A WATTISHAM-based RAF parachute packer who became female European powerlifting champion at the first attempt is today setting her sights on becoming world champion.

A WATTISHAM-based RAF parachute packer who became female European powerlifting champion at the first attempt is today setting her sights on becoming world champion.

Corporal Annie Thomas, a survival equipment fitter with Brigade Parachute Squadron, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based at Colchester, won the deadlift 70kg category of European Powerlifting championships in Italy in May.

Now the 26-year-old, who by day helps instructors to train and prepare Paratroopers for jumps, is just over a week away from competing on the world stage for the first time when the World Single Lift Championships take place at Whitney in Oxfordshire, from October 14 to 16.

Cpl Thomas only took up powerlifting seriously this year but her husband, Neil, an Army Staff Sergeant based at Brize Norton, has been involved for some time.

“I've always done weights and I've always been really fit”, said Cpl Thomas.

“My husband has been powerlifting for about three years and been trying for ages to get me involved and I always said 'no'. Then watching him competing I thought I'd try and had a training session and it went really badly but you just keep trying and you get the buzz for it.”