3rd in the WORLD!!



On a scale of 0 - 10 how stressful was getting to Official Strongman Games, Worlds Strongest Women this year Sam?

Well, firstly can I just say how grateful I am to everyone who got us there, if it was stressful for us I cant imagine the stress for the organisers. When we went into lockdown in March 2020 I lived with this eternal optimism we would get to Florida, of course 2020 was a washout we didn't make it. In my mind I truly thought the world would've retuned to normality in 12 months time - alas I was wrong.

I frantically kept checking the flights and hotel sites to find the prices were extortionate, I held off booking in case anything went wrong, then we got word that our National Interest Exemptions had been accepted and we could travel to the USA, I set about making the necessary bookings. The everything changed on the 8th December for travel to the USA, two days before we were due to travel...more frantic booking of PCR tests (Do not mention the cost of these to me) the stressful wait for results, which were due hours before we were due to travel...do we pack?....don't we pack....what if we're negative and Ollies not?

so at 11pm the results came back 6 hours before we were to travel....we were all negative....so off we left for Daytona Beach.

Due to the cost we gave ourselves the bare minimum of time, so literally the first day, hours after landing we arrived at the familiar venue of The Ocean Centre Daytona Beach....with not a mask in sight we set about meeting up with all our friends from all over the world, hugging and chatting as if the world were normal again - and it felt good! 

the next three days were the competition, different this time as Sue was also competing.

We both fought our battles, personal and competitive and are proud to say 

We are now the 3rd and 6th Strongest Women in the World 

Kickstarter Campaign - Hits the target

When our producer told us we would be making our documentary regardless, and the costs involved I think we both nearly catapulted ourselves off the very comfy sofa, or should I say "casting Couch" we were sat on.

I never really new how much TV cost, why would I, I've always been a world away trying to solve social issues like homelessness, to think I would ever be on the TV.

Anyhow, further discussions and the thousands of pounds were becoming a less daunting prospect, our producer is nothing short of a bundle of positivity who makes you believe anything is possible, and we decided to crowdfund a proportion of the costs.....which then led me down the thought path of "who the hell is going to give us thousands of pounds?"....aside from the fact I'm very.....very......very independent and wont ask anyone for anything unless I absolutely have to, who the hell had a spare couple of thousand they would just give away, especially in the current climate.

Next hurdle.....who was going to run the crowd funder campaign....ahhhh...that'll be me then....me with no knowledge of how to run such a campaign. Cant be hard....right?

Right....a few Brain storming sessions to determine what we could offer as rewards, a few favours called in, and some sweet talking from our ever Faithfull producer....and we had Hot Sauce, Coffee and hand wash coming out of our ears....all packaged up with us on the label.....sureal...you bet!....Sue and me sat there few a good few hours just looking at ourselves on a bottle of hot sauce, wondering how the hell this had all happened.. rock and roll in our household

Then the hard sell, getting people to pledge their hard earned cash on rewards that may never materialise if we didn't hit our target.....now comes the bit that absolutely blows our minds.......people continuingly say "If your comp was closer I'd come and watch" and when the comp is closer they don't......or they want to support us but they don't know how....then you give them a way to support you and they don't.....however we no longer dwell on those people....and this is the bit....we have had strangers...people we don't even know who have donated hundreds and  thousands of pounds....for nothing,....crazy, absolutely crazy.....I guess the bottom line is I need to start believing in myself a bit more

Watching the total increase has been nothing short of mind blowing, whether someone has pledged £10 OR £1000, we sit in disbelief at the level of generosity, and then with 13 days still to go....we hit our target.....

but was havent finished, we have some stretch goals in mind, ultimatley the editing will take the majority of the money, but along with that come music rights and the premier...but guess what you all get your coffees and hot sauces.....with our mugs on

There i still time to pledge on the Kickstarter, there are still lots of rewards available as we puch towards our stretch goals.

Please follow the link below, watch the video and make a pledge to getting our documentary made

UKs Strongest Woman 2021

So I was immensely proud to be invited to represent Wales at the UKs Strongest Woman 2021. Being held in Bangor Northern Ireland, Exciting stuff as e finally got to go on an aeroplane, which although N Ireland is still part of the UK, just being on an aeroplane felt like you were going on holiday

Enough of the travel plan though....we were there to take part in this historical event as its the first time since the early 2000's that Strongwoman will be aired on the TV......proud to be a part of it

Down to business, we were there to compete....and there were fantastic strongwomen there, including current Worlds Strongest Woman Donna Moore, What an accolade to compete side by side with such an amazing athlete and Strongwoman.

I wasn't holding out much hope of a podium finish, I know my limitations and I'm still fairly new to the sport, My goas for Day 1 was to qualify without having to do the eliminator......goal accomplished

...and onto day 2....where I didn't really have a goal, just to do myself and everyone proud I guess.....I made some errors, like I said I'm still fairly new to this game and still learning

I finished in what I feel is a very respectful 9th place, considering the calibre of the competition....as an athlete who strives to push forward I am determined to improve this even at my old age

So thank you to Ultimate Strongman for the invite and the opportunity....see you next year

Invited to represent Wales at

UKs Strongest Woman

And the invites keep coming........

Many of you may know this event is held by Ultimate Strongman, and the men's event can be seen yearly on TV....Well this year the "Daddy of Strongman" Glenn Ross has managed against the odds of Covid to put on UK's Strongest Woman.

There was much excitement in the Strongwoman world as the news began to filter through, for anyone who went to the Uk's Strongest man show in Milton Keynes recently will know Glenn knows how to put on a comp and showcase the best of the best in the sport.

Glenn did an update on YouTube to announce the comp and the events (link below) and imagine sitting waiting for all you favourite strongwoman names to be announced....only to hear yours!!!

Yep......Sam Taylor will be representing Wales at UK's Strongest Woman.

The event will be held over two days at the Mckee Clock In Bangor Northern Ireland on August 20th - 21st, the events being fantastic classic strongman events and true tests of strength, day one culminates in an eliminator, with the top going through to day two........I keep saying as one of the oldest competitors I'll be happy to survive day one so I can watch day two....but my first words to anyone who said that to me would be...don't write yourself off, you're not there to make up numbers....anything can happen on the day......Believe

Full line up of the 12 strongest Women in the UK who will be competing will be announced on the Facebook event page (link below) as well as details on how to purchase spectator tickets

Annnnnnnnnd....its action!!......Documentary Filming Starts

It's been a while in the planning........TV is not a quick process....a few months ago we were approached and asked about the possibility of us making a documentary about our journey thus far, culminating at Worlds Strongest Woman in Daytona Beach in November.

As ever we went through the "Who us?" thought process and of course we always have to weigh up the impact on Ollie, who is growing up fast and much more aware of us, our impact and the impact on him.

That said it was too good an opportunity to pass up....so with some very, very special people backing us, who for now are choosing to stay anonymous to protect their own interests we are good to go.

We have filmed a 4 min "taster tape" which has been seen by all the network TV stations with outstanding feedback and advice.... at this moment in time we don't know which route we will take with this as we mustn't sell ourselves short thinking this first offer will be our only offer

Filming, production, editing, all comes at a cost, and again we are lucky to have some people backing us privately, however we will be running a crowdfunding campaign in the coming months a link to which will be added here. As ever we are grateful for everyone's support and encouragement. We will be posting regular updates

Follow the journey on Instagram  by clicking the link below and following the page