PULLING trucks might not seem like fun to most of us, but it’s all in a day’s work for town strongman Scott Hughes.

Scott was bitten by the strongman bug as a youngster when he used to be glued to the TV watching competitions from around the world, but as he got older he decided to try it out for himself.

Headland strongman Scott Hughes pulled two trucks, which were provided by Focus Removals.
Headland strongman Scott Hughes pulled two trucks, which were provided by Focus Removals.
Now the 22-stone 25-year-old is making a name for himself by competing in regular competitions against fellow man-mountains.
His first taste of competition saw him finish 12th overall in a national event in Birmingham, then he secured a top four place at a similar event in Catterick last month.

His next event takes place in Allendale in May at a regional heat and he knows a good display there could see him qualify for national finals.

Later in the summer, Scott will then take part in the UK Truck Pulling Championships.

Headland strongman Scott Hughes pulled two trucks, which were provided by Focus Removals. Scott (centre) is joined by Focus Removals workers (from left) Daniel Butler, Peter Crowe, Keith Kinnersley and Lee Caldwell.
Headland strongman Scott Hughes pulled two trucks, which were provided by Focus Removals. Scott (centre) is joined by Focus Removals workers (from left) Daniel Butler, Peter Crowe, Keith Kinnersley and Lee Caldwell.
Scott, who studied at Hartlepool College of Further Education after leaving Brierton School, said: “I used to see these lads on the TV when I was a kid and think they were super-human.

“I’ve always had an interest in it, but I didn’t start training in the gym until I was 18 and people quickly started saying I was strong for a young lad.
“That gave me confidence, and made me determined to push myself to the limit to see what I could lift.”

As well as training with Elite Strongman Promotions in Consett with ex-Olympic weightlifter Bob Dalglish, Scott has converted a lock-up into his own personal fitness centre, fitting it out with weights and benches to allow him to keep up his strict training regime.

Scott, who works as a doorman and also does some bodyguard duties, added: “You have to stay focused, but this is something I’m taking seriously and I want to go as far as I can in it.

“It’s not just about the training, I have to eat right as well. I live on protein shakes, high protein breads, eggs, rice and fish.
“I also spend about £120 a month on meat, so it can be expensive but it is a real passion of mine.”

Not content with lifting weights, Scott has recently taken a fancy to truck-pulling after being encouraged by pals at Focus Removals, on Hartlepool’s Park View idustrial estate.

He went on: “This has become part of my training, and I enjoy that as well.

“Focus has a seven-tonne van and a five-tonne one as well, and I’ve ended up pulling them both.

“You have to push yourself to the limit, whether it is lifting weights or pulling trucks.
“Now I can do the trucks, I want to pull a double decker bus.

“If you don’t set high targets then you will never achieve them.

“My ultimate goal is to turn professional, but it’s an expensive business and I’d love to hear from any firms who can sponsor me.”

Read more: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/video-see-hartlepool-s-22-stone-strongman-pulling-trucks-1-6454835#ixzz3xbfdNlvl

THEY were boyhood pals who grew up together.

And now 26-year-olds Lee Caldwell and Peter Crowe are going from strength to strength as business partners after making a move into the removals trade.

The two Hartlepool men have known each other since their days at Brierton School.
They both left school at the same time and both joined the Army with Lee spending eight years with the Royal Engineers – progressing to Lance Corporal – and Peter rising to Corporal during his ten years with the Green Howards.

They saw service in countries including Bosnia but both have now left the Army and are running their own business called Focus Removals, based on the Parkview Industrial Estate in Hartlepool.

“We do everything from personal to commercial work. We do house clearances and waste removal. We are fully insured and we have a waste licence,” said Peter, who is married to Emma Crowe, 27, and has three children Taylor Higgs, aged eight, Ashton Crowe, aged five and four-week-old Mason Crowe.

It was Lee, who has a fiance Cheryl Jones, 26, and three children Ella, aged five, Amelia, aged two, and 11-week-old Ava, who started the business.

Peter explained: “Lee had a van and people were asking him to move things. It made him realise that he could go into the business.”
The friends decided to make sure they prepared properly and turned to the Prince’s Trust to help them get started.

Lee and Peter enrolled on a business course in Middlesbrough and also got £6,000 of support to buy a vehicle.

Peter said: “We have done a business plan and cash flow and we have tripled what we expected in cash flow.”

Now the pair are hoping to include a specialist line to Focus Removals. Peter explained: “We want to help people coming out of the Army by giving them a discount. We also plan to offer advice as well so that people, even if they don’t use us, can ring us up at any time.”
Peter said the business had already been regarded so highly, it was in the running for a Prince’s Trust award.

Read more: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/business/moving-story-of-the-two-boyhood-friends-1-6054544#ixzz3xKWmdt1X