Hammersmith Members Dominate Regional Powerlifting Competitions

Date posted 10 May 2019
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Hammersmith Fitness and Squash Centre is home to a great many members, all of whom have different goals and aspirations.

In the past two months, one collective of members has stepped forth into the sporting world, and entered some competitions.

On Mondays and Saturdays, we run strength and conditioning classes, which any member can book on to. Monday 17:15-18:15 & 18:30-19:30, Saturdays 12:00-13:00 & 13:00-14:00.

These sessions are great for anyone interested in gaining a little bit more experience and confidence with using weights, but also for anyone who wants to pursue the sport of powerlifting or weightlifting.

The sessions originally started as women only, to help women utilise the weights room more often, in a supportive and non-intimidating environment.

Now, whilst Monday is women only, Saturday is mixed.

A number of the participants fell in love with the activity so much, that they now compete; three lifters including a staff member competed in a south regional event in Bournemouth, with the staff member (Martin) bench pressing 237.5kg (a Greater London record), and Steve and Lisa (husband and wife) lifting huge personal bests, like a 142.5kg, and 105kg deadlift respectively.

Even more lifters participated in another regional event, including the squat, bench press and deadlift, held in Better Wimbledon Leisure Centre and Spa (summarised below):

  • Megan - 60kg bench -  new record holder and best over all lifter
  • Jamilla - 85kg deadlift - excellent personal best effort
  • Wendy - lifted 295kg all-together - regional record holder
  • Claire - 140kg deadlift - regional record holder
  • Ayaka - 107.5kg deadlift - new personal best
  • Liz - 47.5kg bench - equal personal best

This amazing good news story stemmed purely from dedicated and enthusiastic people embracing the past time of exercise and weightlifting, and then taking it forward in a competitive and recreational sense. Proving that with the right team, and right guidance, anyone can do this and have fun.

The final cherry on the cake, is that due to these great performances, Martin, Steve, Lisa, Meg and Wendy are all now Gll Sport Foundation supported athletes, due to their excellence in sport.