Gary Adams and Alexander Lang competed in the championships held in Winnipeg, Canada, delivering strong performances.

Adams, who competed in the under-120kg category, finished seventh overall and set personal records in the bench press and deadlift with Lang, who competed in the sub-junior 74kg bench category, finishing second with a personal best of 135kg.

A delighted Adams said: "I was very chuffed about it, I got to represent my country. It was a great experience to get to see how some people perform on that level as well.

"It was a very hard competition and it was good to see the people at the top of their game. I was very happy. I had a personal best over my total which is ideal but I was a bit annoyed about my squat, I got denied my squat and I did all the hard work."

He added: "I couldn't have had a better day and I wouldn't have got a better place even on a good day. My last lift ended up moving myself from eighth into seventh place and to get further up into sixth would never have happened."

He made sure to make the most of the trip, visiting Niagra Falls and taking in an ice hockey game with his girlfriend - and he's targeting representing Scotland at home in two years' time.

He said: "That was my first international weightlifting and I hope it’s not my last.

"In two years' time it's going to be in Scotland so I'm building to hopefully be in that one but the competition is still pretty good over here."

Biggar team-mate Lang admitted he had mixed emotions about his own performances in Canada after falling ill shortly before the event.

He said: "I'm happy but I was really annoyed that I only got second. The week before I was quite ill. On the day, I probably did as much as I could but it was just across the week before I think I just lost a bit of weight and that's pretty much it but it was a really good experience overall.

"I've only just got into powerlifting this year. I went to the Scottish bench, that was like my first bench competition for it and I was able to put my name into consideration for qualification.

“I really want to compete in Scotland in two years time, that’s the aim.”