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

Beginnings 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."Polish Strength Forum - Sportowe Forum Dyskusyjne

"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

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.Elite strongman promotions statement released on ukstrongman.proboards.comElite strongman promotions statement released on muscletalk.co.uk

Competitions

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 YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocationPromoter2026 Andrew Flynn (2) Ruiari O'Hagan Cillein Groom GlasgowUltimate Strongman2025 Andrew Flynn Chris Beetham Paul Smith NottinghamUltimate Strongman2024 Paul Smith (3) Louis Jack Andrew Flynn CardiffUltimate Strongman2023 Paul Smith (2) Matt Dimond Callum Crozier DoncasterUltimate Strongman2022 Paul Smith Louis Jack Gavin Bilton Milton KeynesUltimate Strongman2021 Gavin Bilton (2) Paul Smith Andy Black Milton KeynesUltimate Strongman2020 Gavin Bilton Mark Felix Mark Jeanes BelfastUltimate Strongman2019 Paul Benton Graham Hicks Pa O'Dwyer St AlbansUltimate Strongman2018 Pa O'Dwyer Phil Roberts Laurence Shahlaei St AlbansUltimate Strongman2017 Laurence Shahlaei Tom Stoltman Pa O'Dwyer BelfastUltimate Strongman2016 Eddie Hall (6) Jonathan Kelly Aaron Page BelfastUltimate Strongman2015 Eddie Hall (5) Chris Gearing Tom Stoltman BelfastUltimate Strongman2014www.strongman.org - uks-strongest-man-2014 Eddie Hall (4) Adam Bishop Luke Stoltman Belfast CNP2013www.strongman.org - uks-strongest-man-2013 Eddie Hall (3) Ben Kelsey Jonathan Kelly Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)2012 Eddie Hall (2) Lloyd Renals Chris Gearing Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)2011 Eddie Hall Ken Nowicki Richard Smith Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)2010Irish Strongman Association - Hall of Fame - results Glenn Ross (5) Gary Gardener Rob Frampton Belfast UKSC (UK Strength Council)2009 Jimmy Marku Glenn Ross Mark Westaby Belfast UKSC2008 Glenn Ross (4) Dave Warner Jimmy Marku Belfast UKSC2007 Glenn Ross (3) Jimmy Marku Simon Flint Belfast UKSC2006 Glenn Ross (2) Terry Hollands Jimmy Marku Belfast UKSC2005 Terry Hollands Mark Lawson Simon Morton Belfast UKSC2004 Glenn Ross Brian Irwin Carl Waitoa Carrickfergus UKSC2003 colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" 2002 colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" 2001 Steve Brooks Richard Gosling Mick Gosling TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star2000 Richard Gosling (2) Gary Meyern Adam Townsend TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1999 Richard Gosling Gary Meyern Adrian Smith TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1998 Adrian Smith (3) Richard Gosling Dave Miles TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1997 Adrian Smith (2) Graham Mullins Bill Pittuck TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1996 Graham Mullins Gary Meyern John O'Neil TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1995 Dave Miles David Waters & Graham Mullins TBC Geoff Capes/Daily Star1994 Tommy Smith Bill Pittuck Lee Bowers Blackpool Geoff Capes/Daily Star1993 Bill Pittuck Luke Green TBC TBC 1992 Adrian Smith Bill Pittuck TBC TBC

Championships by country CountryTitles 22 5 2 1 1

Repeat champions ChampionTimes Eddie Hall 6 Glenn Ross 5 Adrian Smith 3 Paul Smith 3 Richard Gosling 2 Gavin Bilton 2

Regional and National qualifiers 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 List of Strongman Competitions

External links Official site

References