Four weightlifters who began their careers at Crayford’s Europa Weightlifting Club exceeded the Commonwealth Games qualification standard last weekend at the British senior championships.
First to qualify at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was London 2012 Olympian Zoe Smith in the 63kg category where she comfortably fought off all rivals to win with a combined total of 200kg.
Smith has relocated to Bath but returns to London regularly to train at Europa, as does Leeds-based Jack Oliver, her fellow London 2012 Olympian.
He took part in the men’s 77kg category and literally smashed the Commonwealth Games qualifying combined total of 280kg with a sensational total of 312kg, including a new British record of 172kg in the clean and jerk.
In the final group to compete Europa’s Owen Boxall (94kg) and Peter Barnett (105kg+) were both coached to victories by Europa’s Andrew Collard, each again exceeding the Commonwealth Games qualifying standards in their respective categories.
All four now face an anxious wait until May 31 to discover if their places are confirmed in the England Commonwealth Games weightlifting team.
Callard has already been named as one of the Team England weightlifting coaches for the Games, which take place in Glasgow and run between July 23 and August 3.
Europa Weightlifting Club are based at the Europa Centre in Crayford and for more information, or to join, call 07970 684102.
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