Weightlifting in Pembrokeshire is one of the fasted growing sports in county. In-addition to the many who take part in this strength based sport for health and recreational purposes, are an ever increasing amount of competitive athletes and volunteers from the country.
During the last weekend of October, 6 athletes from Pembrokeshire were selected to compete for their country and 2 International technical officials selected to represent Wales at the 2018 Celtic Nation championships. The Celtics event has an extremely long tradition reaching back over 50 years where Wales, Scotland and Ireland come together annually to compete. This tournament has always and continues to develop the one team ethos where teams support each other and lifetime friendships in sport are made.
Representing Wales from Pembrokeshire were.
Athletes: Lotty Whalley, Niamh Roach. Anita Madan, Daniel Thomas, Louis Thomas and James Hart.
Officials: Stephen Donovan and Darren Rogers
Team Manager and coach: Simon Roach
There are no individual positions in this competition, it’s a team event where points are created by a formula allowing all lifters with different bodyweight to compete against each other fairly. The Welsh team consisted of 18 athletes and it was a rare occasion when all 18 lifters competed exceptionally well with most gaining personal bests.
The next event for the Pembrokeshire Weightlifters will be the Welsh Age groups u13 to u20, held in Bangor 8th December.
The volunteer coaches in Pembrokeshire welcome all to try the sport and the other types of strength training on offer whether for health, fitness, well-being, recreation or for competition. There is a really supportive environment, where the coaches and volunteers connect with members regardless of their abilities, backgrounds or social situation, the club engages all people and the many members who are disadvantaged.
An extremely high percentage of members are female and are disadvantaged is some way. Members are aged between 11 and 65 years of age.
Through strength training, members develop confidence, social skills and a great deal of elevated well-being. Attitudes and perceptions have been changed, especially for females and the disadvantaged taking part in strength sports. The club has helped these groups to reduce the barriers to participation in sport. Interacting socially plays an important role and has aided members social skills. Improving health, building confidence, overcoming challenges and tackling obesity are key areas for the club.
The main opening hours for the club are know as ‘Open Gym’ during these times any one is welcome and people train for various reasons, getting fit, loosing body weight, returning from injury or poor health, just to enjoy strength training, sports conditioning, disability powerlifting, strongman, strongman, weightlifting and even socialising with friends.
There are also a number of classes:-
‘Strength in numbers’ A female only class, run twice per week. One class fitness based, using functional and resistance training methods. The other class is more strength based. There is most definitely a warm welcome, supportive and a community atmosphere.
‘Lifting fundamentals’ A small class where the coaches provide a high level of support and coaching to anyone who wants to develop their lifting skills, or wants to have ago at this type of training.
‘Inclusive junior Weightlifting and Sports Conditioning’ A diverse and inclusive class open to all. With focus on developing the person and the athlete.
Junior sessions consist of mobility training, technical development, strength exercises, conditioning exercises to improve joint stability, conditioning exercises to balance strength between left and right, core strength and balance.
Junior members learn how to support and encourage their training partners and others in the training group. They learn about basic coaching skills and gym safety. A variety of topics are covered around eating sensibly for sports participation and health, Anti doping, coping with stress in competition and best ways to prepare for competition. A number of members participate in other sports, therefore we encourage healthy amounts of training and modify training plans to suit other sports involvement. We encourage a healthy balance between sport, training, education and time to socialise. We encourage members to train smart and to balance their lifestyle.
Train allows and encourages members to interact socially and make friends, We encourage our members to train with a partner and help each other through training sessions, especially supporting each other with coaching cues and motivation. Our younger members continue to develop in confidence, develop their well-being and they most definitely interact more socially.
For more information please contact info@strengthacademy.wales
