WEIGHTLIFTER Ged O’Hara says winning a medal has inspired him to try and qualify for a world championships.

The 41-year-old finished third overall in his category – over 40s men’s 105kg-plus – at the European Masters Weightlifting Championships in Wales.

He does not plan to stop there, targeting a spot at a future global edition.

“It’s left me wanting to achieve more,” he said.

“I’d love to test myself at the highest level, to see how far I can go.

“Weightlifting is something I wanted to have a go at, and the European Masters was the culmination of a year’s worth of work.

“I was nervous, and that led to one or two mistakes, but I learned a lot too.”

O’Hara, who runs the R A Fitness Centre at Winnington Hall in Northwich, recorded a personal-best snatch of 95kg at Bangor University.

His best clean and jerk was 110kg.

That left him third behind victor Vladimir Sushchak, from Russia, and silver-medallist Swen Espass of Germany.

“I’ve unfinished business now,” added O’Hara, from Winsford.

“I did ok at my first competition, and it’s gone on from there.”

He also qualified for the British Masters Weightlifting Championships at Lilleshall in March, finishing second in the 105kg class.

On that occasion his best snatch was 90kg, while he again made a successful 110kg clean and jerk.