. Chris Moore
1995 - 1. David Horne – 2. David Elmer – 3. John Moore
1996 – 1. David Horne – 2. David Elmer – 3. Peter Horne
1997 - 1. David Horne – 2. Nick McKinless – 3. Duncan Moore
1998 - 1. David Horne – 2. Nick McKinless – 3. Elizabeth Talbot
2001 - 1. David Horne – 2. Michael Daly – 3. Steve Gardener
2002 - 1. David Horne – 2. Jim Wylie – 3. Elizabeth Talbot
2003 - 1. David Horne – 2. Steve Gardener – 3. Kalle Lane (Swe)
2004 - 1. David Horne – 2. Jim Wylie – 3. Steve Gardener
2005 - 1. Jim Wylie – 2. Steve Gardener – 3. Andrew Christie
2006 - 1. Steve Gardener - 2. Dean Bolt - 3. Andrew Christie
2007 - 1. David Horne - 2. Steve Gardener - 3. Jorge Gonzalez (Spain)

Perth Grip Strength Challenge, Scotland

2007 - 1. Mike Daly - 2. Raymond Christie - 3. Stevie Cherrie

Manchester Grip Champs, England

2008 - 1. Paul Savage - 2. Fred Coombs - 3. Maxwell Thompson

Peter Horne Memorial Grip Contest

2008 - 1. David Horne - 2. Steve Gardener - 3. Alf Squire

UK Champion of Steel

2007 - 1. Dave Johnson - 2. Mark Vogels (Holland) - 3. Jim Wylie

British Pinch Lift Champs

2006 - 1. David Horne - 2. Jim Wylie - 3. Dave Johnson
2007 - 1. David Horne - 2. Steve Gardener - 3. Elizabeth Horne & Jim Mills

British Hub Lifting Champs

2006 - 1. David Horne - 2. Dave Johnson - 3. Maxwell Thompson
2007 - 1. David Horne - 2. Dave Johnson - 3. Dave Warrilow

World Bar and Nail Breaking Championships

1957 - 1. Arnold Dyson - 2. Geoff Morris

British Nail Breaking Champs

1955 – 1. Harold Cope – 2. Brian Allkin

British Bar Bending Champs

2002 – 1. David Horne – 2. Martin Whittred – 3. Richard Scott
2006 - 1. Gary Hunt - 2. Dave Johnson - 2. Richard Scott
2007 - 1. David Horne & Maxwell Thompson & Dave Johnson

British One Hand Vertical Bar Lift Champs

2007 - 1. Steve Gardener - 2. Jim Wylie - 3. David Horne

British Rolling Thunder Champs

2007 - 1. Laine Snook - 2. David Horne & Steve Gardener

IAWA (UK) British Finger Lifting Champs (Overall Results age, sex and bodyweight handicapped)

2006 – 1. Barry Anderson - 2. Ian Murphy - 3. Mandy Hughes
2007 - 1. Steve Andrews - 2. Andy Goddard - 3. Gerry Davidson

IAWA (UK) 2" Bar Grip Champs (Overall Results age, sex and bodyweight handicapped)

2007 - 1. Frank Allen - 2. James Gardner - 3. Andy Goddard
2008 - 1. Steve Andrews - 2. Mark Brear - 3. James Gardner