Powerlifting

Report: 2019 Women’s All England Powerlifting Championships

Potluck

2019 Women’s All England Powerlifting Championships held at Moulton College on 25/26 May, by Martin Bass

We had 5 ladies representing BGWLC at this year’s championships:

  • Ruth Salu Jnr -57kg
  • Alison Jones M2 -63kg
  • Karen Lai Snr -63kg
  • Grace Stilgoe Snr -63kg
  • Moa Wikner Snr -63kg

Ruth Salu

This was Ruth’s first national competition and she did very well. Going 8/9 and getting PBs in squat, bench press, deadlift and total. 4th overall and a good performance.

Alison Jones

Alison didn’t get of to the best of starts only getting one squat. The bench was the same, only getting her opener, missing her 2nd (no energy) so we left the 3rd attempt.

We dropped her opening deadlift as she was obviously struggling. 120kg to open followed by a very good 130kg. Then 137.5kg for an all time PB. All credit to Alison for staying in the competition and ending up with a BIG DEADLIFT and 1ST place (you never know)!

Karen Lai

Karen was looking to put a good total together as her training had been going well. 2/3 squats was a good start. The bench finished on 90kg for an all time PB. 2/3 in the deadlifts gave Karen a PB total coming 4th overall on bodyweight. A good day.

Grace Stilgoe

Grace was looking to go over 400kg for the first time. A 150kg squat on her 3rd attempt was a good start. A PB 3rd attempt bench of 82.5kg set her up for her 400kg total! 2/3 deadlifts contributed to a 405kg PB total and 2nd place overall. Much more to come.

Moa Wikner

Not the best of starts for Moa, only getting her opening squat! (This is where I DON’T criticise the refs but I want to). 2 benches 87.5kg and 90kg, missed 92.5kg set her up for a good total. 2/3 on the deadlift had Moa finishing with 417.5kg for 1st place. Time for Moa to rest now as she has had some very hard competitions recently.

Anyway, as usual our lifters performed – 2×1sts, 1×2nd and 2×4ths.

A GOOD DAY!

The Fab Two: Moa & Dapo

Potluck

Just a few words regarding the performance of two of our juniors, Moa and Dapo, at this year’s European Classic Powerlifting Championship held in Kaunas. They were magnificent.

It was the end of a long year competing for both of them; the Worlds in Calgary in June, their respective British Championships in September and October, culminating with the European Juniors in the last week of November.

Moa Wikner

This is Moa’s last year as a junior and she finished it very well, 3rd overall and a Gold medal in deadlift. Throughout the year she strives to get better and is a determined trainer in the gym. On the platform she got her rewards.

I must mention her last deadlift, she needed to pull 180kg (a big deadlift for a 63kg class lady) to place 3rd overall and secure deadlift gold. One lift for all the money. Her second attempt had been 177.5kg (PB) and that was hard enough. She pulls 180kg (PB)! It wasn’t pretty, it was as hard as it could be but she did it! On coming off the platform she was totally spent and empty.

For me she will pull a bigger deadlift but not a better one!

Adedapo Ojewale

Dapo is a young man with tremendous potential. This year unfortunately he has been managing an injury which as yet has not been sorted out. This has meant that on the squat and to a lesser degree the deadlift, loading him up prior to a competition has not been possible. At the European’s his preparation was very hit and miss but as he always does, he came good on the platform. Like all good lifters the platform is where they make a statement.

He achieved 5th overall and silver in the deadlift. A PB Total and deadlift was his reward for persevering throughout a less than perfect training cycle.

Both Moa and Dapo deserve the utmost credit for the way they both lift and represent BGWLC and Great Britain.

Martin

Dapo, Moa, Nathan Winsala with Martin. Medal haul: 2 bronzes, 2 silvers and 1 gold.