Dropping out of lurker mode for a moment
Competing is awsome fun, I have been competitive for 3 years now and became Australian Female Bench Press champion in my weight division a couple of months ago. If anybody is considering it jump in and have a go, we don't bite and it is a realy friendly sport. Bench shirts (deadlift and squats suits also) are totally worth it but hard to adjust to for a novice lifter (if it doesn't bruise it is not tight enough).
Training should have a heavy focus on triceps and back especially rowing type exercises and exercises using the same basic movement as the bench press.
That's fantastic! I tried a bench shirt ONCE and thought I was going to have to be cut out of it.