Kilkenny’s James Fennelly took part in the All-Ireland Strongest Man competition held in the Isle of Man over the weekend and the 26 year came out on top and won the gruelling event. The competition will air on RTÉ this coming September.
Fennelly has won the Republic of Ireland Strongest Man competition for the last two years and came second in the All-Ireland Strongest Man competition last year.
Speaking to the Kilkenny Advertiser Fennelly spoke of his hectic schedule leading up to the event, “I train five days a week — four times in the gym and one day practising strongman events.” While most people might feel the 19 stone strongman spends his full day working out this is not the case, “I never go overboard now, I don’t go over two hours a session, you’d only get fed up and tired of it all. Two hours at the most is enough for anyone to be working out, “ said the personal trainer. Due to his profession he understands the need to look healthy and fit, “I have a very strict diet, while I eat six to seven times a day, these are small and healthy meals and help keep my sugar levels normal and help me maintain my size because it wouldn’t look good having extra fat now for my job!. With a competition coming up I have to be really serious and strict.” The father of one (Keeva ) is now working towards the UK Strongest Man competition which will take place in Belfast at the end of August and Fennelly is hoping this year will have a different outcome from last year, “I ended up with 30 stitches in last year’s competition. I was to push a lorry in the competition and ended up driving my arm through the window instead!” The UK Strongest Man competition will air on Bravo.
