It’s not every day you see someone casually lift a person into the air like they’re a shopping bag. But if you were at Lakeside Village recently, that’s exactly what went down. Ahead of one of the biggest strongman competitions in the county, a couple of Yorkshire’s strongest blokes dropped by for a visit—and yes, they literally picked up the centre manager as part of their warm-up.
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about or whether it’s worth swinging by on Saturday 12 July, here’s everything you need to know about the Man Beast Yorkshire’s Strongest Man and Woman 2025 event. Spoiler: there will be seriously heavy lifting and plenty of cheers.
Image source: https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/arts-and-culture/yorkshires-strongest-men-pay-special-visit-to-lakeside-village-ahead-of-major-competition-5197046
Why Yorkshire’s strongest came to Doncaster before the big day
Jimmy Green and Jordan Davis, two of the region’s best-known strongman competitors, stopped by Lakeside Village earlier this week for a bit of a recce—and to drum up excitement for the upcoming competition. The centre’s manager, Lyndsey Parry, was right in the thick of it… quite literally, when she found herself being hoisted into the air by the two.
“I got lifted into the air as part of their preparations!” she said, laughing. “The buzz is building, and we’re thrilled to welcome such a unique event back to Lakeside.”
Sounds like Lyndsey’s got nerves of steel too.
What’s actually happening on 12 July?
This isn’t just a few people bench-pressing shopping trolleys. The Man Beast Yorkshire’s Strongest Man and Woman 2025 is a serious event, hosted right at Doncaster’s popular Lakeside Village shopping outlet.
Throughout the day, male and female competitors will go head-to-head in five jaw-dropping challenges, with expert referees and professional standards. The whole thing is overseen by Paul Smith, a three-time UK’s Strongest Man champion, and Mark Anglesea, who’s got two Guinness World Records to his name.
Here’s what they’ll be doing:
- Dumbbell floor lifts for reps
- 90kg for Men’s Open
- 50kg for Women’s class
- Deadlifts (no suits, straps allowed)
- 300kg for Men’s Open
- 160kg for Women
- Conan’s Wheel (the spinny one that makes people look dizzy and heroic)
- 300kg Men’s weight
- 200kg Women’s
- The Yoke (imagine walking with a fridge on your back)
- 40 metres carrying 300kg for Men, 200kg for Women
- Stone over yoke (yep, just hurling actual stones over metal bars)
- 180kg for Men, 120kg for Women
So yeah, don’t try this at home.
Who’s competing and what’s at stake?
The event is shaping up to be a proper showdown. Last year, Josh Lancaster and Michaela Pearson took home the titles, but there’s no guarantee they’ll repeat the win. The field is stacked with talent, and as Jordan Davis puts it:
“We know how successful last year’s event was, so I’m thrilled to be part of it again, joining a great group of competitors – both men and women – who are all set for a wonderful occasion.”
Jimmy Green agrees, adding:
“Lakeside Village is the perfect setting, and it was lovely to meet Lyndsey and the Lakeside team in person. We know we’ll have a fantastic audience cheering us all on… so please do come on down to watch and join in the fun!”
There’ll be serious strength on display, but the whole thing is designed to be fun and family-friendly. So if you’re someone who usually hits the gym (or just watches World’s Strongest Man at Christmas), this event’s definitely for you.
What else can you do while you’re there?
Lakeside Village isn’t just a car park and a stage. It’s one of Doncaster’s top shopping spots, with loads of big-name outlets and places to grab a bite. So you can watch someone lift 300kg in the morning, then grab a coffee and a bargain in the afternoon.
Also, there’ll probably be a fair bit of cheering, music, and general hype, so it’s not just for gym buffs. Bring the kids, bring your nan, bring that mate who reckons they could probably “have a go.” (They really couldn’t.)
When and where?
Here’s the quick info:
- Lakeside Village, Doncaster
- Saturday 12 July 2025
- Events happening throughout the day
- Free to watch (just bring your enthusiasm)
Want more details? Head to the official page at
www.lakeside-village.co.uk/yorkshires-strongman-2025/
TL;DR? If you fancy seeing Yorkshire’s strongest men and women do mind-blowing things with ridiculously heavy stuff, and get the chance to be part of something properly different, mark 12 July on your calendar. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, you’ll probably leave feeling inspired to lift something heavier than your takeaway.
