Out to make a point, two Hawkesbury strongman competitors are planning to prove we’re tough in the north-west when they head to the Australian Hercules Professional Strongman Grand Prix in Lismore on May 25.

Luke Reynolds and Dylan Smith have been invited to compete in the Grand Prix’s intermediate class, where they will face events such as a 120kg keg carry, a 150kg sled drag, a 250kg deadlift for maximum repetitions in a period of time, a 250kg ‘super yolk’ and 50-180kg atlas stones.

Reynolds said should either of them place well in the intermediate class, they will then qualify to compete in the professional class later the same day.

The professional events include a 9000kg hand-over-hand truck pull, a 385kg super yolk, a 130kg log lift for repetitions, a 150kg farmers walk and a deadlift for maximum weight.

“The top placegetters in the professional class are invited to represent Australia and compete overseas in international professional strongman competitions,” Reynolds said.

The strongman event will attract competitors from around the country, with international Highland Games champion Craig Reid in the line up, as well as Australia’s strongest man, Derek Boyer, now better known as Thunder from Gladiators.

Reynolds and Smith have been strength training partners for six years, going competitive last year.

Both men were invited to participate in the Professional Australian Stone Lifting Championships in April at the Bundanoon Highland Gathering, finishing fourth and fifth in the 110kg to 165kg atlas stone competition.

Both men had impressive sporting careers pre-strongman days.

Reynolds, 22, grew up in Kurrajong Heights, playing rugby league for Hawkesbury and the Windsor Wolves for 10 years and at representative level for Penrith for two years.

Earlier this year he broke two Australasian records in the Oceania Powerlifting Association Push/ Pull ‘dead lift and bench press’ competition at Lithgow.

He also tied with Smith in winning the Central-West Strongman Championship at Bathurst Show.

“I’ve always loved strength sports, and I’ve always done strength training at the gym,” Reynolds said.

Smith, 27, lives in Hobartville but grew up in Londonderry.

The former rugby league star, who played for Penrith Panthers, also forged a name for himself as a cage fighter before turning his hand to strongman competitions.

“We train about four times a week...we’ve even had a few guys stop and ask us about it,” he said.

“They usually try to lift something, but never can.”