The London Spring Open, run by Keith Morgan was a great success with a huge entry, As far as Woking is concerned the outstanding performance was from Chi Chea, age 15, with 61; 81 at 57.11. He missed 83 jerk having cleaned it.
Other Woking lifters included the two older Chea brothers, and three newcomers of whom Shaun Joffe was the best placed with three PBs. The interest in Weightlifting is growing thanks to two factors: the Olympic games and the interest of other organisations: Crossfit; FK.UK and the UK Strength & Conditioning Association. I hope our clubs have the space and coaches to take advantage of this.
Woking will be focused on the Lift of the Quarter in June: this time around it is the Clean and jerk, with the jerk being from behind the neck. Results with age and bodyweight to Jim Smith, Longwood House, Shifford lane; Standlake; Witney, Oxon with 25p per entry.
This lift should be a natural for Olympic lifters. And will any club knock Woking off its perch as the best all round lifting club in UK? Vectis, on the Isle of Wight, is threatening to do so. What puzzles me is that FK.UK and the Crossfit clubs are not participating to any great extent at the moment.
University of East London
Giles Greenwood has done a great job preparing their Gym instructors for the BWLA Club Coach award, with Part 2 slotted for mid June. Some of them will be lifting in the LSE Masters. They are also preparing for the Southern Universities championship being planned by the University of Middlesex.
Zoe Smith snatched 84 and jerked 110 in the European Youth Champs. For three PBs she will receive £75 from the Weightlifters' Supporters Fund: in fact she seems to win this in every international. There are others who could also win but they fail to claim.
St. Mary's University College also appear to be benefitting from the increased interest in Olympic lifting with two new faces at the London Open, coached by David Woodhouse
BH
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