A DUNFERMLINE powerlifter will compete for Scotland later this year after becoming a national champion for a fourth successive year.

Rowan Hendry-Horne was crowned the 63kg title winner at the Scottish Powerlifting Classic Championships on May 28 and will be part of the national squad that will take part in September’s Commonwealth Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships in South Africa.

But a year of illness and injury – including a bout of chronic fatigue that left her confined to bed for a month – almost put paid to her chances of attending the competition and the chance of travelling to a second Commonwealth event in a row.

“I had a bout of chronic fatigue which absolutely floored me and meant I ended up in bed for a month in March,” she told Press Sport.

“I lost all of March’s training and then I picked up an injury when I was coming back, four weeks before the competition. It wasn’t serious but was very painful and, two weeks before, I was still in pain so it was touch and go whether I would compete.

“But I wanted to see what I could do and I had a determination to make the Commonwealths. Because I hadn’t been lifting very well, when I came out having won my weight class, it was a real surprise. I wanted to do well and get a total, so to be champion for the fourth year in a row was a wonderful surprise.”

A lift of 130kg in the squat, followed by 80kg in the bench and 132.5kg in the deadlift, gave Rowan, 33, the win but she revealed she is aiming to move up to the 72kg weight class when she and the 26-strong Scotland squad travel to South Africa.

She added: “I wasn’t expecting much but it was a good feeling to have done my best and come back from such a setback and come out on the other side. I was injured for the best part of the year but my coach, who is a former world record holder in powerlifting, helped pinpoint my injury and how to recover.

“Going to South Africa will be a good experience and I am excited. There were six of us in 2015 (the previous Commonwealth Championships) but there are 26 going this year.

“Last time, I helped others with their lifts and there was a real community; we’ve a bigger team this time and I’m sure we’ll all chip in and help each other.

“I’m moving up to try a different weight class. It has been a goal to try 72kg and is a chance for me to build more muscle and whilst I can I say I would love to come back with a medal, top five in one lift would be wonderful. I’m looking to finish top 10 overall.

“But you have to be in it to win it and I think I can do well. Competition will be fierce but I have goals and things I would like to do.”