Team JST overcome final scare to power to fourth successive Strength in Depth European crown
Wigan-based Team JST (pictured) were crowned as Europe’s fittest team for the fourth year running when the annual Strength in Depth tournament returned to the University of Bath Sports Training Village over the weekend.
They had to do it the hard way, though, as an injury to masters athlete Paul Hopper and a platform error in the ninth and final challenge of two brutal days of competition allowed the CrossFit Oslo Wolfpack from Norway to briefly take the lead.
However, a stunning performance from the third pair of Oakley Woodhouse and Kev Connolly put JST back in front before Steve Fawcett wrapped up the title with five unbroken 120kg lifts.
A strong finish from home favourites CrossFit Bath allowed them to leapfrog the Oslo Wolfpack and finish second overall, while Team Reebok – an invitational squad representing the event sponsors – were fourth and Switzerland’s CrossFit Basel completed the top five.
Sixty teams of 12 from across Europe contested the 2017 Strength in Depth final at the Sports Training Village, with crowds cheering on the super-fit athletes as they took on challenges such as a 4km sandbag run, rope climbs, weight-lifting, swimming in the 50m London 2012 Legacy Pool and a 400m obstacle course around the University’s outdoor athletics track (pictured).
Click here to visit the Strength in Depth site for a full report and more great pictures from the weekend.
