At school he had been a swimmer at county level, a centre-forward for his football team and had also played as Number 8 in the rugby union side that won the under-15 Yorkshire Cup.

When Reeves saw Bill Kazmaier win his third World's Strongest Man title in 1982, on BBC television, he decided that would be his aim, and took up weights.

In addition to powerlifting he had become actively involved in strength athletics and in 1986 won the National Truck Pulling Championships (sponsored by ASA/Bristol Street Motors) and came second to Peter Tregloan in 1986 in the Midland's Strongest Man competition.

Underlining his calibre, he then broke Thomas Topham's 274-year-old record by harness lifting three beer barrels weighing a total of 845 kg.

[1] This performances culminated in an invitation to the 1988 World's Strongest Man where he finished third on his first attempt, to Jón Páll Sigmarsson and Bill Kazmaier.