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Exiles Forum
Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 

�Tough Talk� show off their amazing skills in Lisburn

Tough Talk, three �Incredible Hulks� from the East End of London were in Lisburn on Saturday 24th to Sunday 25th September to show off their amazing skills and tell their equally amazing life stories.  Each of these men is a champion weight lifter, including British, European and even World Champion level.  Their visit was organised by a team from Railway Street Church who prepared a hearty meal in the church hall for their arrival.  After tucking into an Ulster Fry and sampling soda bread for the first time, the �hard men� performed a weight lifting demonstration in Bow Street on Saturday afternoon watched by a large crown of onlookers.

The Blues Brothers band that played at the �Tough Talk� Power Lifting Display in Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005. L to R: Clare Norris - Saxophone, Lyn Morrow - Guitar, Kim Mitchell - Vocals, Jonny McGeown - Vocals, Stephen McLoughlin - Keyboards, Michael McCormick - Bass, Tonya Craig - Saxophone and Allister Brown - Percussion. Some of the team from Railway Street Presbyterian Church that organised the Tough Talk visit to Lisburn on Saturday 24th to Sunday 25th September 2005. L to R: (back) Colin Jamieson, Roger Gowdy, Euan McConaghie, Marcus Williams - Tough Talk, Karen Elliott, Simon Pinchbeck - Tough Talk, Julie McConaghie, Ian Wales and Aaron Curragh. (front) Denise Baird, Ian McDowell - Tough Talk, Pauline Adair and Hazel Wales. Pictured at Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005 are Philip Anderson, David Massey, Stephen Managh, Johnny Woolsey, John George and Tim McEwan pose with the Tough Talk team - Simon Pinchbeck, Ian McDowell and Marcus Williams. Jordyn Kerr, Joanna McNally, Lyndsey McCaughan, Robbie Fleming, Christina Orr, Paul McAvoy, Anto Pearl and Christopher Cairns, pictured with Tough Talk�s Simon Pinchbeck and Marcus Williams at Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005.

Blues Brothers

Railway Street Team

Tough Talk team

 
Colin Shirlow ensures that the City of Lisburn is not let down when it comes to weight lifting. He won a copy of Tough Talk�s book for this show of strength. Paul Houston from Belfast who was runner-up to Colin Shirlow. Peter Leith from Dunmurry showing the strain of a sustained lift. Its �tough work� competing with �Tough Talk�. The Tough Talk team performing their Power lifting display at Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005. Simon Pinchbeck (left) and Marcus Williams assisted by Ian McDowell.

Colin Shirlow

Paul Houston

Peter Leith

The Tough Talk team

Some of the 500 strong crowd that attended the Tough Talk Power Lifting Display in Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005. Some of the Railway Street team that organised the Tough Talk event (front row) are pictured relaxing with the 500 strong crowd and enjoying the music of the �Blues Brothers� at Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005. Some members of First Clontibret Boys� Brigade who travelled from Monaghan to see the Tough Talk Power Lifting Display in Lisburn Leisureplex on Saturday 24th September 2005. Pictured with Tough Talk�s Simon Pinchbeck are L to R: Ashley McBride, Kyle McCreery, Richard Connolly, Thomas Cobine, James Conly, Jonathan Knox, Jason Wylie, Ivor Boyd - Captain, Malcolm Lowey and Derek Boyd. Richard Connolly from 1st Clontibret Boys� Brigade, Monaghan, was determined to show off the results of his years of body building training.

Crowd

Crowd

First Clontibret
Boys� Brigade

Richard Connolly

Mike Steward, a fourth member of Tough Talk arrived in Lisburn on Friday 23rd September, visiting RE Classes and assemblies at Forthill, Laurelhill and Lisnagarvey High Schools to speak about the work done by the team.

On Saturday evening, Colin Jamieson and Aaron Curragh compered an evening of entertainment in Lisburn LeisurePlex, which was attended by about 500 people.  The crowd enjoyed an hour of great music by Blues Brothers, a group of talented musicians from the Lisburn School of Music, after which the Tough Talk team presented their second Power Lifting Demonstration, with Marcus Williams demonstrating his skills with the weights.  During the display, Simon Pinchbeck and Ian McDowell, both gifted speakers, gave their amazing testimonies how God transformed them from drug dealing, alcohol, broken marriages and days of lies, deceit and violence.

Finally, with the sound of Amazing Grace being quietly played by Lisburn�s Stephen McLoughlin, former bouncer and hard man Ian McDowell, told of the Amazing Grace that miracously saved him, after which about twenty-four young people responded to his Gospel Challenge and came to the front of hall to speak to the Tough Talk team and the Railway Street counsellors.

On Sunday morning, the Tough Talk team were the special guests at Railway Street Presbyterian Church, after which they returned to London, leaving behind tremendous stories of transformed lives.

The Lisburn team wish to thank the following people for their assistance in organising the event:  The Gym, Lisburn for the use of weightlifting equipment, Billy Bittle for providing transport for the equipment, Lisburn Leisure Services staff, Alexander Boyd Displays, Natural World, Viacom Advertising, Coca-Cola and last but by no means least, Roger Gowdy, Geoffrey Rogers and Euan McConaghie for providing the sound.