Saturday 22nd August saw the first NZGSA South Island Championships hosted by Atlas Gymnasium in Christchurch. Depleted to 6 lifters, those that made it gave it their all despite almost everyone having been sick in the preceding two weeks!
First on the platform was Brian, competing in Pro Biathlon, and Heath, competing in Novice Long Cycle. This was Brian’s first competition and he had decided early on to compete with the 32’s, the only athlete at this year’s comps to brave the Pro division. Heath had planned to compete with 28’s but a mixture of sickness and injury over the last month meant a drop to the Novice division to lift the 20kg bells. Both lifters gutted it out with Heath managing to finish the set with a PB of 101 reps. Brian managed a tough 12 reps in Jerk and will be back next time determined to make the 10 mins.
Next up was Victoria and Sheena in flight two, Amateur One Arm Long Cycle. Again both had been stricken with illness with Sheena also suffering bursitis in her right shoulder for the past couple of months. Initially planning on lifting 20kg, dropped to 12kg, and finally back to 16 when she realised Victoria was also lifting 16kg, Sheena lifted a very strong set finishing with a PB of 107 reps. Victoria, an RKC certified instructor, was lifting in her first GS competition and completed a solid set of 84 reps. Keep an eye out for both these ladies to be lifting strongly with the 20kg bell at the 2016 Nationals!
Flight three was Dee in the Novice One Arm Long Cycle and Nikki competing in Novice Snatch. Both had competed in shorter events in the past but this was their first full length competition and they both smashed it! Dee was planning on lifting 10kg but was convinced on the day to lift 12kg, while Nikki was snatching the 8kg bell. It was an exciting 10 mins as they both completed their set and were really pushing the pace to each claim PB performances. Dee managed an awesome 103 reps and Nikki hit a 15 rep PB with 190 snatch reps.
The final flight of the day was Brian with his Biathlon Snatch set. His PB of 20 reps took a beating, Brian managed to pump out 33 reps in the 32kg Snatch and looked relieved to have finished his first Pro comp. We are looking forward to having Brian back on the platform in his next comp, hopefully NZGSA will soon have some other lifters taking on the Pro division!
Congratulations to the overall winners of Women’s Long Cycle:
- Sheena Jones
- Dee Hollyman
- Victoria Broullon
Many thanks to our hosts Atlas Gymnasium for providing an awesome venue and to Victoria Broullon for arranging the location and post comp lunch. Hopefully we will be back at Atlas in the future. Well done to all lifters and bring on 2016 Nationals!
