In February, 2017, two Pembrokeshire Weightlifters competed for “Strength Academy Wales” in Yorkshire, at the British Youth Weightlifting Championships.
Chloe Hood aged 16 from Ysgol Milford Haven and James Hart also aged 16 previously from Ysgol Dewi Sant and currently studying and working for Valero on an apprenticeship.
Both athletes competed on Sunday 5th February. First to lift was Chloe Hood, weighing in at 8am with her event beginning at 10am. 13 other weightlifters from across the UK were competing against Chloe. Due to her experience and amount of weight selected for opening lifts, Chloe was due to lift close to the end of the group. Although this added extra pressure and anxiety, Chloe demonstrated excellent composure. Chloe’s performance was exemplary, she managed 6 out of 6 successful lifts, breaking her own Welsh records in both the Snatch and Clean and Jerk, not only in her own age category but up to the u20’s category. Chloe’s strong performance won her gold and the British title.
Her lifts were 60kg Snatch, 80kg Clean and Jerk, 140kg total. Out of all the Women’s age groups and Body Weight categories competing over the weekend, Chloe lifted the heaviest Clean and Jerk.
James Hart had a long wait throughout the day as his competition was the last group on the competition schedule. James has recently moved up a body weight class from 77kg to 85kg. His competition group, again held many athletes from throughout the UK. With a great deal of tension in the warm-up area and coaches changing their athletes opening weights to try and gain a better position and out whit their opposition, James kept calm, concentrated on his own performance and demonstrated outstanding focus.
James gained Personal bests in both lifts. The 95kg lifted in the Snatch, placed James in a great position overall, leading into the second half of the competition. A clean and Jerk of 110kg cemented the overall result gaining a gold medal and the British title.
Chloe and James performed with incredible commitment, both totally focused throughout the competition. Their technique, positions in the lifts, strength and power stood out from other UK lifters.